As emergency response systems around the world undergo rapid transformation, a Nigerian geospatial professional, Kayode Adeparusi, is contributing to a quiet but significant shift in how crises are managed in the United States, one that could carry important lessons for Nigeria’s own emergency framework.
Adeparusi’s work is tied to the rollout of Next Generation 911 (NG911), a modernised emergency system designed to replace traditional voice-only infrastructure with a digital network capable of handling text, images, video, and highly accurate location data. The transition reflects a broader move toward data-driven public safety, where speed is matched with precision.
Working with the Western Illinois University GIS Center, Adeparusi played a role in one of the system’s most technically critical areas: indoor mapping for emergency response. His work involved creating detailed digital maps of school buildings, layouts that allow first responders to navigate corridors, staircases, and rooms with clarity during emergencies.
In practical terms, this means that emergency teams responding to a distress call are no longer limited to finding the right address. They can now identify where exactly within a building an incident is occurring, significantly reducing response time in high-pressure situations.
The work forms part of a wider operational effort that has supported NG911 readiness across multiple counties in Illinois, where geospatial datasets are continuously updated and used in real-time emergency operations. Reports indicate that indoor mapping initiatives have already been implemented in more than 150 schools, with growing interest from other institutions.
Adeparusi’s contribution also extends into research. In a 2025 study titled “Indoor Routing for School Emergencies with Next Generation 911 Data: Evaluating the Impact of Detailed Indoor Maps on First Responder Response Times” examining indoor routing for school emergencies, he explored how detailed spatial data can reduce navigation errors and improve access to critical areas during incidents. The study addresses a long-standing limitation of traditional systems, where emergency routing typically ends at the building level, leaving responders to rely on guesswork once inside.
While much of the NG911 transition has been driven by institutions and policy frameworks, contributions like Adeparusi’s highlight the role of technical professionals in shaping how these systems function in practice. His work reflects a broader shift toward what experts describe as “precision-based emergency response,” where the effectiveness of public safety systems depends on how well they interpret and apply spatial data in real time.
For Nigeria, the implications are difficult to ignore. The country operates a national emergency number, 112, but response efforts are often hindered by familiar challenges: incomplete addressing systems, delays in locating incidents, and limited use of digital tools in emergency coordination. In many cases, responders arrive at a location only to spend critical minutes trying to find the exact point of need.
The NG911 model offers a contrast. Rather than focusing solely on connecting calls to responders, it prioritises actionable location intelligence, ensuring that responders know not just where to go, but where to act.
This distinction is particularly relevant in urban Nigeria, where large schools, hospitals, and commercial complexes can be difficult to navigate without prior familiarity. The idea of digitally mapping such environments for emergency use remains largely unexplored.
Beyond infrastructure, the shift also highlights the importance of integrating data into real-time operations. In the NG911 system, geospatial data is not static; it is continuously updated, standardised, and made immediately accessible to emergency personnel. This level of integration reduces reliance on verbal communication and improves coordination across agencies.
Globally, similar efforts are underway. Europe’s NG112 framework is advancing comparable capabilities, reinforcing a growing consensus that emergency response systems must evolve alongside the complexity of modern environments.
Adeparusi’s work sits within this global movement, illustrating how geospatial science is becoming central to public safety strategy. More importantly, it demonstrates how expertise developed within one context can inform solutions in another.
As Nigeria continues to pursue broader digital transformation goals, the modernization of its emergency response system remains an area where such lessons could have an immediate and measurable impact.
In an era where seconds can determine outcomes, the ability to move from general location awareness to precise, data-driven response may prove to be one of the most important shifts in public safety, and one in which Nigerian expertise is already helping to lead the way.
