Public Safety GIS Program

The Public Safety GIS program supports all aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice agency spatial data and analysis needs, by creating and maintaining consistent, standardized GIS data for use in policing, crime analysis, and 9-1-1 dispatching, as well as GIS related support for Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD)/Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) throughout New York State.

As 9-1-1 transitions from its traditional hard-wired networks, Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) will introduce automated call routing using a caller’s real-time location for landline and cellular calls.  This system requires extremely accurate GIS data to provide the system the ability to route a call to the correct Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) for the caller’s location, reducing the chance of a misdirected call and the time for a call taker to dispatch first responders based on closest car.

As a natural extension of the Street and Address Maintenance Program, the GIS Program Office has embarked on a project to assemble a consistent, statewide layer of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) and Emergency Service Boundaries (ESB) built to National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standards.

PSAP ad ESB boundaries are essential GIS layers to the process of call routing in NG9-1-1.  The project's goal of centralizing the building of these layers will be achieved through state and county cooperation, and will result in the best and most efficient data for all.

The GPO will continue to expand coordination efforts with the goal of generating data coverage for the entire state.

This Program coordinates GIS, Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) and Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) within the New York State Police (NYSP).  The NYSP uses GIS in multiple aspects of its operations including search and rescue, environmental disaster response, crime analysis, and support to exhibits for criminal prosecution.  This program also supports CAD and AVL systems used in NYSP units hosted by counties throughout New York State.  These CAD deployments have GIS components to display events and the location of public safety assets in the area via Global Positioning Systems (GPS).  The program unit also provides 9-1-1 support to the NYSP's Public Safety Answering Points throughout the state. 

For questions or more information, please contact Gerald Engstrom at 518-485-8921.