“What3words”positioning system” do you find it useful ?

Pilatus · Sep 23, 2020

I find the What3words positioning system app very useful, so just wondering what other TFF members think of it.
I reported a water leak on the side of a public road to Thames Water this morning, when I asked if they used What3words,the person said “no that’s only available to the emergency services”!!!!!, I politely said that was complete rubbish as What3words is freely available to the general public.
I really do find it hard to believe such a large utility company as Thames Water don’t use What3words, as it is just the system for giving a water leak position

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Highland Mule · Sep 23, 2020

Had a car breakdown on the A9 at a nasty bend earlier this year, so called both the AA and Police Scotland. Neither control room operator had a clue what I was on about, so reverted to "about ten miles north of ..."

JP1 · Sep 23, 2020

MX7 said:
I find the What3words positioning system app very useful, so just wondering what other TFF members think of it.
I reported a water leak on the side of a public road to Thames Water this morning, when I asked if they used What3words,the person said “no that’s only available to the emergency services”!!!!!, I politely said that was complete rubbish as What3words is freely available to the general public.
I really do find it hard to believe such a large utility company as Thames Water don’t use What3words, as it is just the system for giving a water leak position .

Often try to push this. I also find it frustrating that folks on here just say "use Google maps". One day someone will need to swiftly and accurately get help to a featureless location and wish they'd paid attention............

Anyone can give a locator using the W3W site even without an account
Anyone can find a locator by using the three unique word co-ordinates

I get bored trying to explain to folks who want something delivered / to deliver. If they used the system you can find anywhere (on the planet)

JP1 · Sep 23, 2020

Highland Mule said:
Had a car breakdown on the A9 at a nasty bend earlier this year, so called both the AA and Police Scotland. Neither control room operator had a clue what I was on about, so reverted to "about ten miles north of ..."

It's very sad situation compounded by police control rooms often being far away and all the local knowledge lost. Suffolk Police have now adopted it. 5 years ago they didn't even know the countdown marker on all A-carriageways (unlike the fire service)

Pilatus · Sep 23, 2020

JP1 said:
Often try to push this. I also find it frustrating that folks on here just say "use Google maps". One day someone will need to swiftly and accurately get help to a featureless location and wish they'd paid attention............

Anyone can give a locator using the W3W site even without an account
Anyone can find a locator by using the three unique word co-ordinates

I get bored trying to explain to folks who want something delivered / to deliver. If they used the system you can find anywhere (on the planet)

Unfortunately in all walks of life some members of society are beyond help

Pilatus · Sep 23, 2020

The rural crime watch, “ What’s App Group” set up in our area by PC Ashley Weller , use What3words with great success.
Some still not heard of it so work in progress promoting it,as said by @JP1 it could one day save your/ my life.

Farmer Fin · Sep 23, 2020

It’s good for marking weed patches in fields.

renewablejohn · Sep 23, 2020

Working in woodland its a very valuable tool. Makes forwading so much easier if you actually know where the timber is to be extracted.

Highland Mule · Sep 23, 2020

JP1 said:
It's very sad situation compounded by police control rooms often being far away and all the local knowledge lost. Suffolk Police have now adopted it. 5 years ago they didn't even know the countdown marker on all A-carriageways (unlike the fire service)

Lack of education by those who work the switchboards and inadequate training of the operators. I lost my rag with one once, telling them about a potential jumper on 'the northbound side of the A9 at the Kessock Bridge". That should have been enough for anyone, but the muppet needed more help.

As to W3W, I'm still undecided. A proper grid reference doesn't need accurate spelling of sometimes esoteric words, but may not be as simple for the masses. On balance, I'd rather use those - or Lat/Long.

JP1 · Sep 23, 2020

Highland Mule said:
Lack of education by those that train the operators. I lost my rag with one once, telling them about a potential jumper on 'the northbound side of the A9 at the Kessock Bridge". That should have been enough for anyone, but the muppet needed more help.

As to W3W, I'm still undecided. A proper grid reference doesn't need accurate spelling of sometimes esoteric words, but may not be as simple for the masses. On balance, I'd rather use those - or Lat/Long.

They are all civilian handlers these days and any hint of raising a voice and they flag you as threatening and hang up!! The Country's gone to the dogs when you can't help someone and help the officers responding and they wonder why folks just don't bother

I could never live with myself if I diddn't call something in and I could have helped but around here the police and the ambulance service just sucks with their call handling. My Grandfathers as a public servants would be very disappointed a

Robt · Sep 23, 2020

I was a little skeptical at first as i have always used grid references. (my Coast Guard role). However we used it to rescue a family stuck in the mud in the dark. They had no idea where they were. Infact the location they gave us was approx 2 miles from where they actually are.
A good feature of it is it will direct the emergency services right to you like a sat nav. Perfect for farming in fields and valleys etc!

Highland Mule · Sep 23, 2020

JP1 said:
They are all civilian handlers these days and any hint of raising a voice and they flag you as threatening and hang up!! The Country's gone to the dogs when you can't help someone and help the officers responding and they wonder why folks just don't bother

I could never live with myself if I diddn't call something in and I could have helped but around here the police and the ambulance service just sucks with their call handling. My Grandfathers as a public servants would be very disappointed a

Seems to have gone much worse with the formation of Police Scotland rather than the more local constabularies.

ollie989898 · Sep 23, 2020

Highland Mule said:
Had a car breakdown on the A9 at a nasty bend earlier this year, so called both the AA and Police Scotland. Neither control room operator had a clue what I was on about, so reverted to "about ten miles north of ..."

That is scary when you consider you could have been reporting a car hurtling off the motorway and into a tree or something.

nonemouse · Sep 23, 2020

Our rural watch group uses it fairly extensively, it’s great for directing officers to a field location when the dog boys and the lampers are about

Highland Mule · Sep 23, 2020

ollie989898 said:
That is scary when you consider you could have been reporting a car hurtling off the motorway and into a tree or something.

Woman left lying in crashed car for three days dies

Lamara Bell, 25, who lay in a crashed car off the M9 near Stirling for three days, has died, her brother Martin Bell said. Her partner John Yuill, 28, died in the accident. Police have apologised to their families for the delay in providing help. Scotland's Justice Secretary Michael Matheson...

www.itv.com

JP1 · Sep 23, 2020

Highland Mule said:
Seems to have gone much worse with the formation of Police Scotland rather than the more local constabularies.

I had thought after the tragedy of the folks never found on the A74M they'd tried to improve ?

Highland Mule · Sep 23, 2020

JP1 said:
I had thought after the tragedy of the folks never found on the A74M they'd tried to improve ?

They might be better than they were then, but still nowhere near as good as it was before.

JJT · Sep 23, 2020

cumbria police use it. Called 101 to tell them about some hare corsers, gave them field gate location with w3w.

nonemouse · Sep 23, 2020

JJT said:
cumbria police use it. Called 101 to tell them about some hare corsers, gave them field gate location with w3w.

On a Friday or Saturday evening can take over an hour to get answered on 101, a message on the what’s app group with w3w location had officers here in 10-15 mins

JP1 · Sep 23, 2020

Maybe farming folks should use it routinely for standard things and then you'd have it to hand for emergencies

Postcodes are hopeless.

Examples:

1. Load sheep at position word.word.word (a gateway) but approach from the top of the valley road so you are facing the rightway word.word.word

2. Tip lime on concrete pad at word.word.word . Note this is tipped at the end closest to the road etc etc

3. The only place a land ambulance can get to is word.word.word . The flattest point for helimed landing is word.word.word . Do not come to main farm address

“What3words”positioning system” do you find it useful ?

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0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

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