Ken Kato is the founder and director of the Location Innovation Lab (LIL) at the University of Oregon. He serves as the director of the UO’s Campus GIS and Mapping Program, the university’s official system of record for all 29,000+ rooms, 350+ buildings, and underground utilities. Mr. Kato and the LIL team design and develop innovative, location-based software systems and cutting-edge web and mobile applications aimed at improving organizational resilience and interagency situational awareness.  

Mr. Kato is a principal investigator in the Institute for Resilient Organizations, Communities, and Environments (IROCE) at UO. 

Mr. Kato directed the development of unique software applications for Oregon state agencies, private sector companies and in collaboration with other faculty on sponsored research projects. Previously, he served as the associate director of the UO Geography Department’s InfoGraphics Lab.