Solving Common Public Safety GIS Issues with DATAMARK VEP

September 10, 2020

VEP is DATAMARK’s cloud-native Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution for the creation, aggregation, provisioning, and maintenance of public safety GIS data. VEP provides GIS and non-GIS users with a highly configurable and user-friendly web-based interface to perform location data validation, GIS data editing, and quality control in alignment with NENA NG9-1-1 standards, GIS industry best practices, and local authority processes and guidelines.

DATAMARK VEP is currently in operation with state, regional, and local GIS authorities and public safety agencies across the country to effectively validate, maintain, and deploy their GIS datasets within 9-1-1 and Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) environments. VEP does not require costly software licensing or dedicated hardware infrastructures and is uniquely positioned to help you solve common issues faced when managing GIS data for public safety applications.

Access and Interface

VEP is accessed through an intuitive, secure, and web-based interface that enables multiple users to work simultaneously inside a single GIS dataset from any location. The ability to remotely and securely access VEP across the web offers huge advantages to agencies challenged with maintaining continuity of GIS operations with reduced staff and work-from-home environments. Likewise, VEP eliminates many of the issues faced by agencies operating in this current “normal” to maintain the hardware and software compatibility necessary to maintain functionality and enable users to take advantage of the most recent features and updates.

VEP’s access flexibility has proven itself a key feature to Somerset County 911:

“Most GIS software needs to be installed locally on your device. VEP is accessible via a basic web browser and brings data management to any device you see fit. This has been incredibly beneficial during “Work from Home” days as I can pick up right where I left off in the office. Most of my editing is done in the VEP edit module reducing the need to use Enterprise software such as ArcGIS, in which I would not have access to from home. The DATAMARK team has maintained open communications to help optimize the product for our external needs as well. The software feels familiar and is an easy transition for GIS professionals. We are very happy with this software at Somerset 911!”

VEP’s highly configurable web-based interface offers users with less GIS experience a less intimidating GIS management environment and workflows. Experienced GIS users will find VEP’s interface intuitive and streamlined than competitive solutions; this enables GIS managers to optimize GIS workflows and minimize the steps between creation, editing, validation, and provisioning within public safety applications.

VEP’s true Software-as-a-Service subscription model reduces and, in some cases, eliminates the need for costly equipment infrastructure and software licensing requirements to perform mission-critical management of your public safety GIS data. VEP is offered in three subscription models, ensuring you have access to the features you need and do not have to pay for additional functionality you do not.

Low costs to implement and predictable annual subscription fees make VEP accessible to a broad range of clients challenged with constraints to capital and operational budgets stretched thin by the ongoing response COVID-19 and other events that limit public funding for 9-1-1 GIS initiatives. Low cost of turn-up and operation, paired with a user-friendly interface and the ability to access the system securely across the web, VEP is ideally positioned to support your current and future GIS needs today.

Creating, Managing, and Provisioning Ng9-1-1 Ready GIS Data

VEP is designed to support the most current NENA NG9-1-1 GIS Data Model and to provide the flexibility to incorporate custom fields and additional schema requirements from your GIS datasets.

As your agency implements or is planning the implementation of the NENA NG9-1-1 GIS Data Model, VEP becomes an integral tool for validating, editing, and aggregating GIS data from multiple sources that will be provisioned into NG9-1-1 GIS Core Services (NGCS) solutions. GIS authorities and data stewards tasked with preparing their data for NG9-1-1 currently use VEP to improve the quality of their existing 9-1-1 data while preparing it for future implementation in NG9-1-1 with no loss in accuracy, reliability, or functionality.

VEP plays a critical role in preparing local, regional, and statewide GIS data for NG9-1-1, providing essential tools necessary to analyze and synchronize GIS, MSAG, and ALI data. These tools are instrumental in building a solid understanding of the level of effort needed to prepare for NG9-1-1 and expose issues to be addressed along the way.

Multi-Organizational Collaboration and GIS Data Updates

Out of the box, VEP is designed to support collaboration between local GIS authorities managing data used in consolidated GIS databases. VEP Validator and Aggregator are designed to work in concert, permitting local agency management of individual GIS datasets which can be consistently aggregated into a statewide or regional GIS database.

VEP’s Observer user role gives agencies outside the GIS authority a voice in local GIS data, enabling them to report observations in the GIS data which do not alter the overall dataset. Observations create operational transparency, increase communication between the local public safety and GIS professionals, and improve the quality of 9-1-1 and NG9-1-1 GIS data in real time. VEP Observer solves the problem of how 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers communicate GIS discrepancies back to the local GIS authority – no more sticky notes or to-do lists!

Comprehensive Suite of GIS Data Management Tools

VEP delivers a broad suite of tools used to Validate, Edit, Provision, and aggregate public safety GIS data. VEP’s change management utilities enables you to perform historical tracking of changes made to your GIS data, and identify true and meaningful issues in your data, including:

Validate

GIS, MSAG, and ALI data is aggregated then validated through VEP’s comprehensive series of data validations. VEP Validator is used to perform validations across dozens of categories, configured for each of your specific GIS data management requirements.

Edit

VEP Editor provides a web-based editing interface that enables users to create, maintain, update, validate, and export public safety GIS data. VEP’s editing environment includes a comprehensive suite of tools and becomes a force multiplier for GIS departments with limited resources. Editor subscription also includes VEP’s Observer features.

Provision

VEP includes provisioning to your native GIS schema and to the NENA NG9-1-1 GIS schema. VEP is platform-agnostic and capable of provisioning GIS data into your Next Generation Core Services’ (NGCS) Spatial Interface (SI) system.

By: Stephanie McCowat

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