Guests are able to check-in via locations visible within the mobile app and they are displayed within the app based on the configuration of the location within the Platform. The app is able to determine the proximity of a Guest to a location based on the Longitude & Latitude entered within the location configuration in the Platform.
The accuracy of a location is based on the number of decimal points/places used because each point provides additional accuracy. For example:
- The first decimal point/place is accurate up to 11.1 KM = 6.90 MI
- The Accuracy with the 1st decimal point provides the ability to determine one large city from a large city nearby
- The sixth decimal point/place is accurate up to 0.11m = 10 centimeters or about 4 inches
- The Accuracy with the 6th decimal point provides the ability for laying out structures in detail/building roads/tracking movements of glaciers & rivers.
- The decimal points are important because with a Guest Checkin where locations/stores are as close to each other as a few thousand feet apart; the number of decimal points/places utilized in the Longitude/Latitude will allow the Guests device to determine which location they are nearest.
- If 1 decimal point/place is used (Long/Lat) and 2 locations are within 3 miles of each other an error may be received upon a Guest Checkin
- The Guest's Mobile device will run into an issue determining which location they are performing the Checkin.
- If 6 decimal points/places are used (Long/Lat) and 2 locations are within 450 yards/1,350 feet of each other the Guest Checkin will be successful.
- The Guest's Mobile device will be able to determine which location they are performing the Checkin
- If 1 decimal point/place is used (Long/Lat) and 2 locations are within 3 miles of each other an error may be received upon a Guest Checkin
It is recommended to use no more than 6 decimal points/places because mobile phone GPS chips are unable to determine the accuracy of Longitude/Latitude above 6 decimal points/places. Anything above 7 decimal points/places is "the limit of what GPS-based techniques can achieve."
The link below provides additional reading on the topic or you can perform a Google search at your convenience.
- https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/8650/measuring-accuracy-of-latitude-and-longitude/8674#8674
- Google Search - "Accuracy of Longitude and Latitude"