GIS and Next Generation Public Safety

Norman H. Forshee, 911 Coordinator St Clair County ETSB

What is Next Generation 911?

   Modern advancements in communications technology require a more advanced 911 system Emphasis on wireless and IP-based communication Next generation 911 system should respond anytime, anywhere, from any device

911 PSAPs Will Become Emergency Communications Hubs  In addition to traditional 911 callers, there are: • Approximately 180 million cell phone subscribers • Trucks with GPS and communications systems • Devices that can provide additional data to the PSAP such as text messages, pictures, and videos • Increasing numbers of voice over IP (VoIP) telephone subscribers

Next Generation 911 System

Next Generation 911 Relies on GIS  Static street addresses do not apply to wireless and IP-based devices  Lat/long coordinates now define a callers location

GIS for X/Y Routing of 911 Calls

 GIS boundary files determine which 911 call center will receive a call based on the associated lat/long coordinates 911 Call with Lat/ Long Coordinates Database Provider with GIS Data for Jurisdictional Boundaries Coordinates Plotted over Boundaries Call Delivered to Comm Center in that Jurisdiction

911 Telecommunicators Need GIS to Interpret Caller Location  Lat/long coordinates are not easily interpreted like a street address is  Plotting the coordinates using GIS with other reference data allows for easy interpretation of relative location  Responding agencies can also this access real time location data

Future Considerations

 National routing database program for X/Y routing   Standardization and local control over jurisdictional boundaries on a large scale Data standards with gap/overlap monitoring between jurisdictions