Getting It… Developing Interagency Core Trail Data Standards National Park Service - Bureau of Land Management - USDA Forest Service Together

Working Together As requested by the Interagency Trails Council A BLM, National Park Service, and Forest Service interagency effort To establish a common set of trail data standards To be applied to all agency-managed trails

Charter BLM, NPS and USFS representatives drafted interagency Charter for establishing core trail data standards For the collection, storage and retrieval of trails data For National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails, and all other agency-managed trails February 2001:

How to Get It Done? Key Tasks Roles and Responsibilities Needed Resources Estimated Timeframes February 2001Interagency Action Plan Identified:

Data Dictionary or Database? Develop standardized GPS Data Dictionary? Develop standardized database? Develop a core set of common data standards? Interagency Task :

Data Dictionary or Database? Develop standardized GPS Data Dictionary? Develop standardized database? Develop a core set of common data standards? Interagency Task :

Data Dictionary or Database? Develop standardized GPS Data Dictionary? Develop standardized database? Develop a core set of common data standards? Interagency Task :

Data Dictionary or Database? Develop standardized GPS Data Dictionary? Develop standardized database? Develop a core set of common data standards Interagency Task : ….that can be incorporated into data dictionaries or databases

Trail Interagency Trail Definition: A linear route managed for human-powered, stock, or OHV forms of transportation or for historic or heritage values. What’s a Trail?...

Factors to Consider Interagency core data set Data isn’t cheap! Standardized terminology Existing, standardized data attributes Implementation feasibility & timeframes

Review Criteria Selection Factors for Interagency Data Attributes Relate to a core interagency question? Of national, regional or statewide significance? Provide data needed to meet applicable laws, regulations, and/or policies? Address key congressional, OMB and department- wide reporting requirements? Currently available or obtainable? Does (or is) the Attribute…

Customers Interagency Counterparts Congress Partner Organizations General Public (media, trail users, educators, researchers, etc.) Travel & Recreation Industry (service providers) Advisory Boards Intra-Agency (GIS, Budget, Facilities, Resource Specialists, etc.) Who Benefits from Standardized Data?

What Do We Want to Know? Interagency Trail Questions Management Information (trail uses, accessibility status, condition, cost, etc.) Additional NST / NHT Questions (trail administrator, certified sites and segments, etc.) Basic Trail Information (trail name, length, location, etc.)

Answering the Questions Core Trail Data Standards Data Attribute Attribute Definition List of Values Metadata Crosswalk Translation (if needed)

Is the Trail Accessible? Data Standard Example Attribute Definition: Accessibility guideline compliance status for the trail or trail segment. Data Attribute: Accessibility Status List of Values: Accessible Not Accessible Not Evaluated

Defining the Attributes AttributeAttribute Definition Core Question Applies To Notes Tabular Display Spatial Display Overlap Allowed ? Reg Trail NSTNHT 1 NHT 2 NHT 3 Trail Management & Use MOTORIZED PROHIBITED Motorize use is prohibited yearlong along the trail. XXXNote: Do not record conflicting data between Managed Use & Motorized Prohibited XXNo Overlap Allowed PROHIBITED USE Mode of Travel prohibited by official legal order. Applicable CFR is cited and implemented through appropriate enforcement, restriction devices, and signing. XXXXXAllow Multiple Entries ACCESSIBILITY STATUS Accessibility guideline compliance status for trail segments that are actively managed for pedestrian use. XXXPer current agency Accessibility Guidelines XXNo Overlap Allowed

Defining the Attributes 36 Core Data Attributes Additional Attributes: 7 NST/NHT Attributes 13 NHT Attributes

Developing Codes Establishing Standardized Lists of Values Attribute Name Attribute DefinitionList of Values (LOV)LOV DefinitionOverlap Allowed? Crosswalk Translation ACCESSIBILITY STATUS Accessibility guideline compliance status for the trail ACCESSIBLE Trail meets current agency accessibility guidelines. No Overlap Allowed USFS = Accessibility Status (Infra Trails existing) NOT ACCESSIBILE Trail determined ineligible to meet agency accessibility guidelines. NOT EVALUATED Trail not evaluated for Accessibility AGENCYAgency or entity responsible for the land on which the trail resides. BIA – BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS No Overlap Allowed BLM – BUREAU OF LAND MGT BOR – BUREAU OF RECLAMATION C – COUNTY, PARISH, BUROUGH COE – CORPS OF ENGINEERS DOD – DEPT OF DEFENSE DOE – DEPT OF ENERGY FAA – FEDERAL AVIATION ADMIN

Interagency Benefits Additional Benefits of Working Together Trail Class Designed & Managed Use NHT Corridor Concept NHT Condition Categories Potential Management Tools for Interagency Adoption:

Current Status Internal & External Review Internal Review: BLM, NPS & USFS (2003) External Review (May 4 – June 30, 2004)

Where to Find It?

Online Comment Form

Expanded Comment Form

Frequently Asked Questions BLM: Adapting the standards into FAMS NPS: Adapting the standards into MAXIMO USFS: Majority of standards incorporated in Infra Trails. Remaining standards planned for Infra Trails or Infra Heritage (for specific NHT attributes) How will agencies incorporate the Interagency Trail Standards?

Frequently Asked Questions The Trail Data Standards Team is working with representatives of FGDC, RecOneStop, and agency GIS specialists on the detailed definition of identified spatial data attributes. Note: The majority of the interagency spatial attributes are included in current USFS Core GIS Data Standards. How will spatial data be handled?

Frequently Asked Questions “Trail segment” is used informally to identify the specific portion of trail to which a data attribute refers– or to answer the question being asked… What’s “trail segment” mean? County A County B

Frequently Asked Questions Trail Segment Examples: Trail Length: 24.3 miles (segment ) County: 5.6 miles County A; 18.7 mile County B (segments 0.0 – 5.6 and 5.6 – 24.3) Trail Class: 13.2 miles Trail Class 3; 11.1 miles Trail Class 2 (segment 0.0 – 13.2 and 13.2 – 24.3) County A County B

Frequently Asked Questions No Overlap Allowed: Only one attribute value can be recorded at any given location along the trail or trail segment. What’s “No Overlap Allowed” Mean? Example: County Mile 0.00 – 17.4: Mineral CountyMile 17.4 – 28.3: Shoshone County

Frequently Asked Questions No Overlap Allowed: Only one attribute value can be recorded at any given location along the trail or trail segment. What’s “No Overlap Allowed” Mean? Overlap Allowed: More than one attribute value can be recorded, if applicable, at any given location along the trail or trail segment. Example: County Mile : Mineral CountyMile 17.4 – 28.3: Shoshone County Example: Prohibited Use Mile 0.00 – 28.3: ATVs, Motorcycles, Bicycles

Frequently Asked Questions “Things along the trail” include trail structures, amenities, viewpoints, etc. While potentially valuable data at the trail or agency- specific level, this level of detail was determined to be beyond the scope of the interagency standards. What about “things along the trail”?

More Q&A’s…. Appendix G: Interagency Internal Review Appendix H: Frequently Asked Questions Posted at For additional questions, answers and clarification:

Bottom Line Benefits Improved communication and efficiency For our internal and external customers Through proactive interagency trails coordination and collaboration

National Park Service - Bureau of Land Management - USDA Forest Service