APRS Integration of "What 3 Words" Quick Location System (now used by Emergency Services)

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Dean C

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Nov 20, 2020, 6:25:55 PM11/20/20

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This is probably one for the aprs.fi developers, but I'm interested to hear what others, including RAYNET think. With increasing use of What 3 Words quick location system by the Emergency Services would it be useful to make use of the API that What 3 Words offer via their Developer Portal in order to display the 3 word locator for APRS objects. This would certainly make communication with the Emergency Services via RAYNET and other ARES type services much more integrated.

I have been in the situation of monitoring an event as a RAYNET operator with the aid of APRS. An incident happens IN A FIELD off the main road, and you note down the position in Lat & Long with road names etc only to find out later that the Ambulance crew weren't able to use the lat and long and were not from the area, and once there could see many fields!. Now that their NHS tablets and in vehicle systems are starting to use "what 3 words" I can see how passing those words over to the crew as well, may help especially since nearly everyone including the crew can download it as an app. Each 3 word location represents a 3m (metre) square, so it really does pinpoint a location.

Below are some examples of Emergency Service and community use of What 3 Words:-

Kind Regards

Dean Crowe - M1AIF

cc:- Cathy Clark G1GJQ (Chair - RAYNET Uk)

M1CRX

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Nov 21, 2020, 11:13:14 PM11/21/20

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Seems like an excellent suggestion. I am involved with working for the coastguard and it is a very useful