What3words

What3words
cmglee and OpenStreetMap contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	What3words
Type	Geocoding system
Founded	2013
Founders	Chris Sheldrick, Jack Waley-Cohen, Mohan Ganesalingam, Michael Dent
Headquarters	London
Products	Global addressing, API, apps

What3words What3words is a proprietary geocoding system that encodes global locations into three-word sequences. The system maps the Earth's surface to a grid of 3 m × 3 m squares, each identified by a unique combination of three words to simplify location sharing. It has been promoted for use in emergency response, logistics, navigation, and humanitarian relief by organizations seeking alternatives to numeric coordinates.

Overview

What3words provides an alternative to latitude and longitude by assigning three-word addresses to fixed grid cells covering land and sea. The system has been discussed alongside technologies such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo (satellite navigation), BeiDou, OpenStreetMap, and services from Google Maps and HERE Technologies. It has been integrated or compared with mapping efforts by entities including Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Ford Motor Company, American Red Cross, UNICEF, World Health Organization, International Committee of the Red Cross, Save the Children, and Médecins Sans Frontières. Public discourse around the system has involved figures and institutions such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Apple Inc., Microsoft, Amazon (company), Facebook, Twitter, BBC, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

History and development

What3words was founded in 2013 by entrepreneurs with backgrounds in mapping, software, and investment; early funding and publicity connected it to startup ecosystems in London, Silicon Valley, TechCrunch, Seedcamp, and venture capital firms like Balderton Capital and Index Ventures. Its development trajectory intersected with debates around open-data movements represented by OpenStreetMap and proprietary platforms like Google Maps Platform. The company announced partnerships and pilots with automotive manufacturers such as Audi, Volkswagen, and Toyota, and with emergency services in countries governed by institutions such as the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and agencies in the United States, India, Germany, and South Africa. Media coverage and academic commentary appeared in outlets and venues including Nature (journal), The Lancet, IEEE Spectrum, Harvard Business Review, MIT Technology Review, and conferences like Web Summit and SXSW.

System and technology

The system divides the globe into a discrete grid; each cell maps to a three-word address drawn from a curated dictionary. Its algorithm for assigning words aimed to reduce confusion between similar-sounding addresses and to avoid offensive terms, paralleling linguistic considerations studied by researchers at institutions such as University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, University College London, and Carnegie Mellon University. Implementation requires geodetic reference frames like WGS 84 and interoperates with coordinate systems used by firms including Esri and data sources like Natural Earth. Developers access the service through an API used in applications built on platforms provided by Apple Inc., Google, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and mapping engines like Mapbox and Leaflet (software). The system’s encryption, reverse geocoding, and localization efforts have been addressed in white papers and technical briefings alongside standards bodies such as International Organization for Standardization and discussions at Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers events.

Uses and applications

Three-word addresses have been used in emergency dispatch, logistics, outdoor recreation, tourism, and international development. Emergency services in jurisdictions including London Ambulance Service, New South Wales Police Force, Ambulance Service of New South Wales, and municipal services in Cape Town and Mumbai have trialed or adopted the system. Humanitarian organizations like United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, CARE International, and Doctors Without Borders have referenced grid-based addressing in field operations. Companies in transport and delivery—DHL, UPS, FedEx, Maersk, DPDgroup—have evaluated it for last-mile logistics alongside competitors and standards from GS1, ISO, and courier platforms from Hermes (company). Adventure and travel services such as Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet, National Trust (United Kingdom), and outdoor brands like The North Face and REI have also engaged with precise location sharing for guides and route planning.

Criticisms and controversies

Critics have raised concerns about proprietary control, data privacy, accuracy, and cultural suitability. Debates have involved open-data advocates associated with OpenStreetMap and policy commentators in outlets like The Guardian, The Economist, and Financial Times. Legal scholars from universities such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and University of Oxford have discussed questions of monopoly, interoperability, and public-sector reliance. Media investigations compared the system to alternatives such as Plus Codes, what3words competitors, and national addressing schemes implemented in countries like Japan, South Korea, Rwanda, and Namibia. Errors and miscommunications in emergency contexts prompted inquiries by bodies including local councils, parliamentary committees in the United Kingdom and Australia, and oversight agencies in the United States.

Adoption and legal status

Adoption has been uneven across municipalities, transport firms, and humanitarian agencies. Some national authorities and agencies, such as municipal administrations in Ghana, provincial governments in India, and municipal services in New Zealand, have piloted or recommended the system alongside national addressing projects like those in Estonia, Singapore, Denmark, and Canada. Legal analyses have examined contract terms, licensing, and procurement in contexts involving institutions such as NHS England, United Nations, European Commission, US Department of Transportation, and regional procurement bodies. Standardization discussions have appeared at forums hosted by organizations like United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, International Telecommunication Union, and World Bank where development policy intersects with geospatial infrastructure.

Category:Geocoding