The power of geolocation

One of the great accomplishments of the 21st century is the ability to determine locations very accurately.

- DEVANGSHU DATTA

A smartphone can easily geo-locate itself inside a square with 3.5 metres or less on each side, using open location codes ("plus codes").

Plus codes simplify the representation of a given spot, using extended longitude and latitude coordinates with subdivisions of minutes and seconds. Plus codes use a Base 20 number system to convert the Lat-Long readings into shorter formats. Geometers can also add the international height reference frame to adjust differences in sea-levels with baseline "zero-height".

The maths is not conceptually hard. The accuracy of measurement is critical. That accuracy comes from 21st century's satellites, which measure time and distance with remarkable accuracy. The same spot is targeted by many satellites to ensure accurate geolocation.

Geolocation is a classic example of technology with multiple applications. Amazon, Blinkit, Swiggy, Uber, Lyft, and Google, among others, use it to locate obscure places. Emergency services like ambulances, police, fire brigade, find it useful. Civil engineers design road and sewage systems and power grids with it. Municipalities use it to check tax records. Logistics services, shippers, airlines, cut millions off costs with it.