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Radius Mapping users get supplemental emergency data direct from OnStar Crash Incidents

What is OnStar?

Launched in 1996, OnStar is a wholly owned subsidiary of GM Holdings LLC ("GM") and offers emergency, security and navigation services in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models. At the heart of the OnStar[1] brand are OnStar Advisors—real people committed to helping drivers stay safe on the road through Automatic Crash Response[2], emergency services, roadside assistance[3], crisis assist, Stolen Vehicle Assistance[4] and Turn-by-Turn navigation[5]. In 2020, OnStar introduced the OnStar Guardian mobile app, extending its safety services outside the confines of GM vehicles.

How it Works

OnStar-equipped vehicles with Automatic Crash Response (ACR) have built-in sensors to automatically alert an OnStar Advisor of a crash. Now, the incident location and related crash details can be provided electronically to the appropriate 911 Emergency Communications Center (ECC), including:

• Location, with latitude and longitude
• OnStar incident number, received and sent time
• Vehicle type — including year, make, model, color, and propulsion type (such as an electric vehicle)
• High probability of severe injury indicator – Taking into account vehicle crash data and available seat sensing technology, Injury Severity Prediction (ISP) is an algorithm that uses telemetry from the vehicle (Delta-V, direction of force, safety belt usage, multiple impacts) and age/gender (via voice contact) to determine if the risk of severe injury is “HIGH.”
• Crash data, such as airbag deployment, multiple impacts, principal direction of force, and autonomous vehicle indicator, if applicable.

All of this data can help guide decisions on dispatch priority, patient care and transport of the patient, including where to transport and by what means — ground or air.

Once an Automatic Crash Incident occurs, the OnStar data feed is routed by RapidDeploy to the Radius Mapping ECC customer with jurisdiction and an OnStar Advisor will initiate voice contact with the ECC.

OnStar Data Displayed in Radius Mapping

OnStar Automatic Crash Incidents are displayed in Radius Mapping initially in the Signals queue, which is visible to both Primary and Secondary ECCs.  9-1-1 ECCs can interact with the OnStar incident to see the direct supplemental vehicle telematics data by selecting the Signal and then clicking on the emergency location.

When an ECC Telecommunicator answers a call from an OnStar Advisor, the voice call in Radius Mapping is automatically indexed to the emergency location and the Additional Data tab will display the vehicle telematics data.  Telecommunicators can copy and paste precise vehicle telematics data with a single click, into the call-taking forms to provide responders with critical crash data and vehicle information.  

Telecommunicators can utilize map data such as available CCTV feeds, traffic and Waze alerts near the incident for better situational awareness.

Changing Outcomes with Data

APCO and NENA VEDS 2.0 (Vehicle Emergency Data Set) Standards outline the data used to calculate a Severe Injury Indicator. The value ‘true’ indicates a greater than 20% probability of an Injury Severity Score ISS15 as predicted by an injury severity algorithm per the recommendations from the 2008 CDC AACN Expert Panel.

Agencies receiving VEDS data can more effectively enable the allocation of resources based on actionable data such as the number of vehicle occupants and the likely severity of their injuries.  This can lead to earlier arrival of field responders and better patient outcomes.

How do I enable OnStar in Radius Mapping?

OnStar Automatic Crash Incidents are automatically enabled in every RapidDeploy Radius Mapping ECC so no action is required.

Training Information and Resources

Rapid Academy Learning Management System (LMS) has course content that outlines the workflow for OnStar AACN VED.

The OnStar Public Safety Outreach Team offers complimentary educational materials to assist agencies in understanding the vital crash data available and how it can positively impact dispatch decisions and patient care.  Visit https://www.public-safety.onstar.com/ to learn more and access training materials.

[1] OnStar plan, working electrical system, cell reception and GPS signal required. OnStar links to emergency services. See onstar.com for details and limitations.

[2] Not all vehicles may transmit all crash data.

[3] Roadside services provided by Allstate Roadside Service for vehicles only. Limitations and restrictions apply.

[4] Stolen Vehicle Assistance requires armed GM factory-installed theft-deterrent system, contact method on file and enrollment to receive alerts. Additional messaging and data rates may apply. Services are intended to assist with vehicle recovery and do not prevent theft or protect against damage or loss.

[5] Advisor-based Turn-by-Turn Navigation is subject to Terms and limitations and varies by vehicle model. Map coverage available in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

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“We know when 9-1-1 rings RapidDeploy is going to pinpoint where that caller is.”

