Research
Recent Publications (August 2020-present)
Current Projects
Using Big Data to Assess Protected Areas' impacts on Rural Adolescent Health
This NIH NIGMS-funded study (with the UM Center for Population Health Research) explores how the attributes and use patterns of parks and protected areas impact adolescent health outcomes in rural Montana using big data.
Collaborators:
Dr. Jennifer Thomsen, University of Montana
Assessing visitor use and the wilderness experience in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness, Everglades National Park
This visitor use study seeks to document visitor use patterns and assess the quality of the wilderness experience in Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and serves as a pilot study for a Wilderness visitor survey for the National Park Service.
Collaborators:
Dr. Jennifer Thomsen (co-PI) and Jaclyn Rushing, University of Montana
Dr. Christopher Armatas, U.S. Forest Service, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
Developing Quality of Life Indicators for City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Management
This study seeks to establish domains of recreational ecosystem service contributions that are generated by Open Space and Mountain Parks in the City of Boulder, CO.
Collaborators:
Deonne VanderWoude, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks
Assessing Visitor Flow and the Spatial Distribution of Recreational Ecosystem Services
This study explores visitor use patterns, visitor perceptions of safety and risk in frontcountry recreation areas, and the spatial distribution of recreational ecosystem services at Grand Canyon National Park.
Collaborators:
Dr. Derrick Taff (co-PI), Dr. Peter Newman, and Dr. Bing Pan, Pennsylvania State University
Social science research to support visitor use management in Wilderness areas and related wildlands
This study intends to create a research agenda for visitor use management (VUM) in U.S. Wilderness areas, including a scoping review of Wilderness VUM research.
Collaborators:
Dr. Jennifer Thomsen (co-PI) and Jaclyn Rushing, University of Montana
Dr. Christopher Armatas, U.S. Forest Service, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
Assessing new participation in outdoor recreation since COVID-19
This study examines participants new to outdoor recreation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic using panel data.
Collaborators:
Ben Lawhon, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Dr. Derrick Taff and Dr. Peter Newman, Pennsylvania State University
Completed Projects
Understanding Campsite-scale Demand in U.S. national parks
This study is aimed at creating models to understand what aspects of the campground setting most influence demand for individual campsites using big data.
Collaborators:
Dr. Soyoung Park, Florida Atlantic University