GIS Packaged Services

GeoComm is committed to the success of our customer’s GIS Services projects and uses formal project management processes based on industry effective practices to plan, formalize, and document our projects.  GeoComm’s Project Management team utilizes processes and guidelines set forth by the Project Management Institute and their Project Management Professional certification, a globally recognized and demanded program to demonstrate the company’s commitment to the professional skills necessary, to lead project teams and achieve successful project results.  GeoComm team members are trained to operate within these project management practices and possess the knowledge, experience, and skills to ensure successful project completion.

A GIS data analysis helps you understand how well your data functions within a 9-1-1 response system.  In order to place incoming calls on a map, for instance, the GIS data needs to be synchronized to the MSAG and ALI database records.  In an NG9-1-1 environment, it is particularly critical that address and emergency response information are highly accurate in the GIS data, as the GIS is used for routing incoming calls to the correct PSAP. GeoComm’s analysis includes reviewing the quality of individual GIS data layers (road centerlines, boundaries, and address points), as well as their level of synchronization with the MSAG and ALI database.  Potential problems will be identified by first reviewing each component individually; next evaluating the synchronization of all three; and finally providing steps for updating data to increase call plotting accuracy in traditional ALI-based systems while also preparing GIS map data to replace the MSAG in a future NG9-1-1 system.  Even if you are not currently transitioning to an NG9-1-1 system, a data analysis will only improve your current system and provides the steps necessary for any future system.

GeoComm will review the GIS data schema of the provided GIS layers to determine their conformance with relevant GIS data models, such as your regional/state NG9-1-1 GIS data model or CAD requirements.  While maintaining all of your existing information, GeoComm will then convert your GIS data into the appropriate standard or format.  This will allow your data to work optimally within your CAD system and/or merge well with data from participating jurisdictions within an NG9-1-1 system.

Using aerial imagery for reference, GeoComm will ensure accurate spatial placement of road centerlines. Roads that are not aligned with aerials will be spatially adjusted accordingly. As part of this process, missing roads will also be identified and added as needed.

GeoComm will ensure that road segments are connected correctly and are broken where they cross any emergency service or community boundary.  Boundaries that run alongside roads will also be snapped to match corresponding road segments exactly.  Road segments also contain important information useful to the PSAP, such as the caller’s city or emergency service zone.  For instance, when a road crosses from one fire department response zone and into another, the road needs to be split at this boundary in the GIS data; this allows each segment to be attributed with the correct fire department information.  Proper street connectivity also affects the ability to route vehicles efficiently along the street network.

For incoming 9-1-1 calls to be routed correctly, it is important that your road layer contain accurate address information, such as street names, address ranges, and community and region values.  GeoComm will work with you to correct any street name inconsistencies and address range errors, such as segments with overlapping ranges. 

If you are using or planning for an NG9-1-1 system, GeoComm will develop a PSAP boundary layer, which shows the area covered by the PSAP(s) in your area.

If you are using or planning for an NG9-1-1 system, GeoComm will develop an authoritative boundary layer, depicting the jurisdiction(s) that has authority over the GIS data. 

Emergency service boundaries are key layers for GIS data being used for a 9-1-1 system, as they depict which of your emergency responders covers the area for an incoming call.  GeoComm will update or develop three layers representing the areas covered by fire, law, and medical responders.  These layers will be used for populating attribute information in the road and address point layers, and in some systems, may also be used for connecting incoming calls to the correct emergency responders as well as for display.  If needed, GeoComm will also develop a fourth layer representing the emergency service zone numbers throughout your area.   Additional emergency service layers, such as points representing fire stations or polygons representing police beats, are available at an additional cost. 

In order for incoming calls to plot consistently in an E9-1-1 system, it is important that the roads are synchronized to the MSAG.  If street names are spelled differently between the two, for instance, your dispatch mapping system might not be able to find an incoming caller’s street using your GIS data.  In an NG9-1-1 system, the road layer will also eventually replace the MSAG, and so it is doubly important that the information within the MSAG match what is found in the road attributes.  GeoComm will compare attributes in the address point and street centerline layers against the MSAG and will correct the GIS layers as appropriate.  These procedures will verify street names are spelled consistently, house numbers and address ranges fit the ranges of the MSAG, and ESN and community attributes are in sync.  If needed, GeoComm will provide you with a list of questions (e.g., regarding street name spelling) and possible errors in MSAG.

GeoComm will update or develop GIS boundary layers that depict political boundaries, such as cities or counties.  These boundaries are useful for populating attribute information in the road and address point layers, and in some systems, may also be used for routing incoming calls or for display.

