Hexagon’s Safety & Infrastructure division has enhanced its geocoding capabilities and teamed with what3words to improve the ability of emergency services to locate and respond to those in need. The integration of Hexagon’s industry-leading public safety software with what3words’ location service will enable Hexagon’s customers to respond faster to emergencies when callers are unable to provide their exact location.
Accurate location data is vital for emergency response. However, fewer than 20 percent of emergency requests for service originate from landlines, resulting in fewer calls with precise location details. Hexagon’s new Geocoding Interface for its industry-leading computer-aided dispatch (CAD) solution, HxGN OnCall® Dispatch, connects to geocoding capabilities, including an out-of-the-box integration with what3words.
what3words divides the world into 57 trillion 3x3 metre squares, giving each square a new, simplified address made up of three random words. Through the integration, those calling for emergency assistance can explain their location by simply reading out the three words from what3words’ app. Emergency call-takers using Hexagon’s CAD system enter the what3words location, and Hexagon’s software reverse geo-codes the location to present matching addresses from the agency’s gazetteer to verify with the caller. The process is managed within the Hexagon software, which interfaces seamlessly with the what3words API.
The experience is simple and straightforward for emergency call-takers, who follow their normal location capture processes, while also helping to remove confusion and frustration for emergency callers. The integration also improves information sharing between emergency services with different systems when hand-off is required, as a what3words address is unambiguous.
“We’re really pleased to partner with Hexagon, a leading computer-aided dispatch and public safety solutions provider, to enable even more emergency services to use what3words,” said Chris Sheldrick, CEO and co-founder of what3words. “The ability to input precise what3words addresses directly into Hexagon's innovative control room solutions helps services to find, share and coordinate locations more efficiently, crucially saving lives.”
“Hexagon is delighted to offer its public safety customers location validation that seamlessly integrates with the what3words methodology,” said Nick Chorley, director of EMEA public safety and security for Hexagon’s Safety & Infrastructure division. “Now, emergency communications centers can pinpoint a caller’s location in the iconic what3words format just the same as a normal street address.”
Hexagon public safety solutions help protect 1 in 9 people around the world, and what3words is offered in more than 40 languages and 170 countries.
