Photos – EXIF – Google Location Description Leveraging These To Your Advantage
It is possible to configure your phone to record the location where the photo was taken. Benefits – this is not just Worcestershire – it shows exactly where the photo was taken.
- A memorable place
- This could be helpful when recording a day out.
- A knocked over traffic sign and you want to do the public spirited thing and report it to the council.
If you have set your phone to record the location of where you were standing when you took the photo you can drill down into that.
That short code format is a Google Plus Code (also known as an Open Location Code).
It serves the same basic purpose as what3words by providing a precise digital address for places without a standard street number, but there are a few key differences between the two formats.
Key Differences: Plus Codes vs. what3words
How to Use Google Plus Codes in Business
- Improve Directions for Clients: If your business is located inside a larger complex, a rural area, or a trading estate where sat-nav postcodes drop people off in the wrong spot, paste the Plus Code into your website contact page or confirmation emails.
- Easy Search: Anyone can paste
93HJ+677 Birminghamdirectly into the Google Maps search bar on a phone or computer to navigate straight to the front door. - Google Business Profile: Use the Plus Code when setting up or managing a client’s Google Business Profile to ensure the map pin sits precisely over their entrance.
The Google Plus Codes cover the country including locations far from any road.
The northing and eastings are shown and for most people these whilst looking accurate and impressive are not very user friendly
Shown as 52.378030,-1.919318 again not that user friendly.
The Google version is 93HJ+677 Birmingham
In this system the UK is divided up into 14 metres squares.
That short code format is a Google Plus Code (also known as an Open Location Code).
Key Differences: Plus Codes vs. what3words
- Format:
- Google Plus Codes: Combine numbers and letters with a plus sign (e.g.,
93HJ+677 Birmingham). - what3words: Uses three random words separated by dots (e.g.,
///filled.count.soap).
- Google Plus Codes: Combine numbers and letters with a plus sign (e.g.,
- Technology & Licensing:
- Google Plus Codes: Open-source, free for anyone to use, and built directly into Google Maps.
- what3words: Proprietary commercial software owned by a single company.
- Structure:
- Google Plus Codes: Hierarchical. The first few characters define the region, while the characters after the
+pinpoint the exact location. Adding a city name (likeBirmingham) replaces the regional prefix. - what3words: Randomly assigned. Nearby squares have completely different sets of words to avoid confusion.
- Google Plus Codes: Hierarchical. The first few characters define the region, while the characters after the
If you have the Google short code you can paste that into Google Maps 93HJ+677 Birmingham and if you click on the link you can see the previous Google snap shots of this location going back to 2008 when Google first started the project of mapping the UK. Google Street View is created using a vehicle with a camera mounted on the roof. Almost all the content captured therefore has to be besides / on public roads. They tend to not venture on to private property such as a golf club car park.
If you take two points such as
9RHX+5G8, Muker,Richmond
and
9VM2+22X, Muker,Richmond
You can plot a walk and it will give you a suggestion as to how long such a walk will take. If you select the car option it might say 4 minutes. It does not take account of the fact that there maybe no road between the two points. You need to apply some human intelligence to this.
Millions of people use Plus Codes, primarily in developing regions and areas lacking formal street addressing. [1, 2]
Where and Why They Are Used
- Developing Nations: Governments and NGOs use Plus Codes at scale in places like Sub-Saharan Africa, India, and parts of the Middle East to provide digital addresses for residents on unnamed streets. [1, 2]
- Essential Services: Humanitarian groups, vaccine programs, and emergency responders rely on them to locate people and deliver aid where traditional street names or house numbers do not exist. [1, 2]
- Urban and Delivery Use: While less common for everyday mail in countries with robust postal infrastructure (like the UK or US), people use them in Google Maps to share precise meeting spots, large event venues, or hard-to-find building entrances. [1, 2]
Would you like to know how to find your own Plus Code on Google Maps or learn how they compare to What3Words?
Having used both Google Plus Codes and What3Words – the plus codes is much more closely integrated into Google Maps and your phone making it much easier to use. I think the main reason Google does not plug this facility it is is already under scrutiny for dominating search in the UK.
