"Emergency location" apps – any recommendations?

fid02

Since AOSP and GrapheneOS does not support AML, when you call an emergency service number your phone will not automatically gather a location fix and send it to the emergency call center. If you cannot give an accurate description of your location in an emergency, and you need a dispatch team sent to your position, the person in the call center will have to rely on cellular network location data gathered by the cellular carrier – the precision of which can range from about a hundred meters to several kilometers. [source 1] , [source 2, ch. 3.2.3 (PDF)]

If either the mobile OS or the call center does not support AML, then map apps can help you explain where you are. But from experience, most map apps don't display location coordinates unless you tap around in sometimes unintuitive menus. I'm looking for apps that can quickly give users a location coordinate upon opening the app, display the user's position on a map, indicate the precision of the location data, and function offline.

Quick rundown of AML

AML is included and enabled by default on most operating systems on most smartphones sold on the market. AML can be disabled, is not magic nor is it complex: AML features are triggered when someone calls an emergency number, such as 911, upon which the phone automatically and silently – so as not to disturb the user – tries to gather the phone's location by using GNSS, Wi-Fi and cell data. During the call, the phone sends the location data by either SMS or HTTPS in real time to the emergency call center, and the location data are displayed live to the center receiving the call. This data includes coordinates, time of positioning and a data precision estimate. The phone sends updated location data to the call center for the duration of the call. A prerequisite is that the region you're located in has implemented the infrastructure for AML. [source 2 (PDF)] , [source 3 (PDF)] , [source 4] , [source 5]

While AML can quickly provide a dispatch team with mostly precise location data (down to 5 meters, but on average around 20-50 in tests [source 2, ch. 3.2.3 (PDF)] ), it's like any other technology and can fail when you actually need it. Even if you're calling from an OS that supports AML, it might fail to gather or send the data, or the AML service on the call center's servers might fail, and you don't want to wait for them to restart it… Having an alternative mean of quickly providing your location can be very helpful. Especially if you're located in a rural area, on a mountain, or otherwise far away from a specific address.

What I think an "emergency location" app ideally should include

coordinates, that are quickly accessible with no/little user interaction – preferably visible right after opening the app
precision estimate of the current location data
location updates in real time, without user interaction
a map, available offline
data is clearly displayed (i.e. not in a tiny, grey font on a white background)

And preferably also

list local emergency numbers
display nearby emergency rooms on the map

And in general

location data should stay on the device
should not depend on Play services to function

This might be a tall order, especially the two latter points I expect to be a rare occurence, but I'm interested in hearing if you're using any similar apps and whether you can recommend any of them.

Pavestone2734

Have you considered a run of the mill map app like Organic Maps in the meantime? It's not exactly what you're looking for but seems like it covers most of the use cases. At this point you could just strip the unnecessary functions from an app like that and rebuild it around emergency functions. Although I don't know of a single app that does this currently.

fid02 coordinates, that are quickly accessible with no/little user interaction – preferably visible right after opening the app

Considering we don't factor in the time it takes to enable location services and the wait-time for the location services to get the accurate location, as soon as the map focuses on the user you can tap on the My location navigation marker which immediately displays coordinates.

precision estimate of the current location data

As precise as any service could be I guess

location updates in real time, without user interaction

Check

a map, available offline

Check check

data is clearly displayed (i.e. not in a tiny, grey font on a white background)

It's a little font but it's visible and could be improved with a PR.

list local emergency numbers

Hmm. This should be built in to some extent as IMS services(/towers?) should provide emergency numbers via the cell network, at least I saw some menu within the OS, maybe in the Owner profile? It is obviously not built into OMaps. It however should not rely on a predetermined database, maybe as a backup, and should use the device provided emergency number if there is even any. You should probably not rely on an app for emergency number info anyway and should inform yourself beforehand. The device itself should be able to tell you though somehow.

display nearby emergency rooms on the map

Don't you mean like hospitals or do you mean medical locations in general like doctors offices? It is unclear for me what the use case would be for a feature like this.

There are some (semi) official apps in certain countries that list IED's for example, but those are locally focused and more carefully maintained databases. Maintaining an "emergency room" database would be difficult and should be done via official channels, also not every country would want to maintain such a database.

There is also the question whether you should take a person or go to a medical location like that considering that it's a diceroll whether they will be able to help. If the issue is serious you will not be going looking for a medical location you will be calling 911 and the other person would not be able to walk there, or be taken there. Likewise if it's not a life and death serious issue you won't be using an emergency app for medical location you'll either call 911 or visit your GP. There's a reason people don't go looking for medical locations and they call 911 when a health emergency arises. In the case of some mass diseaster people will be either using a regular map and help will be coming anyways. Anyhow you should not rely on a pre collected database or a single app like that. You should only even rely on Google Maps if it's not an emergency and you're just looking for a hospital.

location data should stay on the device

Check

should not depend on Play services to function

Check (foss version)

Wadder

fid02 as @Watermelon suggested What3Words as the recommended source when in contact with the emergency services, due to its user simplicity, and ease of staying words in a high-pressure situations

Watermelon

There's an app I've heard of long ago called What3words, but I haven't used it in a long time. The whole point of the app is opening it directly to pseudo coordinates that were designed so that very similarly sounding coordinates would be on a totally different position on Earth so mishearings on phone is mostly a solved issue.

fid02

Pavestone2734 Thank you for your comments on the post. It certainly helps me reflect!

I checked out Organic Maps and was surprised at how easily I could access coordinates – just tap on the location marker, and scroll up from the "My Position" menu that appears. It's a bit distracting that the coordinates update every second, but I found that I could long-press on them to get a static overview. The text is a bit tiny, but as you say a PR can be submitted to try to change that. I'm admittedly a bit embarassed that I didn't consider such a popular app before making the thread.

The point about whether or not to trust an app with a list of emergency numbers and emergency rooms and hospitals is a good one. Especially if such a list is to be maintained on a volunteer basis, and not come from an official source. If you need to drive someone to an emergency ward, and that app shows you an outdated or wrong location… And having a list of local numbers saved in your contacts seems to be the most reliable approach.

With that I think this thread can be marked as solved.

fid02

Wadder Thank you for the recommendation. That seems like it could be a very handy app if the emergency call center also uses it. If they don't, then I imagine reading aloud three words from the app won't help the call center to determine a location.