Copyright GeoComm, Inc. All rights reserved.
“ACOG has many vendors for technical and non-technical projects. Our business relationship
with GeoComm is one of the most positive we have ever experienced. GeoComm is very
responsive to both routine requests as well as special requests for information or technical
changes. Because of our experience with GeoComm we have contracted with them for two
major projects: developing a four-county regional data set and providing GeoLynx 9-1-1 to all 22
PSAPs in our jurisdiction. In addition, we have long-term GIS data and software maintenance
contracts."
- Steve Willoughby, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Division Director
- Steve Willoughby, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Division Director
Reducing Emergency Response Times
Through Improved GIS
Situated in the southwestern portion of Virginia, Tazewell County is characterized by its mountainous terrain and as a gateway into the Clinch River Basin. The county contains both rural areas and more heavily populated towns. In early 2010, Tazewell County embarked on an extensive public safety improvement project that aimed at providing residents with the fastest emergency response times possible. However, reducing response times includes a number of factors; one of those is implementing accurate GIS data to see the location of an emergency caller and find the fastest route for improved response times. Prior to implementing a new mapping software system, Tazewell County requested GeoComm’s GIS team to help them navigate through the different stages of updating their GIS data. By working with GeoComm, Tazewell County executed a comprehensive GIS data updating project:
1. Validating existing address information in their 9-1-1 GIS data.
2. Updating any necessary GIS data layers for 9-1-1.
3. Establishing a workflow for Tazewell County to maintain the map data once it was updated.
Validating existing address information in their 9-1-1 GIS data
GeoComm began by validating the existing address information in Tazewell County’s current E9-1-1 GIS data. The best way to complete this was to gather the available information through an address point layer field collection and verification process. To do this, GeoComm GIS field specialists visited habitable structures in Tazewell County to verify the existing address points and collected any missing points. During the field-verification process, field specialists compiled telephone record updates to ensure synchronization between the Automatic Location Information (ALI) and the GIS data in the 9-1-1 system. At each site, field specialists also conducted a comprehensive address assessment. This assessment flagged address problems in the GIS data, so the county could consider these “address problems” during future addressing work. The completed address assessment ensured that Tazewell County’s 9-1-1 GIS data was current.
Updating any necessary GIS data layers for E9-1-1
After all of the address points in the county were gathered and verified, GeoComm began updating the GIS data layers, the ALI database, and Master Street Address Guide (MSAG). The primary GIS data layers that were updated included the address points, centerlines, Emergency Service Zones (ESZ), community boundaries, and the postal boundaries. Address point attributes were further developed to enhance precise address location, centerline attributes were developed for address geocoding and vehicle routing, ESZ boundaries were created after coordination with all emergency response agencies, community boundaries were created after verification with local governments, and postal boundaries were created after verification with post offices. Following the development of each individual layer, GeoComm conducted in-depth Quality Control/Quality Assurance procedures to ensure each layer was delivered to Tazewell County at the highest quality. After all of the GIS data was clean and up to date, GeoComm began comparing the synchronization of the GIS data layers to the MSAG and ALI in accordance with NENA document 71-501, Synchronizing GIS with MSAG and ALI. First, GeoComm reviewed the MSAG and ALI Database to ensure the information contained in each of them was accurate, consistent, and complete. Then, the three items (GIS data, MSAG, and ALI Database) were compared against each other to ensure all of the elements were synchronized. Any synchronization errors were corrected.
Establishing a workflow for Tazewell County to maintain the map data once it was updated
The final step in updating the GIS data was GeoComm providing Tazewell County with the tools needed to maintain the updated data themselves. To begin, Tazewell County implemented GeoLynx DMS, GeoComm’s GIS Data Management Esri ArcMap extension. The tools enabled Tazewell County to make their own efficient updates to all of the GIS data layers and MSAG. Next, GeoComm helped reorganize how their GIS data was updated, stored, and maintained by establishing a maintenance workflow plan. This plan maximized the county’s resources with minimal impact, but still allowed the county to maintain the data to industry standards. During the workflow creation it was identified that the GIS data maintenance and storage architecture needed to be reorganized. GeoComm helped Tazewell County inventory, analyze, and reorganize the GIS data layers in the county’s ArcServer SDE data structure which would allow for greater efficiency in a multi-user editing environment. Once the reorganization was complete, a custom training program was developed and delivered by a GeoComm GIS consultant.
