NG9-1-1 & GIS
The Role of GIS
In
Next Generation 9-1-1
Introduction
Presented by
Gordon Chinander, GISP
Metropolitan Emergency Services Board
Jackie Mines, ENP
Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Kathy Liljequist, GISP
GeoComm, Inc.
Topics of Discussion

History of 911

9-1-1 / E9-1-1 & NG9-1-1

GIS utilization in E9-1-1/NG9-1-1
History of 911
 March 10, 1876 Alexander Graham Bell made
the first call for help during testing of his gear, when he
spilled battery acid on his clothing and said those
famous words…”Watson, come here. I want you!”

July 8, 1937

1957

June 21, 1959
Britain implements its 999 emergency
telephone system serving police, fire and ems.
The National Fire Chiefs reportedly suggest a
single number for reporting fires
North America first 999 system was
introduced in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
History of 911

Feb 1967

Jan 12, 1968
<cont.>
President Lyndon Johnson Commission on
Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice issues its
report recommending a single number to call, and that
number should be used nationwide.
AT&T announces their designation of
“911” as a universal number at a press conference in Wash
DC.
 Why 911? It came down to the fact that the digit 9 was
the easiest to clear for access, because in many
systems it was already clear; in others, equipment
changes were small. The caller would then place the
finger into the 1st position on the dial (rotary) and dial it
two times. The outcome would be 9-1-1!
History of 911

2 pm, Feb 16, 1968

1976
<cont.>
First 911 call was made in
Haleyville, AL. using a “Bright Red” phone
The city of Chicago, IL, claimed to have the
nation’s first “Enhanced 911 system” of any major city.
History of 911

<cont.>
December 1982 Minneapolis-St. Paul implements an
E911 system that was reportedly the first multi-county
Enhanced system in the country. It served the seven
surrounding counties. In 2006 this system was expanded
to 8 counties and is still, geographically, the largest
Enhanced 911 system in the country

March 31, 1998 The first phase 1 system (wireless
calls display phone number and address or receiving
tower) in the US in Allen County (Ind.)

April 1, 1998 Wireless carriers must be able to supply
Phase I capability <callback number and receiving tower
address.

October 1, 2001 Wireless carrier must be able to
supply PSAPs with Phase II (Call back No., Lat/long of
caller <accuracy dependant of technology>) Estimated
today at over 268,000,000 US wireless subscribers
(International Assoc of wireless telecommunications
Industry)
History of 911
<cont.>

December 1982

March 31, 1998 The first phase 1 system (wireless
Minneapolis-St. Paul implements
an E911 system that was reportedly the first multi-county
Enhanced system in the country. It served the seven
surrounding counties. In 2006 this system was expanded
to 8 counties and is still, geographically, the largest
Enhanced 911 system in the country
calls display phone number and address or receiving
tower) in the US in Allen County (Ind.)

2007
Minnesota is one of the leaders in transitioning
into NG911, with NG911 pilot projects presently
underway in the state.
Basic 9-1-1 Call Delivery
Voice/ANI
PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point)
ANI Controller
ANI
Subscriber
dials 911
Carrier
End
Office
651-201-7550
Automatic Number
Identification
ALI Controller
= Voice Path
PBX
• Caller dials 9-1-1
ALIfrom either wireline or wireless
Database
and call is routed
to end office switch.
• End office switch sends voice and telephone
number to PSAP
Today’s E9-1-1 Call Delivery
PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point)
Voice/ANI
ANI Controller
Subscriber
dials 911
Carrier
End
Office
9-1-1
Selective
Router
ANI
651-201-7550
Automatic Number
Identification
ALI Controller
PBX
2 56K circuits
911
(Send)
= Voice Path
11353 Hillcrest Dr. N.
Or Latitude/Longitude
Wireless Carrier
End Office
ALI
ALI:Database
Automatic
Location Information
= Data Path
• Caller dials 9-1-1 from either wireline or wireless and call is routed to end office switch.
• End office switch sends voice and telephone number (ANI) to the Selective Router.
• Selective Router verifies routing instructions and sends Voice and ANI to correct Public Safety
Answering Point (PSAP).
• PSAP requests a bid for location information (ALI) from 9-1-1 ALI Database.
• ALI Database sends location information back to PSAP.
• All happens within seconds.
Successful for
more than 30
years but stretched
to the limit!!
Next Generation 9-1-1

What is Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1)

Fundamental objective of NG9-1-1 is
interoperability of network and systems for voice,
data and radio among emergency response
agencies at a local, regional and national level

Set of coordinated applications on an IP internetwork
that services multiple government functions and
seamlessly interfaces voice and electronic data
NENA NG9-1-1
Architecture and
Interfaces - Transitional
March 2007
E911 & GIS

How is GIS utilized E911?

Wireline <Traditional Phone lines>
E911 & GIS

How is GIS utilized E911?

Wireless <cellular phone>
E911 & GIS

How is GIS utilized E911?

Voice over Internet Protocol <VoIP>
E911 & GIS

How is GIS utilized in NG911?
GIS and Public Safety
PSAP
911 Voice
TELCO
Selective Router Table Updates
SR
Database
911 CPE
Selective Router
ALI
Spill
MSAG
Updates
MSAG
ALI
Dip
TN
Updates
MSAG
Updates
ALI
Database
Calltaker
Workstation
ALI
Spill
MSAG
Updates
911
Coordination
GIS
Updates
(OPTIONAL)
GIS
GIS
Updates
Mapped ALI
Diagram provided by microData
Data Specifications



Higher level of specifications
Data Synchronization
Data uniformity
National Emergency Number
Association
NENA


Developing Data Synchronization
guidelines
TDC/ODC Conference

Full day to GIS
Questions???
Minnesota Governor Council’s
EPC NG911 Workgroup
Goal:
To educate Minnesota’s 911 community on the
role of GIS in Next Generation 9-1-1
Co-Chairs
Jackie Mines, ENP – DPS State 911 Program
Gordon Chinander, GISP Metropolitan Emergency Services Board
Minnesota Governor Council’s
EPC NG911 Workgroup
Agenda
• Educate Minnesota’s 9-1-1 community on the efforts to
standardize, on a national level, NG9-1-1 GIS Datasets
• Provide guidance and data standards (per NENA) for GIS
datasets that are to utilized for 9-1-1
• Support and provide documentation to Minnesota’s 9-1-1
communities for preparing GIS data for use in NG9-1-1
•Reconciling centerlines with Master Street Address Guides
(MSAG), and Emergency Service Zone (ESZ)
•Synchronizing street centerlines with MSAG
•Creation of Delta MSAGs
• Develop support through various means to establish 9-1-1 GIS
datasets (geocodeable street centerlines, Emergency Service
Zones) in Minnesota communities.
Minnesota Governor Council’s
EPC NG911 Workgroup
Co-Chairs
Jackie Mines, ENP - DPS State 911 Program Manager
ph: 651.201.7550
email: jackie.mines@state.mn.us
Gordon Chinander, GISP - MESB GIS Manager
ph: 651.643.8379
email: gchinander@mn-mesb.org