First All-Ireland Digital Address Code System Launched
Loc8 Code, a revolutionary new all-Ireland digital address code, providing precise address information was today (12th July, 2010) launched at the The Science Gallery, Trinity College, Dublin. This new digital address code system will be of immense benefit to all businesses and individuals who need to receive and deliver products and services on the island of Ireland. There is research to show that the system can also deliver considerable savings in transport costs, for those using the system, because of the precision of the address when used in conjunction with a satellite navigation device.
TV personality, adventurer and worldwide traveler Charley Boorman spoke at the launch today.
The innovative business initiative, which has the support of Enterprise Ireland, and references map data from Ordnance Survey Ireland and Land & Property Services Northern Ireland (the official mapping agency of Northern Ireland), has been developed by Cork-based company Loc8 Code Ltd. in collaboration with Garmin Europe, a global leader in navigation and communications. Loc8 Code will employ up to 20 people, to ensure an effective and efficient roll out of the system.
Gary Delaney, CEO of Loc8 Code Ltd speaking at the launch said, ‘The Loc8 Codes will improve destination and address searches across the whole island of Ireland and enable consumers to generate their own codes, thereby pinpointing the specific location of their individual private residences and commercial properties to within +/- 6 metres. Consumers will then communicate their Loc8 Code to businesses such as multi-drop vehicles, web retailers and emergency services who, through the use of Garmin sat nav’s, will find their location more rapidly. The system, which is a smarter form of postcode, will therefore enhance and expedite the reaching of destinations, with monetary savings and several benefits in terms of lifestyles, time-management and, ultimately, our carbon footprint. A Loc8 Code is an add-on to traditional addresses and those addresses which are language independent. It is a more precise way to pinpoint any delivery point or address. Businesses and individuals can engage with the system on a voluntary basis and early indications are that we will massive participation right across the island’. The service is free to end users when they log on to Loc8 Code’s website, ie. consumers taking delivery of goods or availing of services.
Mr. Delaney went on to say that research carried out in the UK by Newcastle University, entitled ‘The Wayfinder Report’, indicated that up to 14% in fuel savings can be gleaned through the use of such a precise system. Delaney added that, because Ireland’s population is mostly rurally-based, the savings could reach 20% in this country.
Clive Taylor, Garmin’s Director of Product and Marketing added:
‘Reducing the stress of navigation or travel is key to Garmin’s ethos and the last few kilometers of a journey are often the most stressful. With Loc8 code now available on our sat nav’s, our customers now have a more precise solution when traveling around Ireland. This, coupled with immediate savings in terms of journey times, fuel and money, represents a significant step forward in satellite navigation in Ireland which our customers can benefit from.’
It is anticipated that Loc8 Codes will be widely available throughout Ireland by Quarter 3, 2010. Additionally, Loc8 Codes have exposed the potential to uniquely identify the exact location of events, landmarks and other points of interest, revolutionising the way people describe and navigate to destinations across the whole of Ireland. This development has the potential to facilitate concert-goers and festival-lovers as they navigate their way to the country’s top attractions.
The system, which, according to the recent Irish Government’s Oireachtas Report could be suitable for adoption as the NATIONAL postcode, is very simple to use, and works through the input of address information of any location into the Loc8 Code website (www.loc8code.com), and the site then generates a unique navigation code and assigns it to the individual location. It will be suitable to anyone who relies upon navigating to or finding the location of an individual location; whether a private consumer or delivery business. Not only can the code be used in a SatNav or GPS enabled mobile device, but also it can be used in conjunction with a web address to map a location easily – www.loc8code.com/W8L-82-4YK will show the Loc8 Code on a map.