Once these three steps of the process were completed, the address verification portion of the public safety improvement project was complete. Tazewell County now has GIS data that is completely up to date and a plan in hand to keep that GIS data current. Following the completion of the GIS project, Tazewell County implemented GeoLynx Desktop and GeoLynx Server in 2011.
Situated in the southwestern portion of Virginia, Tazewell County is characterized by its mountainous terrain and as a gateway into the Clinch River Basin. The county contains both rural areas and more heavily populated towns. In early 2010, Tazewell County embarked on an extensive public safety improvement project that aimed at providing residents with the fastest emergency response times possible. However, reducing response times includes a number of factors; one of those is implementing accurate GIS data to see the location of an emergency caller and find the fastest route for improved response times. Prior to implementing a new mapping software system, Tazewell County requested GeoComm’s GIS team to help them navigate through the different stages of updating their GIS data. By working with GeoComm, Tazewell County executed a comprehensive GIS data updating project:
1. Validating existing address information in their 9-1-1 GIS data.
2. Updating any necessary GIS data layers for 9-1-1.
3. Establishing a workflow for Tazewell County to maintain the map data once it was updated.
Validating existing address information in their 9-1-1 GIS data
GeoComm began by validating the existing address information in Tazewell County’s current E9-1-1 GIS data. The best way to complete this was to gather the available information through an address point layer field collection and verification process. To do this, GeoComm GIS field specialists visited habitable structures in Tazewell County to verify the existing address points and collected any missing points. During the field-verification process, field specialists compiled telephone record updates to ensure synchronization between the Automatic Location Information (ALI) and the GIS data in the 9-1-1 system. At each site, field specialists also conducted a comprehensive address assessment. This assessment flagged address problems in the GIS data, so the county could consider these “address problems” during future addressing work. The completed address assessment ensured that Tazewell County’s 9-1-1 GIS data was current.
Updating any necessary GIS data layers for E9-1-1
After all of the address points in the county were gathered and verified, GeoComm began updating the GIS data layers, the ALI database, and Master Street Address Guide (MSAG). The primary GIS data layers that were updated included the address points, centerlines, Emergency Service Zones (ESZ), community boundaries, and the postal boundaries. Address point attributes were further developed to enhance precise address location, centerline attributes were developed for address geocoding and vehicle routing, ESZ boundaries were created after coordination with all emergency response agencies, community boundaries were created after verification with local governments, and postal boundaries were created after verification with post offices. Following the development of each individual layer, GeoComm conducted in-depth Quality Control/Quality Assurance procedures to ensure each layer was delivered to Tazewell County at the highest quality. After all of the GIS data was clean and up to date, GeoComm began comparing the synchronization of the GIS data layers to the MSAG and ALI in accordance with NENA document 71-501, Synchronizing GIS with MSAG and ALI. First, GeoComm reviewed the MSAG and ALI Database to ensure the information contained in each of them was accurate, consistent, and complete. Then, the three items (GIS data, MSAG, and ALI Database) were compared against each other to ensure all of the elements were synchronized. Any synchronization errors were corrected.
Establishing a workflow for Tazewell County to maintain the map data once it was updated
The final step in updating the GIS data was GeoComm providing Tazewell County with the tools needed to maintain the updated data themselves. To begin, Tazewell County implemented GeoLynx DMS, GeoComm’s GIS Data Management Esri ArcMap extension. The tools enabled Tazewell County to make their own efficient updates to all of the GIS data layers and MSAG. Next, GeoComm helped reorganize how their GIS data was updated, stored, and maintained by establishing a maintenance workflow plan. This plan maximized the county’s resources with minimal impact, but still allowed the county to maintain the data to industry standards. During the workflow creation it was identified that the GIS data maintenance and storage architecture needed to be reorganized. GeoComm helped Tazewell County inventory, analyze, and reorganize the GIS data layers in the county’s ArcServer SDE data structure which would allow for greater efficiency in a multi-user editing environment. Once the reorganization was complete, a custom training program was developed and delivered by a GeoComm GIS consultant.
Once these three steps of the process were completed, the address verification portion of the public safety improvement project was complete. Tazewell County now has GIS data that is completely up to date and a plan in hand to keep that GIS data current. Following the completion of the GIS project, Tazewell County implemented GeoLynx Desktop and GeoLynx Server in 2011.
GIS
Articles & Case Studies