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2011 Press Releases
Press Release Archives
August 1, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nationwide
Contact: Amanda Romaine, GeoComm
GeoComm’s NENA i3 Emergency Call Routing Software
Successfully Implemented in Synergem’s i3 ESInet in North
Carolina
St. Cloud, MN: Two public safety agencies in North Carolina now have
one of the nation’s first NENA i3-compliant Emergency Services IP
networks (ESInets). The North Central North Carolina (NCNC) Next
Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Regional Compact, consisting of the
Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) and neighboring Surry
County, recently accepted a newly implemented pilot i3 NG9-1-1 system.
The system provides NG9-1-1 location based call routing and an updated
IP network capable of delivering voice, video, text, and data to Public
Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) when available.
The pilot NG9-1-1 system is a collaborative effort between GeoComm,
Synergem, RedSky Technologies, and Avaya. The four companies worked
together to implement a complete system fulfilling the technical and
operational requirements for the NG9-1-1 i3 ESInet. This initial 12 month
provisioning phase of the NG9-1-1 project was primarily funded by a $2.4
million grant from the NC 9-1-1 Board to the NCNC NG9-1-1 Compact.
According to Julia B. Conley, Winston-Salem Police Department IT
Manager and fiscal agent for the compact, “we are very pleased to have
the core NG9-1-1 infrastructure in place and are now in the commissioning
phase of the multi-year project. During the next 12 months, we anticipate
that all of the TSPs (Telephone Service Providers) in our region will be
interconnected to the ESInet and then NG9-1-1 will be ready to go live. At
the core of NG9-1-1 is Geographic Information System (GIS) technology
and the regional spatial database developed by GeoComm. We are
excited about the future benefits to our citizens that NG9-1-1 can deliver
with GIS enabled selective call routing and location based multi-media
input, such as mobile phone video/images and traffic cameras feeds that
can augment PSAP call information for the emergency responders.
However, before we can fully utilize the potential of NG9-1-1 information
that the ESInet can provide, PSAP enhancements must also be
implemented. We want to emphasize that the NG9-1-1 system is not live
at this time and WSPD and Surry County PSAPs are not yet capable of
accepting video or text messaging from the public.”
Components of the pilot NG9-1-1 system include an Emergency Call
Routing Function (ECRF) which provides location based route
determination for 9-1-1 calls, and a Location Validation Function (LVF) for
validating civic locations associated with subscriber records. GeoComm
implemented its GeoLynx Spatial Router product to provide the ECRF/LVF
for the project. In addition, GeoComm’s GIS team created or enhanced
digital mapping data required for NG9-1-1 location based call routing and
location validation, and managed the process of provisioning this data into
the network’s ECRF/LVF system. Also, GeoComm’s consulting team
assisted in transitioning the current 9-1-1 ALI DBMS to a Location
Information Server (LIS) system for managing subscriber locations and
provided overall project management on behalf of participating public safety
agencies.
“We are excited the pilot system passed all operational testing criteria. It
illustrates a path to advanced 9-1-1 services for the participating agencies
and any other agencies that may want to join the system as it continues
to develop in the future,” said Tom Grones, GeoComm President/CEO. “All
in all it is yet another incremental step forward on the road toward
providing next generation public safety services to our citizenry.”
The new system supports the public safety agencies responsible for
providing 9-1-1 service to their constituents in a number of ways:
• Improves response times by routing emergency calls to the correct
PSAP faster
• Enables common location based selective call transfers across PSAPs
using different 9-1-1 CPE/CTI brands
• Accomplishes fast routing changes in just a few seconds, such as to a
virtual PSAP during a public event or large-scale manmade or natural
disaster
• Utilizes the industry leading Esri ArcGIS Framework commonly used by
cities and counties across the country, thus leveraging existing GIS data,
staff, expertise, and investment, available to 9-1-1 Authorities
• Standards based to ensure compatibility with the nation’s emerging
NG9-1-1 system
About GeoComm: GeoComm, an integrated GIS and public safety
consulting firm, creates systems for 9-1-1. These systems originate from
three dedicated angles: accurate map development, highly functional
mapping software, and comprehensive consulting services ranging from
wireless Phase I and II planning to two-way radio and networking to CPE,
RFP and PSAP consolidation studies. Over the past 16 years, GeoComm
has successfully deployed over 8,000 licenses of public safety and law
enforcement focused GIS software applications in different sites
throughout 43 states.
GeoComm’s Family of Products provides the tools necessary to speed
and enhance emergency response. These tools reduce response times,
improve data accuracy and quality, accelerate communications, and
provide mission critical GIS-based decision support.
www.geo-comm.com