Use of GIS in the Management of Resources and Leisure Services Karen Bibbins, Ed.D., CTRS Presentation Northern Virginia Community College April 22, 2015

GIS:A Tool for Recreation Professionals What is Geographic Information System? GIS is technically both a data base system and a set of operations for describing geographical properties (lee & Graefe 2004) GIS has two major operational capacities: Spatial information- stressing large database inventory Spatial analysis-stressing functionality Simply put, GIS is a technology that analyzes data from a geographic perspective. A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualize, question, analyze, and interpret data to understand relationships, patterns, and trends (www.ersi.com)

GIS and Outdoor Recreation The earliest literature of the application of GIS first appeared in the Journals of Park and Recreation and Leisure Research in the late 1960’s. Lentnek, Van Doren and Trail (1969) conducted a survey of recreational boaters’ spatial behaviors on inland lakes in Ohio. The application of GIS in outdoor recreation have focused on resource location, spatial patterns of distribution and distance measurement. GIS has been used to describe the characteristics of recreational sites aimed at satisfying certain needs of visitors (Confer & Graefe, 1994). Lee and Graefe (2004) incorporated GIS to identify sites preferred by different age groups of visitors.

GIS in Urban Parks and Recreation Wicks, Backman, Allen and Blaricom (1993) were the first to thoroughly discuss trends of GIS applications in the field of park and recreation management. They summarized prevalent uses of GIS: Area Mapping and reporting about park and recreation sites Selecting a location for new facilities Tracking and analyzing facility development trends Documenting demographic patterns and trends Tracking attitudes and interest survey data and displaying it spatially Nicholls and Shafer (2001) adopted GIS technology in urban park and recreation services to assess accessibility and equity in a local park system.

The Power of Mapping as an approach to Park Planning and Design

What is GIS? GIS combines layers of information about a place to give you a better understanding of that place. What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose. Finding the best location when considering the orientation of a recreation building in a park. Analyzing environmental damage in wetlands Viewing similar demographics for recreation planning Trends and Patterns of recreation facilities and use GIS plays an important role in managing, planning, marketing and evaluating park and recreation services.

References www.esri.com/what-is-gis Confer, J & Graefe, A. (1992). A geographic information systems approach to analysis of spatial relationships between recreational boating users and perceived impacts. Proceedings of the 1992 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium (pp. 103-110). Bolton Landing, NY: USDA Forest Service General Technical Report NE-232. Hicks, J., & Hammond, R. (2005). ND MORE GUESS WITH GIS. Parks & Recreation, 40(6), 52. Lee, B., & Graefe, A. (2004). GIS: A Tool to Locate New Park and Recreation Services. Parks & Recreation, 39(10), 34. Lentnek, B., Van Doren, C., & Trail, J. (1969). Spatial behavior in recreational boating. Journal of Leisure Research, 1(2), 103-124. Nicholls, S. & Shafer, C. S. (2001). Measuring Accessibility and equity in a local park system: The Utility of geospatial technologies to park and recreation professionals. Journal of Park and recreation Administration, 19(4), 102-124. Wicks, B., Backman, K., Allen, J. & Blaricom, D. V. (1993). Georgraphic information systems (GIS): A tool for marketing, managing, and planning municipal park systems. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 11(1), 9-23. www.esri.com/what-is-gis

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