Latest Sale discusses location-based services or LBS services in telecommunications this week, conveying the pros and cons of its deployment in the emergency service sector. LBS take advantage of the connection between a wireless network and a handheld device. The technology offers situational awareness, informing users of their current location and providing directions to their next location, including information on varying localities, exit routes, and their surroundings.
LBS facilitate the emergency services use of GIS technology incorporating geographic information systems to deliver location-based emergency alerts and instructions to users during disasters. However, despite its clear advantages, LBS is not available to everyone and there is a risk of sensitive information leaking.