Navigational Aid: Designed to Assist You in Navigating the Wiesn Site
The city of Munich has embraced a revolutionary location system called "what3words", which divides the world into 3x3 meter squares and assigns unique combinations of three words to each square. This system, originally from the UK, aims to provide a simple and precise way to specify exact locations, especially in areas without street addresses.
According to Police Chief Inspector Christian Drexler, the system can be particularly useful for emergencies, such as a flat tire in the Perlacher Forest, to prevent long search operations. Since January 2025, the Bavarian police have been able to automatically access the location of callers to the emergency number 110 using the "what3words" system. However, for data protection reasons, they cannot access other location systems.
The words used in the "what3words" system are chosen randomly and are meant to be simple, short, and easy to understand. Each combination of three words is unique, preventing any confusion. This uniqueness also makes the system useful for private users, such as meeting at a specific location or finding the right entrance to a beer tent at Oktoberfest.
The Munich Police Presidency has been using the "what3words" system since 2021, both at Oktoberfest and outside the event. The Wiesnwache, one of the locations using the system at Oktoberfest, has a unique three-word address. Many other security services, such as paramedics and firefighters, can also locate you via the three-word addresses at Oktoberfest.
Laura Schediwy, from "what3words", explained in an interview that the system was created to provide a human-friendly way to determine exact locations. Unlike other location systems like Google Maps, "what3words" does not require internet access and uses GPS for location determination.
The "what3words" system restricts each square to about the size of a parking lot for precision, while still offering enough possibilities for word combinations. The company was introduced in Germany by at least September 2025, as it was being promoted and used in local applications in Ehrenfeld, Bochum at that time.
Drexler emphasised that the "what3words" system is primarily a practical tool, and is reliable and precise. He believes that the system will greatly improve the efficiency of emergency services and daily navigation in Munich.
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