Intrado, GIS Data Resources map almost 5 million GIS address points for New York State

Late last year marked the completion of one of the largest address-point mapping projects in the United States. Covering 54,000 square miles, two leading companies in the public-safety and GIS spaces were tasked with creating new address points, as well as standardizing, validating and enhancing the location accuracy of existing address points across New York State.

In 2009 The U. S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) started awarding grants to states to fund broadband mapping and planning activities. The State Broadband Initiative was used to help integrate broadband and information technology into state and local economies.

Faced with the challenge of collecting and verifying the availability, speed and location of broadband across the state, New York State identified its Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) as a recipient of the available state funds. The goal was to create new address points and to standardize, validate and enhance the accuracy of existing address points across the state. Accurate, consistent and quality Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data that is current, clear and in an accessible format also would be used for purposes other than emergency response.

There was a need for sustainable GIS data for use by the public-safety agencies for emergency responses throughout the state. They also understood that building GIS data to meet the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standard for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) meant the data would be more precise, up-to-date and manageable.

The challenge was to map almost 5 million structure or civic address points throughout the 57 counties in the state, making the effort one of the largest address-point mapping projects in the United States.

Intrado, a leading provider of 9-1-1 technology solutions and a subsidiary of West Corporation, teamed with GIS Data Resources (GDR) to pursue the mapping goals.

Because the project was so complex and widespread, Intrado and GDR recognized that communication on a regular basis was required to keep the project on target. Local and county government partners across the state were to participate in the data collection, so it was necessary to make local outreach and communication a top priority. Each county had different challenges and questions that were handled quickly and accurately by the Intrado and GDR data services team.

Communication, cooperation and knowledge sharing between the parties contributed to the successful completion of a statewide enterprise geocoding service that will allow for consistent, accurate location identification results that can be updated and maintained for use in any emergency situation. All of the state’s address points are now in accordance with the NENA addressing standards and follow the guidelines for NG 9-1-1.

“Intrado is at the forefront of advancing 911 across the country, and the state of New York street address mapping project is a great example,” said Steve Lowe, Intrado senior vice president. “This state-level initiative is one of the largest address-point validation and creation projects of its kind and is providing highly accurate location information for next-generation 911 call routing—in effect, reducing response times and improving the future of 911 services across the state.”