E911 vs. NG911

E911 (Enhanced 911) and NG911 (Next Generation 911) are both systems designed to improve emergency response by providing more accurate location information and enabling the use of multimedia data such as photos and videos.

E911 is the current standard for emergency communications in the United States and has been in use since the 1990s. It is a voice-centric system that uses traditional landline or cellular networks to connect callers to emergency services. E911 systems automatically provide the location of the caller to emergency services personnel, allowing them to dispatch the appropriate resources to the scene.

E911 has several limitations that can impact the accuracy and effectiveness of emergency response. Here are some of the main limitations:

• Limited location information: E911 relies on location information from cellular or landline networks, which may not always provide accurate or precise location data, especially in areas with poor signal coverage. This can result in emergency responders being sent to the wrong location or experiencing delays in reaching the correct location.
• Inability to handle multimedia data: E911 is primarily a voice-centric system and does not support the transmission of multimedia data such as photos or videos, which can provide valuable additional information to emergency responders.
• Limited ability to coordinate with other emergency response systems: E911 systems are often isolated from other emergency response systems such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and public safety answering points (PSAPs), which can limit the ability of emergency responders to coordinate and share information.
• Inability to handle non-voice communications: E911 systems are designed primarily to handle voice communications and may not be able to handle other types of communication such as text messages or video calls, which can be important in emergency situations.
• Limited support for new technologies: E911 is an older system and may not be able to support newer technologies such as IP-based communication systems, which can limit the ability of emergency responders to take advantage of these technologies to improve emergency response.

NG911, on the other hand, is a more advanced system that is designed to integrate a wider range of communication technologies and data types. NG911 systems are IP-based and use a variety of data sources, including sensors, GPS, and multimedia messages, to provide more accurate location information and enable more efficient emergency response. The move to NG911 aims to address many of the E911.

Inversely of the limitations of E911, NG911 offers many benefits that can help agencies save lives.

• Improved location accuracy: NG911 can provide more accurate location information than traditional E911 systems, which can help emergency responders to find people more quickly. For example, in 2020, a woman in South Carolina was rescued from a car crash after she was located by emergency responders using NG911 location data.
• Use of multimedia data: NG911 can handle a wide range of data types, including photos, videos, and text messages, which can provide additional information to emergency responders. In one example from 2021, a woman in Virginia was rescued from a burning building after she sent a text message to 911 with her location and details about her situation.
• Improved coordination: NG911 can help emergency responders to coordinate more effectively with each other and with other emergency response systems, which can improve the overall response. For example, in 2019, a man in California was rescued after he fell off a cliff, thanks to a coordinated effort between emergency responders and a drone operator who was able to provide real-time video of the rescue operation.
• Use of new technologies: NG911 can take advantage of new technologies such as sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to provide additional data and insights to emergency responders. For example, in 2020, a man in Minnesota was rescued from a lake after his location was pinpointed using data from a connected buoy that measured water temperature and other conditions.

In summary, E911 is an older, voice-centric system that relies primarily on location information from cellular and landline networks, while NG911 is a newer, IP-based system that can integrate a wider range of data sources and communication technologies to improve emergency response.