The potential applications for Loc8 Codes are numerous – from issuing specific directions for navigation with a sat nav to providing the most detailed address of a private residence or business. In the first instance, consumers will be able to address any confusion when spelling an address or keying it into a sat nav. A shortened version of the code can be used for Social Networking purposes
Charley Boorman, actor and adventurer (son of the Irish film Director John Boorman who lives in Wicklow) commenting on the effectiveness of the code said: ‘It makes absolute sense to streamline the means by which people can locate and reach their desired destination. Driving and travelling should be fun and safe, but reaching a destination on time and in good form is very important. Loc8 Codes will take the hassle out of finding your way – so at last we can locate and navigate easily and accurately with a Loc8 Code!’ An adventurer, travel writer and actor, who took part in the BBC2 UK programme By Any Means, which brought him all around the world starting in his home town in County Wicklow and ending in Sydney, Australia and several other extraordinary expeditions, Boorman was chosen to launch Loc8codes because of his unique ability to find his way all over the world, completing journeys “by any means” and giving such great pleasure and insights into the wonders of the world through his tv, literary and social genius.
The event attracted several business leaders, including those in the transport and tourism categories, along with several celebrities and members of the media from all over Ireland.
For further information, or to arrange an interview with representatives of Loc8 Code Ltd., Garmin Europe, or Charley Boorman please call:
Mary Hopkins/Judy Hopkins
Hopkins Communications Cork Ireland
Tel: 00 353 21 4272200;
Mobile: 00 353 87 2540804 (Mary) or 00 353 86 3120752 (Judy).
pr@hopkinscommunications.ie
Press enquiries also to:
Wally Young,
Young Communications Dublin Ireland
Mobile: 00 353 87 2471520, Tel: 00 353 1 6345210
email: youngcom@eircom.net
Editors Notes:
Loc8 Code Ltd., headquartered at Church Bay, Crosshaven, Co. Cork, W8L-82-4YK. Loc8 Codes, formerly PON Codes were developed and tested by GPS Ireland, a GPS specialist company based in Cork which delivers solutions to professional users of GPS (Global Positioning Systems) in Ireland. GPS Ireland has been involved in GPS for over 12 years and began to develop Loc8 Codes in 2006 as a result of demand from clients. Loc8 Code Ltd has now been formed to launch and support Loc8 Codes into the market as new enterprise. CEO Gary Delaney is a former Naval Officer, and is an experienced land and hydrographic surveyor who has advised and trained both Government and Blue Chip organisations in the use of GPS for everything from precise surveying to people tracking. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and professional member of the Irish Institution of Surveyors and has worked in the GPS industry in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Gary has supported Garmin and their products in Ireland since 1997.
Enterprise Ireland: Supported by Enterprise Ireland under its High Potential Start Up Programme,
A ‘high potential start up’ is defined as a company which is:
• Based on technological innovation;
• Likely to achieve significant growth in 3 years (sales of €1.0m per annum and employment of 10 or more)
• Export oriented
• Ideally, led by an experienced team, with a mixture of technical and commercial competencies.
This definition includes early stage, product led R&D companies, with equivalent sales and employment potential, following successful completion of a defined pre-commercialisation phase.
Loc8 Code Ltd’s Directors are Gary Delaney of GPS Ireland, and Chairman Tony Carson a successful UK based business man who was born in Belfast and the son of the renowned comedian Frank Carson. Tony is a prominent figure in the Northern Ireland Charity ‘The Integrated Education Fund’ along with his father, and Tony is the author of a supportive fund-raising book Integrate to Accumulate – an economic argument for an integrated education system.
Both Jim Nolan, an experienced business advisor and Hugh Carson, a property developer, are also directors.
Tony is a prominent figure in the Educate Together Programme in Northern Ireland, with his father. Both Jim Nolan, an experienced business advisor and Hugh Carson, a property developer, are also directors.
Ordnance Survey: The project is collaboration between Garmin Europe and Loc8 Code Ltd., using Ordnance Survey Ireland and Land & Property services (the official mapping agency of Northern Ireland) map data. Benefits of Loc8 Codes:
• Potential for up to 20% fuel savings (more than 30 days free driving in a working year) in the ROI and NI areas.
• Deliveries at the time you want them.
