Kansas Data Access & Support Center manager receives national 2022 Geospatial Excellence Award

LAWRENCE — Eileen Battles, manager of the Kansas Data Access & Support Center housed at the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas, is the recipient of the 2022 Geospatial Excellence Award–Catalyst from the National States Geographic Information Council.

Battles received the Catalyst award, which recognizes individuals or organizations who are instrumental in promoting and improving geospatial technology, data, and services, during NSGIC’s annual conference Sept. 18-23 in Portland, Oregon.

“Eileen is a highly effective manager and communicator, and she’s worked hard to develop and maintain a good rapport with the Kansas GIS community. The relationships that she's built at the state and local levels are critical to the success of our GIS program,” said Ken Nelson, Kansas geographic information officer and DASC director.

Battles is involved in numerous initiatives that directly contribute to the adoption and use of geospatial data and technology, which is embedded in many applications people use every day in a variety of ways, from visualizing resources and infrastructure to analyzing patterns, people and events to more efficiently navigating daily activities.

In 2021, DASC began working to implement Esri's Hub technology as the primary clearinghouse website for the state’s geospatial data. Battles led numerous technical and planning meetings and regularly coordinated with state agencies to develop the site. The new website went live in the spring and brings together public domain GIS data from sources that include state agencies, Kansas Board of Regents institutions, federal agencies and more.

“Although the development of the new website represents a team effort, Eileen's exceptional leadership ensured the project made it across the finish line,” Nelson said.

Visitors to the site can explore data in categories such as water, health and environment, imagery and elevation, and transportation. The interactive maps created using these data are wide-ranging, from Kansas motor vehicle crash data for the past 10 years to the extent of the High Plains aquifer in western Kansas to the locations of all of the state’s champion trees.

Battles also plays a key role in the Kansas Next Generation 911 Program. NG911 is a national effort to replace the decades-old analog 911 infrastructure with a new, more efficient and accurate digital system. Battles serves on the Kansas NG911 executive and GIS committees and leads the state’s NG911 user group. She also oversees the NG911 data aggregation, quality assurance and publication activities performed by the clearinghouse.

“Eileen Battles is invaluable to the effort of migrating Kansas to NG911,” said Scott Ekberg, Kansas 911 administrator.

"I work with an amazing, dedicated team that strives to build and foster relationships across the state,” Battles said. “We work with every level of government, as well as our private partners to facilitate geospatial partnerships and coordination as well as to promote the effective use of geospatial resources across the state. I am honored by this award and feel it is a direct reflection of the entire DASC staff."

NSGIC is a state-led forum for developing, exchanging, and endorsing geospatial technology and policy best practices. It has members from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

DASC is the Kansas geographic information system data clearinghouse, responsible for archiving and distributing geospatial data and supporting Kansas geospatial collaborative, technical and policy-related efforts. DASC collaborates with and supports federal, state and local government geospatial initiatives.

The Kansas Geological Survey is a nonregulatory research and service division of the University of Kansas. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state's geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, rocks and minerals, and earthquakes.