NG9-1-1 and the need for data aggregation

July 7, 2020

Barry Costello

Imagine that you and a friend are out for a hike on a local trail. Your friend trips and falls. Their leg is broken, and your friend is in pain. You reach for your phone and dial 9 - 1 - 1. Your only concern in this moment is that the responders can locate you, quickly and easily. You’re not thinking about where they’re coming from.

The Next Generation 9 - 1 - 1 (NG9 - 1 - 1) system will rely on two pieces of crucial information to provide an effective and improved response – the GPS coordinates provided by your phone and public safety grade, geographic data provided by an authoritative source. There are many authoritative data sources for the GIS data. However, for NG9 - 1 - 1 to function as intended, the data from these different sources must meet a single standard and be aggregated into a seamless geographic coverage. This seamless coverage is then used by:

the 9 - 1 - 1 service provider to locate the PSAP servicing your location
the PSAP operators use the data to confirm the location with you
the dispatchers use the data to route the response and the responders use it to get to you

The CRTC has approved the development of a national data specification and model for the GIS data used in NG9 - 1 - 1. Furthermore, it has directed that the regional 9 - 1 - 1 service provider be the default aggregator for the data. More information on this is available on the CRTC website