Leveraging big data for outdoor recreation management: A case study from the York river in Virginia

Details

• Journal Title:
  Journal of Environmental Management
• Personal Author:
  Gonyo, S.B. ; Burkart, H. ; Regan, S.
• NOAA Program & Office:
  NOS (National Ocean Service) ; NCCOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
• Description:
  Outdoor recreation is important for improving quality of life, well-being, and local economies, but quantifying its value without direct monetary transactions can be challenging. This study explores combining non-market valuation techniques with emerging big data sources to estimate the value of recreation for the York River and surrounding parks in Virginia. By applying the travel cost method to anonymous human mobility data, we gain deeper insights into the significance of recreational experiences for visitors and the local economy. Results of a zero-inflated Negative Binomial model show a mean consumer surplus value of $26.91 per trip, totaling $15.5 million across nearly 600,000 trips observed in 2022. Further, weekends, holidays, and the summer and fall months are found to be peak visitation times, whereas those with young children and who are Hispanic or over 64 years old are less likely to visit. These findings shed light on various factors influencing visitation patterns and recreation values, including temporal effects and socio-demographics, revealing disparities that warrant targeted efforts for inclusivity and accessibility. Policymakers can use these insights to make informed and sustainable choices in outdoor recreation management, fostering the preservation of natural resources for the benefit of both visitors and the environment.
• Keywords:
  Big Data Outdoor Recreation Valuation Big Data Outdoor Recreation Human Mobility Data Travel Cost Method
• Source:
  Journal of Environmental Management 354 (2024) 120482
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120482
• Format:
  PDF
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  York River (Va.)
• Rights Information:
  Accepted Manuscript
• Rights Statement:
  The NOAA IR provides access to this content under the authority of the government's retained license to distribute publications and data resulting from federal funding. While users may legally access this content, the copyright owners retain rights that govern the reproduction, redistribution, and re-use of this work. The user is solely responsible for complying with applicable copyright law.
• Compliance:
  Submitted
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ef1dafbe3307fc8930794bf9b947a499b3e52f049b405b30e0948ff81a7f76faed3b780555a574551e2e862e10fb095f49fd8b85c83957dd18da241bbdfeac1b
• Download URL:
  https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/56916/noaa_56916_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 953.07 KB ]