Today at the National Press Club researchers from leading universities and technology companies will demonstrate a proof-of-concept for a next-generation E9-1-1 solution. Called NG9-1-1, this is currently the only solution that ensures that emergency callers will reach the help they need regardless of the technology used to originate or answer the call. MapInfo Corporation’s Location Intelligence technology is an integral component of the prototype.
The prototype will demonstrate the capabilities of an Internet-based emergency call delivery for nomadic and mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) users to an IP-capable PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point).
The current emergency phone system was not developed to handle newer technologies such as mobile and Internet phone services. Dispatchers are finding it difficult to pinpoint a caller’s geographic location. NG9-1-1 addresses the location identification for Internet-based phones and other IP-enabled communications devices.
NG9-1-1 is said to leverage research work being done at Columbia University’s Fu Foundation, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the recently created Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center at Texas A&M University, and the expertise and knowledge of Internet2, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the offices of Emergency Communications for the States of Texas and Virginia as well as industry leading equipment providers such as Nortel and others.
The MapInfo Envinsa location intelligence platform, an integral component of the solution, is used to route callers to the correct PSAP. The prototype architecture will be extended to dedicated workstations in working public safety answering points in Texas and Virginia. Test calls will be made from a campus environment and evaluated under multiple scenarios.
“The FCC’s recent ruling that VoIP service providers must offer access to 9-1-1 emergency calls within the next four months coupled with the growing concern over public safety makes this the ideal time to develop a new emergency 9-1-1 system,” said Michael Hickey, COO, MapInfo Corp.
In related news; a start-up company, Skyhook Wireless, is using Wi-Fi networks to provide location-based services (LBS).
When you’re walking or driving, your laptop or PDA can get the ID number of several Wi-Fi access points stored in Skyhook Wireless database, even if the signal is not strong enough to provide a connection. With these IDs, the company will plot a map of where you are.
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