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Kansas Geological Survey highlights high‑resolution GIS, LIDAR and statewide data services used for 9‑1‑1 and tax mapping
Summary
KGS described its data access and support center, high‑resolution orthoimagery and LIDAR programs and their applications for 9‑1‑1 services, tax appraisal boundaries and county mapping. The survey said its GIS products enable seamless statewide coverage for emergency response and local government needs.
The Kansas Geological Survey told the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources that its Data Access and Support Center provides high‑resolution geospatial datasets — including one‑foot LIDAR and orthoimagery — that support statewide 9‑1‑1 services, tax appraisal boundaries and other county functions.
KGS Associate programs lead (presented by Jay Kalbus) said the survey facilitates one‑foot pixel resolution imagery across Kansas and curates LIDAR and other data so 9‑1‑1 centers, county tax appraisers and utilities can rely on consistent, accurate boundaries, roads, gates and other infrastructure features. Kalbus said the survey’s GIS work helps create “seamless coverage of 9‑1‑1 services no matter if you’re in Kansas City or in Liberal, Kansas or anywhere in between.”
He said the GIS effort reduces duplication of effort across county governments and yields a high return on investment because the same datasets are used by energy companies, utilities, emergency services, and tax offices. Kalbus also cited an example map the survey maintains that shows every tax appraisal district boundary in the state.
Nut graf: KGS said maintaining standardized, high‑resolution geospatial datasets supports emergency response and county administration statewide and enables better coordination among agencies and private users who rely on accurate parcel and infrastructure data.
Committee members asked about data sharing and whether county‑level mapping updates feed back into the KGS database. Kalbus said counties’ updated GIS mapping is incorporated and shared through KGS systems; the survey also partners with county and state agencies to deliver consistent data for services such as 9‑1‑1 routing and tax appraisal district boundary management.
Ending: Kalbus urged continued investment in statewide geospatial infrastructure, saying accurate, shared GIS data is foundational to many state operations and yields outsized returns when maintained.
