Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) promises unprecedented precision – when accurate, standards-aligned data are in place, emergency responders can be directed to the exact room within complex, high-occupancy structures such as schools, shopping centers, or stadiums. The result: faster call routing due to better data, clearer coordination, and safer outcomes. 

This level of precision depends on having the “right” data – such as detailed indoor maps that pinpoint entrances, floor layouts, and room-level locations. 

Yet, indoor mapping alone does not close the readiness gap. A floor plan may show doors, hallways, and rooms, but if the digital mapping data isn't interoperable with the actual address of that location, critical details can still be lost in translation.

The risks are real… 

1. Calls may be routed less precisely. Or,
2. Responders may struggle to confirm the right building or floor.

As a result, regulators have underscored the need for accurate sub-address information – room numbers, unit identifiers, floor levels – because without it, responders face costly delays once they arrive on scene. On the flip side, creating and maintaining the GIS data that would represent every room, cubicle, or apartment in a multi-unit structure places significant burden on GIS data contributors.

The issue may not be obvious, but it’s critical: indoor maps that lack GIS validation only tell part of the story. They might look NG9-1-1 ready, but without alignment to GIS standards, they leave a gap that can slow response times and compromise situational awareness. For public safety, that gap can mean the difference between a coordinated rescue and a missed opportunity.

By requiring indoor maps to meet NG9-1-1 GIS standards, agencies ensure that these tools are not just visually useful, but operationally reliable. This extra step helps future-proof the investment, reduces long-term resource strain, and strengthens the safety net for responders and the communities they serve.

The next step in NG9-1-1 readiness is bridging that gap. When indoor spatial data are validated and aligned with the same standards that govern outdoor GIS layers, it transforms from a tactical aid into dispatch-ready intelligence. 

In the sections ahead, we explore how this convergence creates a trusted common operating picture – so no matter where a caller is, from a school hallway to a high-rise apartment, their location is not just mapped, but verified.

Indoor Mapping: From Tactical to Dispatchable

Current indoor-mapping tools give first responders a tactical edge inside buildings. 

Boots-on-the-ground visual maps that coordinate emergency response outside and inside buildings have proven their worth in crises, improving response time and enhancing command and control. But traditionally they’ve been a tactical resource carried by officers, as opposed to being integrated into the 911 dispatch system or further, looking at how the data can also be used to route the 911 call to the right PSAP through integration into a Next Generation Core Services (NGCS) system. 

NG9-1-1 data standards are continuously improving, but as of yet do not have a standard for building and maintaining the digital data that is the foundation of these maps.  Thus, leaving indoor locations unchecked means leaving a gap in 911’s safety net.

For example, companies like Critical Response Group (CRG) have set a high-bar without a standard by which all of their indoor mapping deliverables feature their “boots on the ground approach” to walking each building with the floorplan to ensure the completeness of the site inventory before creating the digital footprint.  Further, they also align the attribution of the data to the NENA NG9-1-1 CLDXF-US standard.

By combining 1Spatial’s automated data validation with indoor mapping workflows, tactical maps are transformed into dispatchable, standards-aligned data (think address points, building footprints, and interior polygons). This ensures that dispatchers and first responders share a consistent, standards-aligned view of the incident location. The result is a new level of coordination and clarity across systems, jurisdictions, and agencies. We call this shared foundation of interoperation and collaboration the interop address – a standardized, NG9-1-1-ready representation of location data that enables seamless call routing, response coordination, and mutual aid across jurisdictions. With the interop address in place, the dispatch center’s map, the field officer’s device, and the network’s routing logic finally sync. 

The indoor map of a campus, for example, isn’t just a PDF in a binder – it becomes an integrated layer in the 9-1-1 mapping system, complete with GIS-verified building outlines and address information. Field-tested visuals pair with NG9-1-1 data rules, aligning to the NENA standards and FCC regulations.

The result is that an indoor location (like “Building A, 2nd Floor, Room 210”) is validated, geospatially mapped, and instantly available to call-takers and responders alike. Situational awareness is improved as a result and lives are potentially saved.

Real-World Wake-Up Calls: Why Sub-Address Accuracy Matters

Missing or bad location data can cost lives. Some learned this the hard way … in one case, a 911 call from an Alaska hotel was misrouted 2,500 miles away. The call, placed from a multi-line telephone system (MLTS) in the hotel, had incorrect location data, connecting it to another country’s 9-1-1 center, significantly delaying emergency response. Such incidents are stark reminders that even basic address data failures (let alone indoor location details) can derail emergency response. 

A common culprit is outdated or unverified sub-address information – think of sprawling campuses or high-rises where one street address covers multiple buildings, floors, or units. Without precise sub-address data (building identifiers, apartment or room numbers, floor levels), 911 call takers and responders might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack. 

The FCC is pushing for precise address-level information (street addresses plus room or apartment numbers), so responders can get to people faster. We’ve also seen new laws like Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act mandating direct 911 dialing and “dispatchable location” info from enterprise phone systems. All of this points to a simple truth: sub-address accuracy and ongoing validation are no longer optional – they’re essential for saving lives.

The Power of Standards in Public Safety

When it comes to systems, data, and interoperability, standards are essential. They ensure that technical integration (e.g. data formats, APIs, protocols) and processes run smoothly – allowing people and systems to work together safely and efficiently. Data standards create clarity: they define how information is represented and guarantee that the data you receive arrives in the form or format you expect.

