The regional geographic information system (GIS) projects are part of a larger strategy to coordinate GIS efforts across the state. The catalyst for a GIS project was the formation of Incident Management Teams (IMTs).

The goal of each region-wide GIS project is to create a critical information network about infrastructure, assets and key populations for use by the IMTs, first responders and decision makers. The information will then be available to aide in timely response to any event, natural or man-made, across the region and eventually statewide. All Homeland Security Regions are working in conjunction with the Kansas Adjutant General's Department on regional GIS projects. The regions are:

Background: As a part of the South Central Homeland Security region GIS project, 5 data layers were identified that were important to homeland security and emergency management. The layers were airports, health facilities, chemical facilities, educational institutions, and interoperable communication towers. Discussed in the subcommittee meetings was the need to have a set of common fields. The group decided to have these fields common: feature name, alternate name, feature address, feature city, feature county, feature phone number, point of contact name, point of contact phone number, verification person, verification date, verification source, and notes. Following the South Central project, the southeast and southwest regions had funding to collection GIS data layers. After studying the gap analysis for both regions a set of 37 data layers were identified. During the summer of 2010, GIS interns through the Adjutant General's Department collected, verified and validated over 3,400 features in the 30 counties in the regions. The current geodatabases has 47 features types (thanks to the addition of 10 layers through the North Central region and local emergency managers). The Adjutant General's Department provided empty geodatabases in ArcGIS personal geodatabase format for 9.2, 9.3, and 10.0. Along with the geodatabase the Department has also provided a spreadsheet for non-GIS personnel to use and a diagram of the geodatabase. For questions please contact Jessica Frye, GIS Coordinator, at 785-274-1610 or Jessica.p.frye@us.army.mil..