How New Mexico Strengthened Emergency Response with Public Safety Grade GIS Data
Ensuring Accurate Location Data Across 100+ Local Governments.
Overview
In New Mexico, a largely rural state with vast geographic areas and limited emergency resources, even small GIS data errors can have life-threatening consequences. With more than 100 local government agencies contributing GIS data and over 40 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) relying on that data for emergency response, maintaining consistency, accuracy, and reliability across systems is critical.
Through collaboration with local governments and partners like GeoComm, New Mexico has built a coordinated statewide approach to delivering reliable GIS data that helps dispatchers and responders locate callers faster and respond with confidence.
The Challenge
Managing 9-1-1 GIS Data Across a Diverse State
Across New Mexico, GIS data from more than 100 local governments must be aggregated and standardized to support emergency response, feeding a statewide dataset used by more than 40 PSAPs for call routing, mapping, and dispatch. Historically, however, jurisdictions maintained their own datasets with varying standards and update cycles, sometimes resulting in outdated or conflicting information in 9-1-1 systems. At the same time, many rural communities lack the resources for dedicated GIS staff or specialized vendors, making consistent, accurate data even more challenging as Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) increases the need for reliable GIS.
- “Next Generation 9-1-1 is entirely dependent on GIS data. If the GIS data is wrong, calls can route to the wrong 9-1-1 center or responders can be sent to the wrong place.”
Tyler Fossett – NM9-1-1 GIS Coordinator
The Risk of Inaccurate GIS Data
In rural areas, inaccurate GIS data can have serious consequences.
Some counties in New Mexico operate with extremely limited emergency resources. When GIS data is incorrect, it can lead to misrouted 9-1-1 calls, delays in response, and difficulty locating callers, challenges that can significantly impact emergency outcomes.
Highlights
- Helping to Keep Over 1.5 Million People Safe in New Mexico
- 100 Local Governments
- 40 PSAPS
The Solution
Coordinated Data and GeoComm Support
To improve GIS reliability statewide, New Mexico implemented a coordinated approach to aggregating and delivering GIS data to PSAPs.
GeoComm supports this effort through GIS services and the Vesta Map Local platform, helping ensure maps are updated regularly and dispatchers have reliable data when emergencies occur.
With consistent updates and responsive collaboration, PSAPs across the state can maintain more accurate mapping environments.
- “GeoComm’s support helps ensure that the maps dispatchers rely on are updated every month.“
Tyler Fossett – NM9-1-1 GIS Coordinator
Public Safety Grade GIS Data Matters
Accurate 9-1-1 GIS data does more than support emergency response. It also strengthens other critical services that rely on location information.
- “In some counties, there may only be one ambulance available. If that ambulance gets sent to the wrong location because of bad GIS data, it can cause an hour or two delay before help arrives.“
Tyler Fossett – NM9-1-1 GIS Coordinator
The Impact
Faster Response and Greater Confidence
Improved GIS data quality is already delivering operational benefits across New Mexico’s 9-1-1 centers. More accurate location data and better-maintained response boundaries are helping dispatchers identify callers faster and reduce call transfers between PSAPs. Dispatchers are also seeing more reliable mapping systems.
- “Response times have improved significantly because dispatchers can identify caller locations more quickly and response boundaries are better maintained.“
Tyler Fossett – NM9-1-1 GIS Coordinator
The Future of 9-1-1 in New Mexico
As NG9-1-1 continues to evolve, maintaining accurate, public safety grade GIS data will remain essential.
Through statewide coordination and ongoing support from partners like GeoComm, New Mexico is helping ensure that when someone calls 9-1-1, responders have the location intelligence they need to act quickly.
See how GeoComm can help strengthen your 9-1-1 GIS data.
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