News release

New Digital Mapping Supports Public Safety

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)
Emergency Management Office

Emergency service workers will have an easier time finding local addresses during emergencies thanks to a new software program being rolled out this fall in 911 call centres.

The province, through Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and the Emergency Management Office, has developed a real-time, digital civic address database application that will be installed in 911 call centres. Similar applications are used across North America.

"We've committed to creating, maintaining, and distributing accurate geographic information that will help develop these types of applications," said Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "This new 911 service is an example. Information will be updated daily and reflect all new provincial property development. This is important to emergency workers who need to get to these situations fast."

In addition, the department will continue to maintain quality geographic information to support the development of such applications. The information includes contents from the Nova Scotia Civic Address File, a centralized graphical database that is updated daily. This database shows the locations of civic address buildings, roads, road names, road address ranges, communities, building use and other important address information.

"This is a top-notch addition to our emergency response system in Nova Scotia," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Emergency Management. "It's a real success story, and if it saves one life or prevents someone from being hurt, we'll be extremely happy to have made this investment in technology."

Mr. Fage added that the province continues to invest in technological improvements in the Joint Emergency Operations Centre in Dartmouth. It is the only facility in Canada that houses municipal, provincial and federal response agencies, capable of operating around the clock. The enhancements support provincial efforts to work closely with municipalities to plan and respond to future emergencies.

The province provides access to geographic data, applications and services through its GeoNOVA portal. For more information see the Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations website at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr . For information on the 911 safety system, see the EMO website at www.gov.ns.ca/emo .