• Have goods picked up by couriers from home where before there were no pickups in non urban areas.
• In the event of an emergency services and first responders can find you without any delays.
• No Local knowledge needed to get places.
• Receptionist is not spending have the day on the phone giving directions how to get to your hotel/office.
• Web retailers know exact delivery costs.
• Plan deliveries and collections in advance by knowing exactly where you have to go.
• Add extra visits to attractions when on holidays by knowing exactly where they are.
• Have your pizza delivered quicker.
• Have the Sky engineer arrive exactly when he said.
• Have the plumber arrive before Noah!
• No more watching and waving for the taxi ordered for the night out.
• Catch your flight - because the taxi finds you first time.
• Know exactly where key staff live if you have to get them to work in a hurry.
• Have your new Fridge delivered at exactly the time you can be there to open the door.
• Make sure everyone can find your car boot sale.
• Direct people to the correct entrance and car park for the music festival/ploughing championships.
• Make sure people know where your stand is at the ploughing championships.
• Make sure you know exactly where the property you are renting is for Cork Week
International sailing event in Crosshaven, Co. Cork.
A National Postcode - the limitations of a postcode system for Ireland
While the Irish Government has acknowledged the fact that Ireland needs a postcode system, it has not yet delivered on the system that was tabled for launch in January 2008. The plans for the system suggest that a single code would cover anything up to 50 properties, which would do little to relieve the problem of ambiguous and non-unique addresses in Ireland. In addition, this type of code only supports navigating to properties. Loc8 Codes are designed to support finding everything from a car boot sale in the middle of a field, a stand at the National Ploughing Championships to a Luas stop.
Loc8 Code - An accurate postcode for the modern age
The Loc8 Code system is like a postcode for the modern age. This allows a unique code to be assigned to individual properties and locations across Ireland. People searching for businesses and residential properties can pinpoint their destination to within +/-6 metres. This means that, for the very first time, businesses can count on the fact that their customers and goods deliveries will be able to find them easily and quickly.
The Loc8 Code can be used in its full form which is able to check and correct itself and is therefore useable in safety critical situations such as fire and ambulance services. It can also be used in both 3 and 6 character versions if only general areas are required for Social Networking and if logistics people want to organise services into groups.
www.loc8code.com
The Wayfinder report – Newcastle University.
See key findings at the end of these Editors Notes.
Other SatNav Manufacturers and GPS Enabled Iphones/Mobile Phones:
Loc8 Code Ltd has already begun discussions with other SatNav and GPS phone /Iphone manufacturers to ensure Loc8 Codes are available on all their devices as quickly as possible. Garmin has provided the platform for development, testing and launch and is delighted to have helped introduce the system for everyone’s benefit and use.
Address
Loc8 Codes were carefully designed to ensure that they did not require anyone to change their existing address in any way. Loc8 Codes are added to an existing address and can even be used in addition to a Dublin postcode. It is up to users to decide to use them or not. A Loc8 Code is deliberately is designed to be independent of language so that there are no comprehension issues and so that it can be used anywhere on the island of Ireland without understanding the English or Irish Languages at all.
Key Findings of The Wayfinder Report – Newcastle University.
Research has been carried out by Newcastle University in the UK to test the effectiveness of satellite navigation on improving the efficiency of HGV operations. If, on balance, these were found to be positive for the freight industry, they would recommend the ways to improve the take up of satellite navigation systems in HGVs, with the aims of:
• Minimising mileage run;
• Congestion avoidance;
• Improving road safety;
• Using appropriate delivery routes;
• Reducing operator costs; and
• Reducing air pollution.
There were three sets of findings, quantitative from the trial data, qualitative from a questionnaire issued to drivers and Transport Managers following the trial and general findings obtained from desktop research and informal consultation.
Quantitative Data
The quantitative data collected during the trial has been analysed by the University of Newcastle to see whether satellite navigation can be said to affect the:
• number of minutes lost by a driver when finding a delivery/collection point;
• kilometres driven per litre of fuel; and
• kilograms of cargo carried per litre of fuel.
