I’m opening beta testing for the NENA Schema Converter
I’m opening beta testing for the first public Groundtruth 911 release.
It is called the NENA Schema Converter - a focused ArcGIS Pro utility built to convert NG9-1-1 GIS data between NENA schema versions.
What the converter does
The current release candidate supports two conversion paths:
- NENA-STA-006.1.1-2020 > NENA-STA-006.2a-2023
- NENA-STA-006.2a-2023 > NENA-STA-006.3-2026 flat-file Esri File Geodatabase model
The converter runs in ArcGIS Pro and creates a new output geodatabase. It does not change the source data.
It also allows users to map their own local layer and field names to the NENA schema. That matters because real data rarely arrives with perfectly standardized names, even when the information itself is there.
After each run, the converter creates a log and a detailed manifest. These show what was moved, what was changed mechanically, and what still needs human review.
What it does not do
The converter does not validate the contents of the data. It does not repair every data-quality problem, certify NENA conformance, or replace professional review.
Those are different jobs.
The larger Groundtruth validation tool is being built to address some of that work, but it is still in development and private testing. It is not included in this beta.
Why I need testers
Schema conversion can look clean when it is tested against one carefully prepared dataset. The real test is what happens when it meets the way people actually maintain their data.
Local naming conventions vary. Fields get added. Workflows change over time. Two jurisdictions can follow the same standard and still organize their working data differently.
That is why I want people outside my own testing environment to use the converter.
The testing package includes fictional sample data, so no organizational data is required. Testers can walk through the full process without sharing or using anything sensitive.
If you are authorized and comfortable doing so, you are also welcome to test with a copy of your own data. That is completely optional. The data stays on your machine, and the converter leaves the source unchanged.
The more schemas and datasets we test, the better I can make the converter for the community.
What I want to learn
I want to know where the instructions are unclear, where the workflow slows you down, and where the output does not match what you expected.
I also want to know what worked. If something saved time or made a schema change easier to understand, that is useful feedback too.
You do not need to prepare a formal report. I am looking for honest notes from people who understand this work.
How to participate
If you maintain NG9-1-1 GIS data and would like to participate, email me at hi@kaitlinquinn.com with “NENA Beta” in the subject line. You can also message me on LinkedIn.
You do not need perfect data. You need ArcGIS Pro, enough time to run through the workflow, and a willingness to tell me where it gets weird.