There are three important reasons to make this change:
- Improve general public safety response
- Meet new requirements for 911 dispatching services
- Increase accuracy of maps and navigation applications
The rapid advances in technology and the integration of this technology in providing a more accurate and timely response to emergencies has made it necessary to position OU to take advantage of these systems.
Emergency first responders are trained to locate calls for service using street addresses. They rely on highly precise address information provided by computer-aided records systems that also support Global Positioning System (GPS) location assistance. This fact, coupled with the increases in cooperative governmental operations, clearly underscores the need to adopt this new method for addressing OU facilities.
Just as fire or emergency medical services units from other responding agencies may be unfamiliar with our campus, this project will also allow campus visitors to use precise, locatable addresses in their GPS devices. Other benefits will include improved post and parcel delivery as well as improved Geographical Information System (GIS) and mapping abilities.