By adopting standards, you are also adopting a proven infrastructure and a common “data language” that others can readily understand and apply. This makes integration seamless and reduces friction when different systems are connected.

At 1Spatial, we have always embraced a standards-based approach. It enables us to build faster, leverage specialized expertise, and future-proof the solutions we deliver. Like technology, standards evolve. Some are formally defined to bring order to complex processes (e.g., HTTP + HTML), while others become de facto standards through widespread adoption (e.g., PDF).

In Public Safety, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) plays a pivotal role in developing standards, requirements, and reference materials. These are shaped by diverse working groups of industry professionals who contribute their expertise to advance NG9-1-1. 1Spatial’s Richard Kelly is one of those leaders. As Co-Chair for the NENA Working Group on Utilization of GIS Data in Next Generation Core Services (NGCS), he is not only helping shape future standards but also driving awareness and educating the industry on their impact.

The forthcoming NG9-1-1 GIS Data Model (STA-006^), now in final public review, is a major step forward. Its expansion to support indoor information (such as Site Structure Address Points) will strengthen related NENA standards, including Location Validation, 3D Location Data, ECRF and LVF Provisioning, CLDXF (U.S. and Canada), GIS Data Stewardship, and the i3 Architecture.

For Public Safety, this is more than a technical milestone: It is an evolution that brings faster, safer, and more accurate emergency response within reach. It is an exciting time for the industry, and we are proud to be part of shaping what comes next.

On its own, indoor mapping is groundbreaking … but if you don't future-proof your investment in indoor mapping to require interoperability with the NG9-1-1 GIS standards, and the 9-1-1 system doesn’t know which building wing or floor a caller is on, precious minutes could be lost. When indoor spatial data align with outdoor GIS layers, it continuously validates indoor location data (like room and suite info) against GIS-addressing databases. So when that 911 call comes from deep inside a complex building, it contains the exact details needed to route the call correctly and guide responders without delay.

Bridging Field-Mapped Locations With NG9-1-1 Standards

Bringing together field-mapped indoor locations and NG9-1-1’s continuously improving standards has long been a missing link. Public safety GIS teams have spent years cleaning up road centerlines, address points, and boundaries to meet NG9-1-1 specs, and for good reason – the data requirements for NG9-1-1 are intricate and important. Until now, these efforts ran on parallel tracks, but we are finally able to bridge that gap. 

How?

Taking rich indoor spatial data (the locations of hallways, rooms, entrances, etc.) and running it through data conformance engines to produce indoor GIS layers that double as site-structure polygons, convert a campus floor plan into NG9-1-1-ready GIS features: clean, standardized, and interoperable.

For example, a school’s multiple buildings might each get indoor maps with GIS polygons featuring proper addresses or place-names, validated to match county's GIS data and for conformance with the NENA data standards. Any errors or mismatches – say a building labeled “Science Lab” on the map but not in the official address list – are flagged and fixed before becoming a problem during an emergency. This ensures that field-mapped indoor locations meet the same strict criteria as outdoor GIS data.

When integrated into a live NG9-1-1 system, these indoor maps don’t sit in a silo – they will feed the emergency call routing function (ECRF), dispatch-mapping display, and the location validation function (LVF) just like any other GIS layer. 

The benefit is a seamless view: dispatchers see the 911 caller plotted, not just at an address but inside the correct building footprint, on the correct floor. First responders arriving on scene can trust that the coordinates and descriptions given by dispatch line up with the indoor maps on their mobile devices. 

In short, it is connecting the dots (literally) between granular field mapping and the exacting NG9-1-1 data pipeline, making sure nothing gets lost in translation.

Safer Response Through Complete, Validated Data

When every second counts, unified data matters. Our interop address comes into its own. By joining visual detail with validated, trust-worthy and interoperable data, 9-1-1 teams eliminate guesswork.

Picture a crisis on a large campus. Instead of confirming which building or door to enter, dispatchers and officers already know. They share the same floor plan, the same room labels, and the same verified access points. That means faster call routing, faster dispatch, and faster response.

Validated indoor data also prevent decay over time and by continuing to maintain this data you future-proof this costly investment. As buildings are renovated or rooms repurposed, ongoing checks keep information current. In turn, commanders can coordinate multiple units, and mutual aid agencies can plug in seamlessly. We would suggest any investment in indoor mapping that is going to be used for public safety MUST be validated for and interoperable with NG911 network requirements.

The operational benefit is clear: more accurate information = better informed decisions during emergencies. And in public safety, informed decisions translate to lives saved – whether the caller is on a factory floor, a school hallway, or the 15th story of an office building. The convergence of indoor mapping and NG9-1-1 data quality isn’t just innovation for its own sake … it’s a direct investment in safer outcomes for both the public and the first responders sworn to protect them.

Test Your NG9-1-1 Readiness

Learn how 1Spatial delivers FCC-ready sub-address data that meet NENA standards and field realities. Speak with experts like Richard Kelly to assess your readiness and start validating your indoor GIS data today, and learn how validated indoor data enhance NG9-1-1 performance – indoors, outdoors, and everywhere responders need it.