– Beth Kallin, Director of Lawrenceburg-Anderson County 911, Kentucky

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A Kentucky mother of two found herself in a dangerous situation when her ATV flipped over, trapping her leg underneath. Although she was able to call 9-1-1, she was unable to provide her precise location.

With Kentucky covered by large rural areas, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact location.

Fortunately, the Lawrenceburg dispatchers leverage RapidDeploy as their for next generation call-taking map, which enabled them to identify her exact location even in the neighboring county.

Recognizing her spotty cell service, they opted not to disconnect and instead contacted the PSAP in the next jurisdiction and were able to guide first responder to her location.  

Watch the full save story here:

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Radius Mapping users can see the what3words address for incoming calls and utilize it for onward communication.

What is what3words?

It’s a location technology that has given every 10ft square a unique identifier made of three random words. This means that any precise location can be communicated using just three words. For example, ///stating.leaders.gifted refers to a specific 10ft square in Tehama County, California.

A what3words address provides the accuracy of GPS coordinates, in a human-friendly format that is easier to communicate and less prone to error than long strings of numbers. It enables telecommunicators to convey exact locations to field responders quickly and easily by text, written message, radio or phone call.

what3words addresses exist for every 10ft square in the world, enabling people to communicate the location of incidents in places without a street address such as hiking trails, building sites and unmarked stretches of road.  Unlike a street address, which may cover a large property with multiple entrances, a what3words address can be used to specify an exact building entrance or site location. This saves crucial time when describing the location to field responders and partner agencies.

How it Works

Display

When a caller dials 911, their location’s what3words address will be delivered as supplemental location information to ECCs via Radius Mapping. In Radius Mapping, the what3words address will display in the call details drawer (see image on page 2). If the caller moves out of the 10ft square, the what3words address will update accordingly on the Platform.

Search

A dispatcher might be given what3words address by a caller or partner team member. They can it directly in Radius’s search bar.

In the rare occurrence that a what3words address does not appear in the call detail drawer, the call taker can send the caller a RapidLocate link from Radius. Once opened, the page displays the caller’s current what3words address, which they can then read out to the call taker.

Telecommunicators can easily communicate the what3words address to field responders, who can cross-reference it with their what3words app to locate the caller in need. To do this, the field responder inputs the what3words address into the free what3words app, by voice or text, and then navigates to the precise location.

Downloading and Using the Free what3words App

what3words is available as a free app and online map. Users can find, share, save and navigate to exact locations using what3words addresses. The app works offline, even without mobile data, users can discover their current what3words location, or enter a what3words address to view a location.

Search ‘what3words’ in the App Store or Play Store. Full instructions on using the app here.

Using the App to Navigate to Incidents

When a field responder receives a what3words address, they can use the app to get directions to the incident location:

If the what3words location is received over the radio, Call Notes in CAD or via text message:

1. Open the app and tap the search bar at the top of the screen.
2. Enter the what3words location via either:

• Voice entry: Tap the speech bubble icon in the search bar and say just the three words
• Text entry: Type the three words, each separated by a dot, with no spaces

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3. Select the correct what3words address from the results displayed to view the location.

If the what3words location is received as a link:

Click the link to open the what3words app and view the exact location.

Navigating to the location displayed on screen

Tap‘ Navigate’ at the bottom of the screen and select your preferred navigation app (i.e. Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze  or Compass if you’re in an area without roads for navigation).

The what3words location will convert into GPS coordinates and open in your chosen app.

Getting Started

The what3words team is available to answer any questions or host ECC information sessions. For further information please contact what3words Partnerships Lead, Zama at zama@what3words.com or visit https://what3words.com/emergency.

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“SRPD is proud of our PSCB Dispatchers who were absolutely able to save the life of this person due to the technological partnership with RapidDeploy and their game changing services.”

- Joe Orozco, Public Information Officer of the Salt River Police Department (SRPD)

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The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Dispatchers received a distress call from a witness who heard a man yelling for help near the Granite Reef dam.

Recognizing the urgency, the call was quickly transferred to the SRPD. Utilizing RapidDeploy's Radius Mapping, real-time text was initiated to the witness, enabling telecommunicators to capture the caller’s exact latitude and longitude, pinpointing the location.

This critical information provided enhanced real-time communications, which allowed emergency services to efficiently locate and navigate their way to reach the man in distress, and ultimately, save his life. 

RapidDeploy’s Radius Mapping is leveraged across the state of Arizona. By harnessing the power of RapidDeploy's Next Generation call-taking map, telecommunicators, first responders and 911 agencies are equipped with the tools they need to improve emergency response and drive life-saving outcomes.

Watch the incredible save story from the SRPD team in Arizona here:

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