As the nation’s public safety answering points head in the direction of next-generation 911 (NG911) to deliver location specific emergency alerts and accept text, data, images and video from citizens via cell phones and other devices, localities are asking the question “Where do we begin?”

According to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), a NG911 system consists of hardware, software, data, and operation policies and procedures in order to:
provide standardized interfaces from call and message services;

• process all types of emergency calls, including multimedia messages;
• acquire and integrate additional data useful to call routing and handling;
• deliver the calls/messages and data to the appropriate public safety answering points and other appropriate emergency entities;
• support data and communications needs for coordinated incident response and management; and
• provide a secure environment for emergency communications.

Kathy Liljequist, a GIS consultant for GeoComm Inc., and frequent presenter at public safety conferences, discussed how jurisdictions can begin preparing their map data for NG911.

1.    Start now. Liljequist said preparing map data for NG911 will be a process and isn’t a project that can be completed in just 30 days. “There’s going to be a need to start getting their map data, [Master Street Address Guide] and [Automatic Location Identification] databases synchronized,” she said.

2.    Develop a local knowledge base. “Are they going to have someone who’s going to be able to help them through that process in their own jurisdiction?” Liljequist asked.

3.    Develop accurate ZIP code boundaries. Liljequist said to start working with the general data that’s available, but officials must remember that the data may or may not be accurate. “Then work with the local agencies, the local post offices, look at their resources within the county — possibly the assessor’s office would help give them assistance in the refinement of those boundaries,” she said.

4.    Develop a sound maintenance plan. The plan should focus on ensuring that data is kept up-to-date. Liljequist said the plan should include working with the local agency that assigns new street addresses. “How is that address assignment going to get communicated up to public safety to make sure it gets incorporated into the maintenance process?” she asked.

5.    Re-examine the workflow process at least twice annually for the first one to two years of implementation. “Once they develop that workflow, they need to understand that it’s a work in progress, and they need to see: How well did we do? Are we achieving the goals that we set?” Liljequist said. After the first one to two years are over, she said if the jurisdictions feel comfortable that their developed workflow is still providing the results needed, then they can review it on an as-needed basis.

To help localities with the impending tasks to develop NG911, NENA created a document to help guide jurisdictions through the process. “It’s a scary thought for the jurisdictions that this responsibility falls on them, and that’s one of the reasons NENA put together this document to try to support them through this process and give them some guidance,” Liljequist said.

She also stressed the need for GIS in NG911. “It’s going to be used for the routing of those calls and so everybody has to get their data up to those levels, and it’s the responsibility of the local jurisdiction to do that.”