Making NextGen 9-1-1 a reality today
Hamilton County, Ohio followed suit in March of this year, and Verizon Wireless customers in areas of Hamilton County can send emergency text messages via Intrado to the PSAP.
Intrado TXT29-1-1 doesn’t require a significant network change, will not greatly impact operations, and 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers will find it easy-to-use.
Text-to-9-1-1 is not the only NextGen 9-1-1 service taking hold. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are the data-management tools behind map displays and i3 routing, as well as many of the advanced services coming with NextGen 9-1-1. The states of Vermont and New York are using GIS data to be more accurate and efficient.
Vermont’s early dedication to 9-1-1 led to a robust mapping database in which every road and site point for every locatable address within the state was accounted for. That initiative positioned Vermont to move quickly and take advantage of the latest NextGen 9-1-1 technologies. This included providing the first statewide implementation of Intrado Advanced 9-1-1SM i3 Routing. Vermont’s system provides more specific caller location and more accurate addressing to their PSAPs across the state.
“We have a substantial amount of GIS data and have put it to use for several years in the state of Vermont,” Vermont’s Tucker said. “We want to ensure we take full advantage of all the data and help with 9-1-1 services.”
New York State’s Office of Information Technology Services purchased Intrado’s GIS Data Service to create a highly accurate statewide address-point dataset that represents all 5 million primary structures in the entire state of New York. This is one of the largest statewide address-point projects in U.S. history.
Intrado can help PSAPs and regional agencies create the accurate geospatial databases that are key to NextGen 9-1-1 call systems.
Make NextGen 9-1-1 Your Reality
Without question, transitioning legacy analog 9-1-1 systems is one of the most important initiatives that the public-safety community has ever attempted. The path forward involves significant new ideas, processes and technologies, but the benefits of NextGen 9-1-1 certainly justify the effort.
And getting started is easier than you think. With careful planning, a phased approach and an understanding of your emergency communications landscape, needs, constituency and project scope, you can successfully launch your NextGen 9-1-1 initiative now.
For more than 30 years, Intrado has maintained a focus and passion for saving lives and supporting the needs of public safety. With a staff of experienced public-safety experts, Intrado is unrivaled in its ability to drive further advancements and is leading the transformation of 9-1-1 in every facet of public safety.
To learn how Intrado can help you get started on the path to NextGen 9-1-1, please call 877-262-3775 or visit us at www.intrado.com and download Next-Generation 9-1-1: The Essential Guide to Getting Started.
Steve Lowe is senior vice president and general manager of Intrado’s Government Solutions Division. His primary focus is to provide the next generation of 9-1-1 products and services to PSAPs across North America. Lowe is a highly experienced public-safety executive with proven success in business development and management. He launched the Intrado A9-1-1 Alliance Member Program and developed the Intrado Collocation and Transport Services (ICAT) product line.
Prior to his work with Intrado, Lowe was vice president of worldwide sales at Tropos Network. He also served as vice president of North American sales at Motorola, where he developed the Excellence in Sales training course within Motorola to train over 200 Motorola Radio Sales Executives in CAD, RMS, and mobile technology. In 1988-1996, Lowe was responsible for the development of CAD interfaces and mobile applications at SCC Inc. He was a member of the engineering team that developed the first fault-tolerant public safety CAD system on Tandem computers.
