What You Need to Know About what3words and its Integration with California State Parks

California State Parks has recently announced a partnership with an innovative location technology called what3words. This new tool is a game-changer for State Parks, as it equips dispatchers with cutting-edge technology to assist visitors who may find themselves lost, stranded, or in need of emergency services. By harnessing this revolutionary technology, State Parks dispatchers can now identify the exact locations of individuals who are lost using just three dictionary words. This enables them to quickly send help to the precise spot where it is required.

By integrating what3words into the RapidSOS dispatch system, users are provided with a simple and effective way to communicate their precise locations. The technology has divided the entire world into small squares measuring 10 ft x 10 ft, with each square assigned a unique combination of three words, forming a what3words address. This means that every park bench, parking space, campsite pitch, and remote spot on a hiking trail now has its own distinctive what3words address. For example, if you use the address ///tools.melted.studs, it will lead you directly to the entrance of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park’s campground. The what3words app is currently available in over 50 languages and can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android devices.

Thanks to what3words’ extensive coverage of the entire globe, you can easily discover addresses for all 280 California state parks within its system. This includes both the parks and campgrounds on the internal and public GIS. Furthermore, the official CA State Parks app called OuterSpatial now displays what3words addresses for more than 8,000 points of interest (POIs) within the State Park System. This includes campsites, trailheads, and picnic areas. OuterSpatial is collaborating with what3words to introduce additional features that utilize precise, three-word addresses in the CA State Parks app. These updates are expected to be released later in the year.