SAFECOM and NCSWIC Develop City of Manassas, VA., GIS Use Case

Author: Josh Black, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Joint SAFECOM-NCSWIC NG911 Working Group Federal Lead

Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities are an essential component of Next Generation 911 (NG911) and improving public safety communications. Implementing and maintaining GIS systems can be challenging because it requires capturing expansive geographic information—from a street intersection in a rural town to aerial images of mountainous terrain—and continually updating systems to capture new building structures and ensure the accuracy of GIS data. It also requires close collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions to establish boundaries. As federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies transition to NG911, they will need to ensure their GIS capabilities meet requirements for NG911.

To help public safety agencies and 911 centers implement GIS capabilities for NG911, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), SAFECOM, and the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) worked collaboratively with the City of Manassas, to develop the City of Manassas, Virginia GIS Use Case. This use case documents lessons learned from the City of Manassas’s implementation of a GIS as part of their transition to NG911. Combined with the GIS Lifecycle Best Practices Guide for NG911 and California Statewide NG911 GIS Use Case, it provides users with helpful tips for navigating the GIS lifecycle, including establishing governance structures, procuring GIS resources, and collaborating with neighboring jurisdictions to establish boundaries.

Margaret Montgomery, GIS Manager, City of Manassas, stated, “The Manassas GIS Use Case is a valuable tool for both public safety answering point and GIS professionals to understand the steps to successfully deploy and achieve NG911. Understanding the roadmap, governance, and the need to sustain data and system excellence after implementation is vital to success for organizations just starting on the path to NG911.” 

Stakeholders are encouraged to share this document with their respective networks. For questions about the use case document, please contact ng911wg@cisa.dhs.gov or visit cisa.gov/safecom/next-generation-911 for additional SAFECOM and NCSWIC NG911 resources.