National Public Toilet Map
Encyclopedia
The National Public Toilet Map is part of the Australia
n government's National Continence Management Strategy (NCMS). The map allows more Australians with urinary
and fecal incontinence
problems to live and participate in their communities with dignity and confidence, by making it easier for them to find information about the location of public toilet
s.
The map was launched in September 2001. The map is internet
based and identifies 14,000 public and private toilets across Australia, including those in service stations and fast food outlets. The digital map also provides information on accessibility
(access for disabled people) and opening hours for most of the toilets identified.
More than 3.8 million Australians are estimated to suffer continence issues, including families with young children. This represents 18% of the Australian population.
The map allows journey planning, including finding toilets near points of interest. Regular users of the web site can register and create their own customised web page
, My Toilet Map, saving details of trips and localities for future reference. Registered users can also download toilets as waypoints to a Global Positioning System (GPS)
device.
For journey planning a detailed map and written instructions are provided. Clickable icons
go to details of the toilets including latitude
and longitude
to four decimal places, who provides the toilet and when details were last checked as well as all facilities, for example wheelchair
access, opening hours, or whether the toilet has a Master Locksmiths'
Association Key (MLAK). The MLAK is a master key that fits into specially designed locks allowing 24 hour a day access to public toilets. Eligible people, for example those with a disability, can purchase a key that opens all accessible toilets displaying the MLAK symbol. The symbols used comply with ISO 7001
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n government's National Continence Management Strategy (NCMS). The map allows more Australians with urinary
Urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence is any involuntary leakage of urine. It is a common and distressing problem, which may have a profound impact on quality of life. Urinary incontinence almost always results from an underlying treatable medical condition but is under-reported to medical practitioners...
and fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is the loss of regular control of the bowels. Involuntary excretion and leaking are common occurrences for those affected. Subjects relating to defecation are often socially unacceptable, thus those affected may be beset by feelings of shame and humiliation...
problems to live and participate in their communities with dignity and confidence, by making it easier for them to find information about the location of public toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
s.
The map was launched in September 2001. The map is internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
based and identifies 14,000 public and private toilets across Australia, including those in service stations and fast food outlets. The digital map also provides information on accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
(access for disabled people) and opening hours for most of the toilets identified.
More than 3.8 million Australians are estimated to suffer continence issues, including families with young children. This represents 18% of the Australian population.
The map allows journey planning, including finding toilets near points of interest. Regular users of the web site can register and create their own customised web page
Web page
A web page or webpage is a document or information resource that is suitable for the World Wide Web and can be accessed through a web browser and displayed on a monitor or mobile device. This information is usually in HTML or XHTML format, and may provide navigation to other web pages via hypertext...
, My Toilet Map, saving details of trips and localities for future reference. Registered users can also download toilets as waypoints to a Global Positioning System (GPS)
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
device.
For journey planning a detailed map and written instructions are provided. Clickable icons
ISO 7001
ISO 7001 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that defines a set of pictograms and symbols for public information...
go to details of the toilets including latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
and longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
to four decimal places, who provides the toilet and when details were last checked as well as all facilities, for example wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
access, opening hours, or whether the toilet has a Master Locksmiths'
Locksmithing
Locksmithing began as the science and art of making and defeating locks. A lock is a mechanism that secures buildings, rooms, cabinets, objects, or other storage facilities. A key is often used to open a lock...
Association Key (MLAK). The MLAK is a master key that fits into specially designed locks allowing 24 hour a day access to public toilets. Eligible people, for example those with a disability, can purchase a key that opens all accessible toilets displaying the MLAK symbol. The symbols used comply with ISO 7001
ISO 7001
ISO 7001 is a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that defines a set of pictograms and symbols for public information...
.