Key Points on Plus Codes

What are Plus Codes?

• A system developed by Google as an alternative to traditional street addresses.
• Consists of short combinations of letters and numbers followed by a geographic location.
• Provides a more accurate identification of locations within a few meters anywhere on the planet.

Advantages of Plus Codes

• More precise than traditional addresses and can replace them in certain situations.
• Useful in areas with unfamiliar or non-existent address systems (e.g., blocks in Japanese cities or landmark-based addresses in Latin American countries).
• Can assist in remote locations without addresses, aiding in navigation and emergency situations.

How Plus Codes Work

• Based on traditional latitude and longitude coordinates but are shorter.
• World is divided into 20°x20° latitude and longitude blocks, then subdivided into 20x20 grids repeatedly.
• Resulting blocks average 3.5 meters wide.
• Translated into an 11-character code, which can be shortened.

Usage Examples

• Beneficial in informal urban areas like favelas and tent cities for deliveries, accessing services, and banking.
• Implemented by nonprofits (e.g., Addressing the Unaddressed in Kolkata, India) and used in rural Native American lands in the US.
• Helps with voter registration, emergency services, and mail delivery.

Integration with Technology

• Compatible with Google Maps, allowing easy sharing and integration with services like Uber or DoorDash.
• Also supported by other mapping apps like Organic Maps and Osmand due to its open-source nature.

Limitations

• Not likely to replace traditional addresses entirely for formal applications (e.g., mailing services like FedEx).

Additional Content

• Plus codes are part of initiatives aiming to solve address challenges in underserved areas globally.
• The algorithm allows easy adoption across different digital mapping platforms.