MaPS, Inc. partners with local governments, primarily counties, to provide accurate GIS data for public safety. MaPS, Inc.’s GIS data is 100% field verified using sub-meter GPS. The GIS data is comprehensive and meets NENA standards for E-911 and US Postal Service addressing standards.
GIS DATA
MaPS, Inc. compiles all public safety data into a comprehensive GIS for each county. The GIS includes the following data layers:
• Roads layer: Centerlines for each road are represented and attributed with the appropriate fields necessary for geocoding at 911 dispatch call centers. Additionally, roads are categorized as either public or private and their surface type documented. Access roads (e.g. within wind farms or recreational areas) and long, curvilinear driveways are also mapped and attributed to assist emergency response.
• Road Points layer: To augment the roads layer, road points are also mapped. Road points include, but are not limited to: authorized vehicle only access points; bridge center points; mile markers; historical markers; gates; and, cattle guards. Road points aren’t required by NENA standards for E-911, but they do provide additional context for emergency responders (e.g., identifying any potential obstructions like gates).
• Structures layer: All addressable structures are mapped and, to the greatest practical extent, matched with ALI records, which are used for automatic location identification at 911 dispatch call centers. Additionally, structures are attributed with publicly available data such as: owner name; resident name; landline phone number(s); current address (see addressing below); structure type; and, structure description. At the request of our clients, we can take and attach a digital photograph to each structure point. Finally, we may capture data related to medical conditions of residents and hazardous materials on the property of each structure as voluntarily provided by the current resident of the structure.
• Access Points and Connectors layers: Every structure has an access point (e.g. where the driveway centerline intersects the road network). Additionally, access points are connected to a corresponding structure with a snap line that shows connectivity of the structure point to the access point (and represents a driveway). These are mapped to give emergency responders an easy way to identify the best access to a structure, which can save time navigating to a structure, especially if structures are located an extensive distance from a road or is situated on a corner.
• Emergency Service Zone (ESZ) layer: MaPS, Inc. creates an ESZ layer to geographically define which local emergency service providers are designated to respond to a given area. Individual law, fire and ambulance districts are digitally overlaid and the unique combinations of service providers create unique ESZ polygons. These zone values are often integrated into the roads and structure point layers and are referenced during dispatching.
• Integrated background layers: Other data layers are often integrated into a county’s GIS. Maps, Inc can create customized data layers as requested by the client, such as school districts, commissioner districts, voting precincts, Senate and House districts, conservation districts, mosquito districts, etc. Other basemap data layers, such as county boundaries, city limits, townships, sections, hydrology, parcel ownership, etc., are included from trusted 3rd party sources.
ADDRESSING
MaPS, Inc. assists our clients with their addressing needs – whether it is starting from scratch, updating a current addressing scheme, or ongoing addressing assignments for new construction. Rural structures are generally addressed using a mileage-based addressing scheme while city and town structures are addressed using a grid-based addressing scheme. When necessary, Maps, Inc. can help establish and map private lanes to expand a current addressing scheme.
When Maps, Inc. implements new or updated addressing, each new GIS-derived address is compared to the existing address. If the existing address does not closely “fit” the more accurate newly calculated address, Maps, Inc. can coordinate the re-addressing process. The process involves close coordinate with the owner of the structure being addressed, the locality, the local and regional Postal Services, and the telephone company when landlines are present. Maps, Inc. is highly experienced in the process and can scale any effort, whether it is on a single structure, a whole subdivision or a county-wide effort.
E-911 DISPATCH CALL CENTER SUPPORT
MaPS, Inc. coordinates with 911 dispatch call centers, also known as Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), to ensure our GIS data integrates successfully with their chosen dispatch software. We also coordinate with telephone companies and E-911 database providers to ensure the Master Street Address Guide (MSAG) and Automated Location Identification (ALI) records match our GIS data to reach an accuracy goal of 95% or better.
OTHER PRODUCTS
All of the GIS data we provide is owned by the local government clients we serve. To promote public use of the data, our clients often order and/or resell the GIS data through a variety of mediums including:
• Atlases
• Wall maps
• Digital maps.