Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work
How Google Open Location Codes create open-source, unlicensed street addresses for every 14m x 14m square on Earth.
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1. The Global Addressing Challenge
Over 2 billion people worldwide lack an official street address, making it difficult to receive deliveries, register for municipal services, or direct emergency responders. Google Open Location Code (Plus Codes) solves this by creating alphanumeric digital addresses from GPS coordinates.
2. The 20-Character Base20 Alphabet
Plus Codes use a custom 20-character alphabet (23456789CFGHJMPQRVWX) that explicitly avoids vowels (A, E, I, O, U) to prevent spelling accidental offensive words, and excludes easily confused characters (1, L, 0, O).
3. Global vs. Local Codes
A full 10-character code (e.g. 849VCWC8+R9) works anywhere on Earth without context. A shortened local code (e.g. CWC8+R9 Mountain View) pairs the last 6 characters with a reference city name.
People Also Ask About Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work
Answers to key questions, practical applications, and calculation methods covered in this tutorial.
QWhat is the primary objective of this guide on "Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work"?
How Google Open Location Codes create open-source, unlicensed street addresses for every 14m x 14m square on Earth.
QHow do I calculate or test the scenarios discussed in "Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work"?
You can use the companion Plus Code Converter on GeoMap Suite to test live coordinates, enter customized distances, and view instant geodetic calculations.
QWhy is this topic essential for surveyors, planners, and GIS analysts?
Understanding these geodetic principles prevents severe planar distortion errors, miscalculated land acreage, and inaccurate driving route projections.
QCan I replicate the formulas from "Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work" in Python or QGIS?
Yes. All formulas adhere to standard geodetic libraries including GeographicLib, Proj4, and GDAL, ensuring full reproducibility in desktop GIS software.
QWhat is the most frequent mistake people make regarding "Google Plus Codes (Open Location Code): How Global Digital Addresses Work"?
The most common mistake is relying on flat 2D planar geometry or basic spherical approximations instead of ellipsoidal geodesics on the WGS84 datum.
QWhere can I explore more guides in the Coordinates category?
Visit our Guides knowledge hub to explore complementary tutorials on coordinate reference systems, buffer mapping, and vector GIS formats.