Positive Findings:
Collection and delivery work - The type of work rather than vehicle size appears to be the more important factor in determining whether SatNavs are going to be useful to a freight operator. Vehicles used on collection and delivery work, particularly multi-drop runs to or from a wide range of new addresses are likely to benefit significantly from the use of SatNav;
• Unfamiliar routes - All drivers are likely to benefit from having SatNav when on unfamiliar routes;
• New/agency drivers - New/agency drivers are generally unfamiliar with their routes and do stand to benefit the most from SatNav;
• Minutes lost looking for destinations - The trial found that on average drivers would spend 13 minutes a week, or 676 minutes a year, less looking for a destination when using a SatNav system;
• Reduction in the amount of time looking for destinations, “lost” – The reduction in the amount of time drivers spent looking for a destination depended on the type of operation.
• Multi-drop fleets saw reductions in minutes ’lost’ of between 30% and 89% depending on the type of operation. However, other fleets on trunking operations between small numbers of fixed points did not report any time savings. This is mainly because little time is lost anyway in trunking fleets.
• One fleet recorded an improvement of 14.2% in km/litre (fuel consumption)
Qualitative Data
The following is a summary of the qualitative information obtained from a questionnaire issued to drivers and Transport Managers after the trial:
Positive Findings:
Searching for locations - 95% of drivers in the trial felt that SatNav systems can save time;
• The need for SatNav in the freight industry - 89% of drivers reported that it is worth having SatNav in the freight industry. All participating transport managers were considering using SatNav within their HGV fleets permanently;
• Driver efficiency - 85% of transport managers rate SatNav as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ for improving driver efficiency;
• Reducing driver overtime costs - 58% of managers said that SatNav could be effective in reducing driver overtime costs;
• Reduced wasted mileage - 75% of drivers and 72% of managers felt SatNav systems could reduce the amount of wasted mileage incurred;
• Reducing fuel costs - All managers rated SatNav as potentially effective in reducing fuel costs;
• The current usefulness of SatNav - 59% of drivers and 62% of all the transport managers rated the usefulness of SatNav as ‘very good’ or ‘good’; and
• Safer driving - 52% of drivers rate SatNav as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ for safer driving but this percentage is not conclusive.
Desk-top Research and Informal Consultation (General Findings)
In addition to the findings that came from the quantitative and qualitative research there are a number of other notable points that came from desk-top research or consultation.
Positive Findings:
• Create Customer satisfaction - The benefits of customer satisfaction following goods arriving on time and good service are difficult to quantify but lead to customer retention. It was felt that a softer benefit of SatNav is that more deliveries could be made on time;
• Driver aid – In the same way that having a good atlas or a local A to Z provides confidence that a destination can be found, a reliable SatNav can offer this “peace of mind”. This confidence needs to be built up over days of successful running and is not a quantifiable factor but nevertheless good systems can reduce worry;
• Payback period - The trial found that on average 13 minutes a week or 11 hours per unit a year would be saved. If the cost of a vehicle is approximately £25 per hour then the 11 hours per vehicle saved would equate to £275 per year. Assuming the cost of way finding equipment was about £100 when the report was compiled, then the payback on the initial cost would take about 0.36 years. If the units are acquired in a more targeted, selective way then the payback period would be shorter. This is a shorter payback period than for many other items in the transport industry;
• Integration with other computer systems – SatNav systems will really become popular when vehicle routing and scheduling systems can automatically download routes into the SatNavs and the systems also feature “real-time” traffic information that informs the driver so that alternative routes can be taken. At this point it is likely to be a necessity for many larger fleets.
From the research team’s knowledge of freight operations the following is a list of industry sectors for which satellite navigation might be particularly beneficial:
• Parcel/courier and home delivery services;
• Groupage / general haulage;
• Rural haulage operations (farms); and
Specialist operations; for example car transporters, home/office relocation companies, skip companies and international haulage. Ends.