Digitalization of planning and navigating recreational outdoor activities

German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 54(1), P. 107 - 114

Published: Dec. 18, 2023

Abstract Effective visitor management requires reaching visitors with fitting information at the right time through channels they already use. To identify effective communication channels, 410 recreationists were interviewed in north-east Bavaria to determine how plan and navigate their outdoor activities. Interviews conducted onsite (38%) as well digital media (62%). The study found that majority of people use tools when planning (86%) navigating (73%) Additionally, most (84%) more than one tool for activities, while almost half (48%) only navigation. choice was largely influenced by planned activity. Trail running (93%), mountain biking hiking mostly using a main tool, sport climbing mainly an analog (57%), 87% climbers printed guidebooks. Age had smaller effect on choice, 90% 30-year-olds activities compared 73% 60-year-olds. demonstrates importance diversity used need be considered tourism nature conservation.

Language: Английский

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Desktop Method to Map and Assess Environmental Impacts of Formal and Informal Mountain Biking Trails in an Urban National Park

Ecological Management & Restoration, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 26(2)

Published: April 12, 2025

ABSTRACT Recreational trails, including informal trails created by visitors, have a range of ecological impacts, but mapping and assessing these impacts can be expensive time‐consuming. It is increasingly possible to harness publicly available data posted park visitors fitness platforms combine it with other spatial field help prioritise management actions enhance conservation visitor experiences. Here we outline then apply such desktop methodology assess the extensive network formal mountain biking in popular urban national Australia. Across Nerang National Park on Gold Coast, 31.4 km 36.2 bike were identified assessed using from platform Trailforks existing trail records managers. Informal mostly higher more remote parts steeper slopes generally less than closer main entrance. The resulted loss 0.8% vegetation, increased fragmentation potentially disturb wildlife across 13% Park, some traversing an important wetland catchment. results demonstrate scale nature potential which doubled area Park. They highlight need for specific actions, as closing restoring particularly when poorly designed areas high value.

Language: Английский

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Mapping Trails and Tracks in the Boreal Forest Using LiDAR and Convolutional Neural Networks

Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(9), P. 1539 - 1539

Published: April 26, 2025

Trails and tracks are the detectable signs of passage wildlife off-highway vehicles in natural landscapes. They record valuable information on presence movement animals humans. However, published works aimed at mapping trails with remote sensing nearly absent from peer-reviewed literature. Here, we demonstrate capacity high-density LiDAR (light detection ranging) convolutional neural networks to map undifferentiated automatically across a diverse study area Canadian boreal forest. We compared maps developed drone platform (10 cm digital terrain model) those piloted-aircraft (50 model). found no significant difference accuracy two maps. In fact, (F1 score 77 ± 9%) performed nominally better than 74 6%) demonstrated balance among error types. Our reveal 2829 km network 59 km2 area. These features especially abundant peatlands, where density detected was 68 km/km2. particular tendency for adopt linear industrial disturbances like seismic lines into their networks. While covered just 7% our area, they contained 27% all tracks. This type funnelling effect alters patterns humans landscape impedes recovery disturbed areas. work is case study, methods have broader applicability, showcasing potential large areas using capability can benefit research management communities.

Language: Английский

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Visitors’ relations to recreational facilities and attractions in a large vulnerable mountain region in Norway: Unpacking the roles of tourists and locals

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47, P. 100807 - 100807

Published: Aug. 13, 2024

Language: Английский

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Advancements in monitoring: a comparison of traditional and application-based tools for measuring outdoor recreation

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e17744 - e17744

Published: Sept. 10, 2024

Outdoor recreation has experienced a boom in recent years and continues to grow. While outdoor provides wide-ranging benefits human well-being, there are growing concerns about the sustainability of with increased pressures placed on ecological systems visitor experiences. These emphasize need for managers access accurate timely data at scales that match extent footprint. Here, we compare spatial temporal patterns winter summer using traditional (trail cameras, infrared counters, aerial surveys, participatory mapping) application-based tools (Strava Metro, Strava Global Heatmap, Wikiloc) across Columbia Canadian Rocky Mountains western Canada. We demonstrate how use can be estimated tools, although their accuracy utility varies space, season activity type. found trail cameras counters captured similar broad-scale count estimates pedestrians all activities. Aerial surveys areas low intensity mapping coarser information large scales. Application-based provided detailed spatiotemporal use, but datasets were biased towards specific Metro was more suited capturing biking than pedestrian recreation. should supplemented from identify biases fill gaps. provide comparison each tool measuring highlight tools’ strengths limitations applications address real-world monitoring management scenarios. Our research contributes better understanding which tool, or combinations expand rigor scope research. findings support decision-making mitigate wildlife habitats while allowing high-quality

Language: Английский

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Advancements in monitoring: a comparison of traditional and application-based tools for measuring outdoor recreation

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

ABSTRACT Outdoor recreation has experienced a boom in recent years. While outdoor provides wide-ranging benefits to human well-being and is an important feature of many protected non-protected areas, there are growing concerns about the sustainability with increased pressures placed on ecological systems visitor experiences. These emphasize need for managers access accurate timely data at scales that match footprint. Here, we compare spatial temporal patterns winter summer use using traditional application-based tools across Columbia Canadian Rocky Mountains western Canada. We demonstrate how can be estimated tools, although their accuracy utility varies space, season activity type. Cameras counters captured similar broad-scale count estimates pedestrians all activities. Application-based provided detailed spatiotemporal information use, but datasets were biased towards specific types did not represent full population. For instance, Strava Metro was more suited capturing biking than pedestrian recreation. Traditional including aerial surveys participatory mapping coarser intensity extent recreation, former tool areas low latter large scales. should supplemented from cameras or trail identify biases fill gaps. provide comparison each measuring highlight tools’ strengths limitations, suggest these address real-world monitoring management scenarios. Our research contributes better understanding what available measure help direct selecting which tool, combinations expand rigor scope research. This support decision-making lead protection while allowing high-quality GRAPHICAL

Language: Английский

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Assessing the Environmental Impacts, Condition and Sustainability of Mountain Biking Trails in an Urban National Park

Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 17, 2024

Abstract Mountain biking is a popular recreational activity in natural areas, with thousands of formal trails designed, constructed and maintained by land managers. Increasingly, there are also rising numbers informal created riders. A challenge for managers identifying, assessing, then mitigating environmental impacts trails, including protected areas. Here we assessed mountain large, national park on the Gold Coast, Australia, addressing currently limited research comparing extent, impacts, condition sustainability these trails. Impacts from 31.4 km 33.7 through forests Nerang National Park (1659 ha) included soil erosion (16.48 m 3 ) loss vegetation along adjacent to (90,955 2 ). Formal were six times more wider average (1.1 vs 0.7 m) than but less incised (4.6 cm deep 6.3 cm). Generalised Linear Models showed that Trail Grade, slope alignment best-predicted trail condition, highlighting importance good design minimising impacts. It recommended most closed rehabilitated, as they not well-designed, increase fragmentation have some traversing ecologically sensitive In addition, need be upgraded deal other More broadly, increasing demand must addressed, exploring opportunities promote areas outside parks while challenges associated creation use bike

Language: Английский

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Editorial for Special Issue of the Journal of Outdoor Tourism and Recreation on social media and other user created content for outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism research.

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 44, P. 100727 - 100727

Published: Nov. 20, 2023

Language: Английский

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