Emergency services need location information – it is a simple fact. And yet, in most cases, the information they receive is not accurate enough.

Problematic emergency location has many implications, from lives lost to high operational costs for emergency services and authorities.

One of the solutions to this issue is HTML5 Geolocation, a technique used by some emergency services to request accurate location from a caller’s smartphone.

How does it work?

When a citizen dials an emergency number, the most appropriate public safety anwering point (PSAP) receives the call. If the network location information provided to the PSAP by the Mobile Network Operator is unavailable or inaccurate, the PSAP can send an SMS to the caller with an embedded web link. The caller then opens the SMS and clicks on the link, sending the GNSS-based location to the PSAP.

Your main reference point for HTML5 Geolocation

Check out the latest EENA Technical document to understand the capabilities and impact of HTML5 Geolocation, as well as to view some examples of how public safety entities and commercial businesses use it today. You can find the link to the document in the sidebar.

EENA would like to thank Mr. Johan Sanden for his excellent contributions to this document.