\u201cSimply put, GIS is a system that creates, manages and analyzes data,\u201d GIS Director Phillip Rohrbough said. \u201cWe digitize the real world into a definable, queryable environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Faster, smarter emergency response<\/p>\n
Every second counts when someone calls 9-1-1. GIS<\/a> focuses on one mission: locating emergency callers accurately. Accurate GIS data means calls reach the right dispatch center faster, with fewer transfers and more precise locations. For residents who can’t speak during an emergency, it may be the difference between being found and being lost.<\/p>\n Understanding how that works starts with the type of call coming in.<\/p>\n A call is treated differently if it is a landline or wireless. Landline caller\u2019s information typically appears automatically. Wireless calls are more complex because they use phone towers. Cell towers could only estimate a caller’s location, sometimes routing the call to the wrong dispatch center entirely\u2014and each transfer cost roughly 45 seconds.<\/p>\n Today, the district is transitioning to location-based routing for wireless calls. Instead of estimating location based on the nearest cell tower, the system now uses more accurate device-based location data, allowing calls to be sent directly to the correct 9-1-1 center.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019re using the device\u2019s location, and it automatically routes there,\u201d Rohrbough said.<\/p>\n The shift eliminates the misdirected transfers that plagued tower-based routing \u2014 saving residents an estimated 5 million seconds per year.<\/p>\n Precise mapping may be behind the scenes, but it saves time and lives when it matters most.<\/p>\n Maintaining accuracy across a growing region<\/p>\n With new subdivisions, garage apartments and commercial developments constantly being built, maintaining accurate data is an ongoing effort.<\/p>\n The district works closely with member cities, receiving official address assignments and street updates. The GIS team conducts routine checks to identify discrepancies.<\/p>\n As the region grows, so does the demand for reliable emergency response. The district handles 2 to 2.5 million 9-1-1 calls annually, underscoring the need for GIS systems that evolve alongside the communities they serve.<\/p>\n Exploring new possibilities<\/p>\n The GIS team is exploring emerging tools, including indoor mapping for schools and public buildings and 3D modeling for enhanced situational awareness.<\/p>\n \u201cWe develop it here, put it in a lab system, break it, and test it every way, shape and form,\u201d Rohrbough said. \u201cIf the potential is there, we want to investigate it.\u201d<\/p>\n Not all innovations will immediately reach every dispatch center; the district continues testing new capabilities to strengthen emergency response.<\/p>\n To learn how the Tarrant Area 9-1-1 District supports local dispatch centers and the communities they serve, visit Tarrant 9-1-1 District here<\/a>.<\/p>\n