CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A company has been picked to give Chicago's 911 emergency center a major facelift.
It's going to cost up to $75 million for the city of Chicago to install Next Generation 911.
The city has picked Florida-based Tri-Tech Software Systems to install it over the next three years. The company also will maintain the system for 10 years after that.
The city signed the contract with Tri-Tech on December 31, 2019.
When complete, people will be able to reach 911 by phone or text and even be able to provide pictures and videos of emergency scenes that will give first responders an idea of what they're going to encounter.
The new system will also give police and fire the ability to share critical information in real time.
Another feature of the Next Generation 911 system is that it will be able to precisely locate a cellphone caller's location and where the nearest first responder is.
Chicago's 911 emergency center's current technology is more than 20 years old.
The system will be phased in over three years, because equipment will have to be installed at the 911 center and in every police and fire vehicle and everyone involved will need training.
