Research
Research Interests
Recent Publications
Current Projects
Social science research to support visitor use management in Wilderness areas and related wildlands
Serving as the co-PI for a two-part study intended to create a research agenda for visitor use management (VUM) in Wilderness areas, including 1) a scoping review of Wilderness VUM and 2) a study of manager needs and VUM strategies.
Collaborators:
Dr. Jennifer Thomsen (co-PI) and Jaclyn Rushing, University of Montana
Dr. Christopher Armatas, U.S. Forest Service, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
Evaluating the recreational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and predicting long-term trends
Serving as the project leader for a study of how outdoor recreation behaviors are shifting in response to the COVID-19 pandemic through a national survey of outdoor enthusiasts and Big data analysis.
Collaborators:
Dr. Derrick Taff, Timothy Mateer, Stephanie Freeman, Dr. Nathan Reigner, Dr. Bing Pan, and Dr. Peter Newman, Pennsylvania State University
Ben Lawhon, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Assessing Visitor Flow and the Spatial Distribution of Recreational Ecosystem Services
Serving as the project leader for a study of 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, Dr. Peter Newman, Dr. Bing Pan, and Timothy Mateer, Pennsylvania State University
Assessing Perspectives on Visitor Use Among National Park Service Employees
Serving as the project leader for a study of park staff perspectives on management issues associated with visitor use and information needs for future visitor use management planning at Grand Canyon National Park.
Collaborators:
Dr. Derrick Taff, Dr. Peter Newman, and Timothy Mateer, Pennsylvania State University
Forecasting Campsite Demand Using Big Data
Phase 1 (2018-2019): Created models to forecast the future demand of national park campgrounds using historic data and gathering metrics of campsite demand
Phase 2 (2019-2020): Creating models to understand what aspects of the campground setting most influence demand for individual campsites
Collaborators:
Dr. Soyoung Park, Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Peter Newman, Dr. Bing Pan, and Dr. Derrick Taff, Pennsylvania State University
The Cost(s) of Road Noise, Death Valley National Park, CA
Serving as the project leader for a three-part study of visitor dimensions of road noise including assessments of acceptability, opportunity cost, and visitor recreational experience
Collaborators:
Dr. Peter Newman, Dr. Derrick Taff, and Dr. Katherine Zipp, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Zachary Miller, Utah State University
Completed Projects
Healthy Parks, Healthy People? Assessing the Relevance and Impact of Parks on Human Health, Well-Being, and Environmental Sustainability
Serving as a research aid in a cross-national assessment of the Healthy Parks, Healthy People campaign
Collaborators:
Dr. Derrick Taff, Dr. Bing Pan, and Dr. Peter Newman, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Vicki Peel, Dr. Brett Hutchins, Dr. Celine Klemm, and Dr. Gary Lacey, Monash University
Dr. Zachary Miller, Utah State University
Leigh and String Lakes Visitor Use Study, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Serving as the project leader for a qualitative assessment (2017) and quantitative survey (2018) in support of a visitor use study focused on increased frontcountry visitation and potential crowding
Collaborators:
Dr. Derrick Taff, Dr. Peter Newman, and Stephanie Freeman, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Ashley D'Antonio and Jenna Baker, Oregon State University
Dr. Chris Monz and Dr. Zachary Miller, Utah State University
Analysis of Protected Areas' Noise Abatement Potential using Big Data
Created a spatial model to examine how the conservation status, ownership, and level of access of protected areas influence noise abatement at a county-level
Collaborators:
Dr. Peter Newman and Dr. Derrick Taff Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Zachary Miller, Utah State University
Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Visitor Use Study, Plains, GA
Surveyed visitors at Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in an effort to gain insights into their experience in relation to their various motivations and expectations
Collaborators:
Dr. Peter Newman and Dr. Derrick Taff, Pennsylvania State University
Creative Inquiry: Bringing other Clemsons to Light, Clemson, SC
Investigated the history of Clemson University through the lenses of land ethic and sense of place, primarily be means of Geographic Information Systems and a survey of the various cultures and institutions that inhabited the place
Collaborators:
Dr. Lance Howard, Clemson University
Creative Inquiry: Sustainable Trails, Clemson, SC
Surveyed, designed, built, and analyzed sustainable trails from both hydrological and economic standpoints with the goal of creating a model for trail design protocol for application in public land agencies
Collaborators:
Dr. Rockie English, Clemson University