Overview 

As more communities work toward NG9-1-1 implementation, the importance of GIS data quality becomes increasingly obvious. In short, spatial (GIS) data drives NG9-1-1.

The NENA NG9-1-1 GIS Data Model and the NG9-1-1 system rely on standardized, accurate, and up-to-date GIS data. These standards require that the source GIS data driving NG9-1-1 systems must meet certain criteria. For example:

• The GIS data cannot contain unintended gaps and overlaps between service boundaries (PSAP and Emergency Services Boundaries).
• It must check for unintended discrepancies between address-ranged road centerline layers and corresponding site/structure address points or polygons.
• It must be capable of validating GIS feature attributes against the required data model to ensure the minimum essential data values are present.

Another set of standards applies to addresses, particularly the importance of synchronizing the Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) and Automatic Location Information (ALI) tabular databases with the GIS data to a 98% match rate. In truth, there is no single metric that can confirm the accuracy of the data, but with the right tools, it is possible to create the following:

• Quality GIS data layers that support the Next Generation Core Services (NGCS) and other 9-1-1 systems (CAD, CAD Mapping, AVL, Call Taking, and others).
• Logical steps that reduce the time to analyze and reconcile GIS data issues.

This learning pathway will provide the user with a foundational understanding of reasons for and benefits of implementing the NENA NG9-1-1 standard, key concepts of validating GIS data for public safety use, and the logical steps that will reduce the time to analyze and reconcile GIS data issues for NG9-1-1.