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As our world becomes increasingly interconnected through digital technologies, the realm of emergency services is undergoing a historic, transformative shift. The introduction and rapid now, deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks and systems across the country signify a monumental leap forward in handling, processing, and responding to emergency calls. This evolution is a testament to technological advancement and a vital enhancement to public safety and emergency response effectiveness.
The New Capabilities of NG911
The traditional 911 system, while lifesaving and foundational since its’ humble beginning in 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama, has its limitations. Since it was designed for switched voice traffic, it cannot handle today’s digital IP Traffic. NG911 shatters these limitations by integrating a broad array of digital inputs. This includes video feeds, photographs, building floorplans, temperature sensors, and even data indicating the number of people or fire intensity within the building. Perhaps most revolutionary is the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence software modules designed to analyze and synthesize this data into a coherent critical response operational picture for first responders that they can view in their vehicles or tablets and smartphones at the scene.
USE CASE
Firefighters with a full-face respirator mask that provides a wireframe image of the walls, floor, and doorways. This would allow them to navigate through a smoke-filled building with zero visibility. Directional arrows could point to exits for quick egress or providing aid in navigating to a victim.
At the same time, the firefighter themselves are an IoT device sending data back to a command and control software module that tracks location, temperature, noxious chemicals or other conditions providing ‘the big picture.’
The capabilities will also extend into real-time information sharing, such as video streaming from the emergency scene, sending pictures directly to the call taker, and providing exact layouts of buildings, including ingress and egress access points and structural details. This means that in situations where every second counts, first responders are not going in blind but are equipped with a wealth of information that could be the difference between life and death.
Impact on Dispatch Decisions and Response Strategies
The wealth of data available through NG911 systems significantly enhances the decision-making process for dispatching emergency services. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analysis tools are pivotal in evaluating the situation based on incoming data streams. This analysis can determine what type of equipment and the specific response team is most suited for the specific emergency, whether it requires the immediate attention of a specialized fire unit equipped to handle chemical fires or a medical team prepared for mass casualties.
USE CASE: An request for emergency services from a school experiencing a fire could automatically provide dispatchers with a digital floorplan of the facility including links to live video cameras, the exact location of the fire within the building, the estimated number of people present in an area along with student rosters providing real-time attendance information, and the best access routes for responders.
This level of detail not only enriches the dispatch decision, the information ensures that the response is tailored to the specific requirements for the incident, potentially helping save more lives and reducing damage.
Challenges and Solutions for Implementation
However, realizing the full potential of NG911 involves overcoming significant challenges. Among these is the necessity for commercial and enterprise networks to collect, curate, and transmit this data effectively to the Public Safety networks. In turn, those networks must be capable of receiving and integrating these new data feeds into the ESInet (Emergency Services IP Network). This requirement can be likened to the evolution of television from black and white to high definition. A high-definition TV is only as good as the content it displays and the network’s ability to transmit high-definition signals. Similarly, NG911’s effectiveness hinges on an end-to-end connection where digital content relevant to emergency situations is generated, transported, and accurately interpreted within the emergency services network.
In the spring of 2020, after an 18-year career with Nortel/Avaya, I joined the team at 911inform. This fledgling, scrappy startup saw the problem and where the information roadblock kept them from solving it. Ivo Allen, their CEO, understood where others had failed, trying to go under, over, or through the blockage. To fix the problem, he chose to build 911inform and go around it, finding a new route to the PSAP with the critical life safety data his system had through an NG911-compliant enterprise solution. Once leading carriers can provide connectivity through an ESInet connection, the existing data connection is simply swung to the new network, allowing any investments by the enterprise to continue to be used. With that step completed, an end-to-end NG911 NENA i3-compliant network is in place, and the data is free to flow end-to-end in either direction.
For enterprises and corporate environments, this means ensuring that any digital content, whether floor plans, temperature sensors, or live video feeds, is readily available and formatted for quick transmission. Carrier networks must then be robust and agile enough to transport this data into the ESInet without any loss of information and meet rigorous security standards. Finally, the ECC or PSAPs (Emergency Communications Centers or Public Safety Answering Points) must be equipped to receive and display this data and decode it into actionable intelligence that can assist in guiding dispatch decisions. Additionally, the information must be readily accessible to first responders on the ground.
Extending Capabilities to First Responders
The NG911 system can provide valuable tools to first responders. With access to detailed floor plans, they can strategize the most efficient routes to reach victims. Access control capabilities can allow them to enter buildings without causing additional unnecessary damage by breaking doors and windows to gain access. Moreover, the integration of vast camera systems installed in many schools and commercial facilities means that extending live camera feeds onto the laptops and smart devices carried by first responders becomes straightforward, enabling them to initiate more detailed search and rescue protocols, like clearing rooms while marking them on floor plans for an efficient search.
USE CASE:
A preliminary SAR team enters a building clearing rooms and marking them on digital floor plans. If injured victims are found, that information is noted, and follow-up rescue teams can form a plan knowing where victims are located and how many. Additionally, any suspicious devices or packages can be geo-located on the digital maps and a safety zone established. This warns other team members of a potential dangerous area.
Today this information is often lost, or miscommunicated to other team members. Without coordinated rescue efforts, critical information can be lost resulting in additional loss of life as noted in recent active shooter analysis reports.
The transition to Next Generation 911 systems represents a critical evolution in emergency response, leveraging the full spectrum of modern digital capabilities to help save lives and protect our communities. By integrating comprehensive data analysis, new innovations in AI, and real-time information sharing into the heart of emergency response, 911inform can promise an improvement and a revolution in how emergencies are addressed. However, the journey to fully realize this potential is complex, requiring collaboration across technology providers, emergency services, and policymakers to ensure that when a call for help is made, the response is swifter, smarter, and more effective than ever.
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