Study Goal and ObjectivesThe research team sought to develop and refine methods

to automatically monitor trail use in national parks. The three primary objectives were to:

1. Evaluate several commercially available trail counters in typical National Park Service (NPS) settings.

2. Develop a general process for monitoring trail use, then apply the monitoring process in different park settings.

3. Summarize the trail use data into example reports for presenting information to decision makers.

We applied the monitoring process to two different national parks:

• San Antonio Missions National Historical Park: a linear urban park with several historic sites along the San Antonio River in Texas.

• Guadalupe Mountains National Park: a rural park in west Texas with a limited number of access points and a network of hiking trails.

Study FindingsAutomatic Trail CountersWe identified numerous commercially available automated trail counters. The technologies used in the counters varied, as did the available features. Figure 1 shows a matrix developed to help practitioners identify the relevant technologies for counting pedestrians and bicyclists, both separately and together. Supplemental tables in the technical report identify the strengths and weaknesses of these counter technologies and their commercial availability.

The team confirmed through field evaluations of two passive infrared counters that they typically undercount actual trail use, most likely due to multiple people simultaneously passing through the counter zone. Because of this consistent undercounting, we adjusted the raw counts from our field data collection.

PROJECT SUMMARYSaving Lives, Time and Resources

tti.tamu.edu

MONITORING TRAIL USE:Case Study Applications at San Antonio Missions National Historical

Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Sponsored by the National Park Service Social Science BranchPerformed by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute in cooperation with

the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit at Texas A&M University

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

PROJECT SUMMARY

Although there were a few minor glitches, the two trail counters performed satisfactorily. When properly installed and maintained, these counters can reduce the long-term costs associated with manually monitoring park trails.

Trail Monitoring Process We developed a generalized monitoring process (see Figure 2) and applied it to our two case studies. We provide extensive details and guidance for each of the nine monitoring steps in the full technical report.

Two principles are vital:1. Planning ahead and identifying how trail use data

will be used and by whom. The uses and users of the data influence many monitoring parameters.

2. Emphasizing quality assurance throughout the entire process, rather than only after data have been collected. For example, regular staff training and equipment testing, inspection, and calibration are essential to producing consistent data that meets user needs.

Figure 1. Matrix for Selecting Automatic Trail Counters (Two Case Studies Shown).

Figure 2. Trail Monitoring Process.

passive infrared sensor that we moved to different trails at two-week intervals. For busier trails, we counted trail use for longer than two weeks. Figure 3 shows typical installations in the two parks.

In each case study, we collected trail use data in the spring and summer of 2012. After downloading the raw data, we performed quality assurance by using automated criteria and then visually reviewing trail use patterns. We also adjusted the raw trail counts for undercounting. Finally, we summarized the trail use data into several different tables and charts to illustrate typical use levels and patterns.

Dashboard graphics are commonly used to provide the “big picture” on trail use. Figure 4 shows the average daily trail users (i.e., people walking, jogging, and riding bicycles) at several locations along the Mission Reach Trail in San Antonio.

Trail Use in Case Study ParksOn the Mission Reach Trail in San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, we installed a permanent counter that combined inductance loops with a passive infrared sensor. This permanent counter was able to differentiate pedestrians from bicyclists, as well as direction of travel. In Guadalupe Mountains National Park, we used a portable,

Figure 3. Installations at the Two Case Study National Parks.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Figure 4. San Antonio Mission Reach Trail.

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Other data summaries can help illustrate trail use patterns. Figure 5 shows how Mission Reach Trail use varies by time of the day. More people use the trail in the evenings during the week. However, on weekends, overall use is higher in the morning, and there are more bicyclists than pedestrians on the weekend.

Figure 6 shows how Mission Reach Trail use varies throughout the year. The year-round use is fairly consistent, with some spikes in usage during special events (for example, charity events like the Mission Reach Bloom Boom). Also, trail use is typically higher on weekends, though some weekdays show high use when special events occur.

Different patterns of trail use were seen at Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Figure 7). The number of hikers peaked during the midday. On the Guadalupe Peak Trail (which ascends to 8,751 feet, the highest point in Texas), trail use on Saturday was much higher than on weekdays or Sundays.

Figure 8 shows trail use during the spring season (March through May). As expected, trail use was much higher during Spring Break and on the weekends, Saturdays in particular.

Contact: Shawn Turner, P.E., Senior Research Engineer & Division Head, Mobility Division, Texas A&M Transportation Institute,3135 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3135, ph. (979) 845-8829, shawn-turner@tamu.edu, http://tti.tamu.edu.

Figure 5. Mission Reach Trail: Average Hourly Counts.

Figure 6. Mission Reach Trail: Total Daily Counts.

Figure 7. Guadalupe Peak Trail: Average Hourly Counts.

Figure 8. Guadalupe Peak Trail: Total Daily Counts.