Address points provide a more precise means of locating an incoming emergency 9-1-1 call, compared to locating a caller by a road layer alone.  Based on existing GIS data provided by the county, such as tax parcel layers, GeoComm will develop new address points with accompanying descriptive attributes.  Additional on-site collection or verification of new points can be provided at an additional cost.

As with the MSAG, it is important that the addresses contained within your ALI database are reflected in the GIS data for calls to plot correctly.  GeoComm will compare house number and street name values in the ALI database against the address point and street centerline layers and will update the road and address point layers to correct any road name inconsistencies, inaccurate address ranges, and add missing address points or road segments.  The process also compares ESN and community information to confirm whether ALI database addresses locate within the appropriate boundaries in the GIS map data, with corrections to be made as needed.  If needed, GeoComm will provide you with a list of questions (e.g., regarding the correct location of an ALI address) and possible errors in ALI.

Due the increasing use of cellular phones, including households that no longer have traditional landlines, it is important to be able to locate incoming wireless 9-1-1 calls.  A cell sector layer contains the cell tower coverage for the cellular providers in your area, and can be used to plot the location of incoming wireless calls.

In some cases, roads may be known by more than one name or a road name may have multiple spelling variations.  For instance, Main Street may also be County Road 2, or Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. may also be known as MLK Blvd.  A street name alias table allows your 9-1-1 system to utilize multiple street names for the same street segments.

GeoComm will add or update routing attributes in your roads layer, allowing emergency vehicles to be routed more efficiently.   Routing attributes can be used to depict one-way streets, overpasses, speed limits, and/or road classifications.

To optimize the routing capabilities or your roads layer, GeoComm will ensure that road name attributes for highways and ramps are attributed consistently and, if appropriate, match any GIS data model requirements for your state, region, or CAD software.

GeoComm will add or updates attributes in your address point layer with the names of significant landmarks and with alternate names and spellings included in an alias table.  E.g., 101 Main St. might be given the name of “John F. Kennedy High School” in the address point layer’s landmark field, and then linked to the name “JFK High School” in the alias table.

On a routine, scheduled basis, GeoComm will provide a GIS dataset and in the required format and specification for incorporation into your 9-1-1 CAD system.

On a routine, scheduled basis, GeoComm will run your GIS data through data integrity quality control checks that are specific to the needs of 9-1-1 services.  The results are provided back to you in a report, allowing you to keep track of how well your GIS data works within a 9-1-1 environment. 

Establishing a structured and well documented maintenance workflow is an important step in ensuring GIS data is regularly updated and remains compliant with any required data standards. GeoComm will review your existing maintenance workflows, make updates to these workflows, and develop new workflows outlining recommended GIS map data, MSAG, and ALI database maintenance procedures. GeoComm will work with you to determine the appropriate workflow, and then provides related training for implementing the workflow.

To ensure your data remains accurate and current, GeoComm will provide on-going GIS data maintenance as changes and modifications are needed.

GeoComm will work with you to build or update a layer that represents unincorporated communities in your service area. This layer is often for visual display in your CAD system.

GeoComm will work with you to build or update a layer that represents the different neighborhoods within cities or counties in your service area.  This layer is often for visual display in your CAD system.

GeoComm will develop mile markers, based on resources provided by the customer, for highways and other needed collector roads.  Each mile marker will include a description attribute with the mile marker number for each point.  This layer can help direct emergency responders to 9-1-1 callers, including calls from mobile phone along highways.

GeoComm will work with you to develop or update a layer depicting railroad lines in your service area.

GeoComm will work with you to develop or update line and polygon layers that represent lakes, river, and other bodies of water in your service area. This layer is often for visual display in your CAD system.

GeoComm will work with you to develop a plan for managing MSAG and ALI database changes, including determining the appropriate processes and then coordinating that work.  This service helps to ensure that the data contained in your MSAG and ALI database are synchronized with your GIS data.

GeoComm will work with you to develop additional emergency services layers, such as fire station location points, police beat areas, or tow truck service areas, for use in your dispatch software.  These layers might be required for your CAD system, or may be used as additional references for enhancing emergency call responses.

GeoComm will work with you to update or develop secondary addresses for your jurisdiction, such as individual units within a strip mall or individual apartments in a building, based on print and digital resources.  Secondary addresses allow 9-1-1 operators to locate incoming calls more precisely, which can reduce response times.

To create the most accurate address point layer possible, GeoComm will work with you to conduct a complete in-the-field verification of site/structure locations.  This service can include primary and/or secondary addresses.

GeoComm will complete an in-the-field verification of any questionable points and discrepancies uncovered during the process of updating your map data.