Repository logo
 

Quantifying and modeling visitor use in Yosemite National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorPettebone, David, author
dc.contributor.authorNewman, Peter, advisor
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-13T20:12:29Z
dc.date.available2024-03-13T20:12:29Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractThree manuscripts are presented in this dissertation. The first entitled "Estimating Visitor Use at Attraction Sites and Trailheads Using Automated Visitor Counters in Yosemite National Park" is a methodological paper that examines the use of automated visitor counters, a commonly used device to estimate visitor use in parks and protected areas. This study was conducted in Yosemite National Park in the summer of 2007 and used automated visitor counters to estimate visitor use at several locations in Yosemite Valley. One hundred thirty five hours of direct observations were conducted among six study sites to estimate monitor counting errors. Methods to treat missing monitor data and methods to estimate accurate visitor use counts from automated monitors are discussed. Results show a very strong relationship between observed visitor counts and automated monitor counts (R2 > 0.95) and visitor use estimates are presented for all study sites. This study shows that automated visitor use monitors produce consistent data from which reliable estimates of visitor use can be calculated.
dc.description.abstractThe second paper entitled "Modeling Visitor Use at Recreation Sites from Vehicle Traffic Entrance Counts in Yosemite National Park" describes a statistical model to predict visitor use at attraction sites and trailheads in Yosemite National Park. Negative binomial regression was used to model visitor use at Yosemite Falls as a function of inbound vehicle traffic counts from park entrance stations. Results show a strong statistical relationship between visitor use at the study site and inbound vehicle counts (R2 = 0.85). Used in conjunction with previous crowding studies, the methods in this paper provide Yosemite National Park managers with new options to proactively manage high-use attraction sites.
dc.description.abstractThe final paper entitled "Estimating Visitors' Travel Mode Choices along Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park" examines the trade-offs park visitors consider when choosing among transportation options in Rocky Mountain National Park. A stated choice survey was administered at the Bear Lake trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park during the summer of 2008. An aggregate model that considered all visitors responses equally and segmented models based on visitor demographics were estimated. Results indicate that a model based on three age groups (< 40 years, 40 - 59 years, and 60+ years) produced the best model fit. Crowding along the trail at Bear Lake was found to be the most influential factor related to visitors' choice of transportation mode. Moreover, visitors less than 40 years old were more sensitive to crowding along the trail than older visitors. These results suggest that younger visitors consider transportation to a trailhead as a means to access an activity (e.g. hiking) while older visitors may consider auto-touring an activity in itself.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierETDF_Pettebone_2009_3374612.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/237907
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.rights.licensePer the terms of a contractual agreement, all use of this item is limited to the non-commercial use of Colorado State University and its authorized users.
dc.subjectnational parks
dc.subjectrocky mountain national park
dc.subjectstated choice model
dc.subjectstatistical modeling
dc.subjectvisitor use management
dc.subjectYosemite National Park
dc.subjectforestry
dc.subjectsociology
dc.subjecttransportation planning
dc.subjecttransportation
dc.titleQuantifying and modeling visitor use in Yosemite National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineHuman Dimensions of Natural Resources
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ETDF_Pettebone_2009_3374612.pdf
Size:
1.82 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

2000-2019
Theses and Dissertations