Google has today announced a new way to navigate to locations in Google Search and Maps with better accuracy called Plus Codes.
Plus Codes are an addendum to the traditional street address used in most places, it was announced last year as part of the announcement of Open Location Codes (OLC). Plus Codes offer more fine tuned location control for such locations as a market stall that has no fixed street address within a location, down to a fixed area the size of a beach blanket.
It’s the Beach Blanket Analogy that Google has used to further explain the concept of Plus Codes, saying:
For example, an area the size of a few beach blankets on Atlantic Beach would have the plus code 87G8H7P8+FH. If you’re hoping to tell some friends where to meet you on the beach — and they are near Atlantic Beach or looking up the specific location in Google Maps while zooming in over it — you can give them just the last four digits “P8+FH” to help them find you. You can find the plus code for your location at http://plus.codes.
The use of Plus Codes will very much benefit users in places like Kathmandu, Nepal, which has no road/street names or house numbers. Plus Codes will give them a way to accurately outline a location which is now searchable in Google Maps or Search.
It’s actually working fairly well, so next time you’re at an event or on the beach, try using Plus Codes for guiding your friends in to your exact location.
