ALTERNATE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS

Narrative:

The project began on 9/7/95, in partnership with the E9-1-1 State Office, Allen Jakobitz. We established a timeline of about 6 months, to accommodate weather and other possible problems such as scheduling, etc.

The RFP process was completed about mid-October, 1996. The project and test plan was completed in November, and training in December. Data Collection began in January 1996.

There was a great deal of discussion concerning the number of layers that would be both needed and/or useful for 9-1-1 purposes, such as how to color code the different jurisdictions of area, streets, boundaries, hazards, markers, monuments, etc. Next, the determination of who already possessed such laying in current maps and data, (DNR, DCT, etc.).

Training on the MapInfo piece, MrGPS and MOM products was conducted in December. MrGPS is an add-in to MapInfo which we ran on a 486 laptop connected to a Trimble receiver and a real-time differential translator using the NavBeacon in Astoria, OR. During one storm, we consistently read 6 satellites and kept the link to Astoria while traveling up to 40 mph. All of our results were reproducible. Traveling the same route a second time resulted in a duplicate line. The estimated accuracy is 6-10 feet. 

The collection of data is very easy. When actually mapping, the collector will stop and change the street name each time a new street is entered. A limitation of MrGPS is that is uses a RAM drive and after about 10-15 minutes, it must be saved, reset and restarted. While this was not a major problem, it was soon corrected by the addition of RAM to the laptop.

The purpose of the mapping is to provide a visual display to the telecommunicator of the location of the call. Immediately the ALI will be sent from the Nine One One, Inc. CAD to MapInfo. A look-up of the address will be made If the street name matches exactly and the number falls within that street range, the location will be displayed. If there is no match, an attempt will be made for a second match. No exact match will result in an error message. The dispatcher ill record every mismatch and then MapInfo or ALI will corrected.

The Map Operation Manager (MOM) was also taught. This is also a MapInfo add-in. It allows for specific addressing activities, including the assignment of street names and segment number ranges. It allows for the creation of ESN territories as well as their assignment. It also automatically creates a MSAG. All of the activities were straight forward.

Cavenham Forest Industries agreed to provide a GIS layer of all their logging roads. They create about 20 new miles a year and would provide updates. The state will purchase DNR’s transportation and hydrology layers to compare to the Wahkiakum County CAD maps to compare to the actual GPS collected data. The point is to determine if there are any pre-existing maps that can be used as a starting point for this project.

Since this project began, Nine One One, Inc. has provided the interface necessary to bring the map and location onto the CAD screen upon receipt of a 9-1-1 call. The flaw in the system is that it must be done manually. Currently, the map is not faxable with the 9-1-1 call to the Fire/Ambulance companies as is the ASCII text.

An on-going project is the adjustments to the maps and identification of roads not collected for whatever reason. Many new private roads are being created as a result of 9-1-1 standardization. MOM makes this quite easy, the problem is scheduling when we already short-handed.

All in all the system works well and I believe it is an asset to our E9-1-1 system.