GIS Analytical Methods and Models
How do I reach my tourism destination by the most fuel efficient or scenic route?
Where should recreational trails and facilities be located?
Where and to what extent are human caused environmental impacts occurring?
What areas are home to the most popular tourism destinations?
Where should I build my vacation home in the forest to decrease the risk of wildfire damage to it?
Where should tennis courts, ball fields, and playgrounds be located in urban areas to maximize use and provide equal access to all urban residents?
Human population continues to grow. That growth brings increasing pressure on land and water resources to meet human needs without sacrificing ecological health. Analytical models and methods used in Geographic Information Science(GIS) can help us see where recreational and tourism opportunities are best located to avoid environmental and social problems.
PRTM faculty use GIS analytical methods and modelling to enhance their work as they engage in a wide spectrum of research including - Active Living, Leisure Behavior, Youth Development, Gender and Diversity, Human Dimensions in the Outdoors, Recreation Ecology and Visitor Impact Management, Tourism Marketing & Development, Consumer Behavior in Sport and Tourism.
Featured Project: National Data Standard for Trails for the National Park Services
Their Mission?
In cooperation with National Park Service GIS division and several other federal agencies, we helped develop and implement a new national data standard for trails. The project not only defined the data structure of the trail spatial data, but also developed a set of analysis tools to assist trail managers in mapping and analyzing their data (e.g., historic vs. actual trail locations, length of trials in various political jurisdictions, potential land acquisition opportunities, etc.). The system has been deployed for several national and local trails and is under consideration for adoption by the National Park and Recreation Association as the national standard.
Why does this matter?
Because the National Parks belong to all of us!
Learn more about GIST projects and programs in PRTM. Learn more about GIST in the College of Natural Resources.
Graduate Faculty Engaged in Research in this Arena: