Hiking is a widely-used term used differently by different people, and technology has an increasing role in the hikes that people take. Given the tremendous growth in technology capabilities for fitness, navigation, and communication, the breadth of devices and applications has expanded. Use of technology differs based on not only individuals but also the kinds of tasks performed. This research seeks to understand the different perspectives of the hikers and the technology they carry with them on the trail through a survey, analysis, and persona creation. 40 self-described hikers participated in a survey that asked about demographic data, hiking preferences, and would-you-rather preferences asking participants to choose between envisioned hiking and technology scenarios. The collected data were clustered into 6 clusters using K-Mode clustering, and descriptive analysis identified unique characteristics for each cluster. Five personas were crafted using the identified characteristics based on the analysis, taking into account the correlation between hiking preference and age, preferred activities and motivation, and maximum expenses they spend on the tech they carry. These personas seek to act as a guide to those who purchase, design and use hiking related products for both commercial and research purposes. / Master of Science

Sediment is one of the leading non-point source pollutants in the U.S and has detrimental effects on biological communities such as aquatic communities; human use such as recreation; and natural processes such as flood water storage. For silvicultural operations, the majority of sediment is produced from erosion on highly disturbed areas, such as skid trails, haul roads, and log landings. Erosion from silvicultural activities not only has the potential to introduce sediment into waterways but can also decrease site productivity through the removal of topsoil. In order to minimize erosion from silvicultural operations, forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed, but efficacies of various BMP options are not well documented. This study evaluated five closure and cover BMPs for the control of erosion on bladed skid trails through both field based measurements with sediment traps and soil erosion modeling. The erosion models used were the Universal Soil Loss Equation for Forestry (USLE – Forest), the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation version 2 (RUSLE2), and the Water Erosion Prediction Project for Forest Roads (WEPP – Forest Roads). Erosion model predictions were also regressed against field based results to determine accuracy. The bladed skid trail BMP treatments evaluated were: 1) water bar only (Control); 2) water bar and grass seed (Seed); 3) water bar, grass seed, and straw mulch (Mulch); 4) water bar and piled hardwood slash (Hardwood Slash); and 5) water bar and piled pine slash (Pine Slash). Field based results show that the Control treatment was the most erosive (137.7 tonnes/ha/yr), followed by the Seed treatment (31.5 tonnes/ha/yr), Hardwood Slash treatment (8.9 tonnes/ha/yr), Pine Slash treatment (5.9 tonnes/ha/yr), and finally the Mulch treatment was the most effective erosion control technique (3.0 tonnes/ha/yr). Model accuracy results show that RUSLE2 performed the best overall. Both USLE – Forest and WEPP – Forest Roads under predicted values on the Control treatment, where erosion rates were very high. WEPP – Forest Roads under predicted these values the most. All models generally show that the Control was the most erosive followed by the Seed, Hardwood Slash, Pine Slash, and Mulch treatments. / Master of Science

This thesis work describes the hiking, bicycle, ski, and horse trails in the region known as ?Czech Canada?, specifically the area between Nová Bystřice, Kunžák, and Slavonice marked on the hiking map ?Česká Kanada a Slavonicko? on a 1:50,000 scale. The introductory chapters characterize the territorial layout from the physical-geographic and socio-geographic aspects and include an analysis of used literature. The methodology of work is taken from thesis works of a similar topic defended at the Department of Geography. This is followed by a description of individual hiking trails ? in text form as well as in information panels (this includes information on the surface type, the surrounding landscape, monuments in the area, geometry of the trails, and more). These texts, panels, and attached map with a drawing of the described trails permit one to embark on individual hiking, bicycle, ski, and other tourist journeys. The conclusion of the work is supplemented by a didactic transformation of the resolved issue. The attachment consists of photographs and a glossary of topographical terms.

This project explores the design of a rail-trail in the Midwest utilizing visual preference methods with ArcGIS and 3D visualization technologies. It has been found that visually preferred environments are more enjoyable, more frequently used places that positively influence overall health of individuals and communities. Aesthetic attributes of environments, in particular, are directly related to overall physical, social, and mental health. Research conducted on environment, behavior, and human preference suggests that environmental settings can influence perceptions of quality of life, sense of place, and mental states, which affect stress levels, which are physically manifested in the body (Kaplan 1982, 1987, 1995, 1998; Lusk 2002; RWJF 2006; Shafer 2000).One way of providing healthier environments is by improving aesthetics according to the visual characteristics that promote understanding and exploration of the environment, specifically perceptual values of smoothness, density, and landcover type (Kaplan and Kaplan 1998; Brown 1994). This technique allows social issues such as public opinion and health benefits to be integrated with environmental and cultural issues to thoroughly address design and management solutions, especially in recreation areas. Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions facilitated the analysis by adapting the United States Forest Service visual analysis framework to the visual preference research to assess the use of GIS and 3D technology in a design oriented application. This included the addition of a 3D element to allow the designer to experience how a scene changes through space and time. Use of 2D, 3D, and animation capabilities of ArcGIS assisted in the visualization of landscape preference from the trail-user's point of view to assess the perceptual qualities of the landscape along the Cardinal Greenway.The project findings outline the capabilities of ArcGIS 3D Analyst and Spatial Analyst for mapping and measuring these perceptual and physical landscape qualities. The resulting design concepts reflect the findings of this study. It is anticipated that the process followed could be adapted and applied to recreation areas in similar geographic regions, and thereby advance daily recreation and lifestyle change for healthier individuals and communities. / Department of Landscape Architecture

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T18:13:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Folmann.pdf: 7115249 bytes, checksum: 81ea7d1de684803f09c8a2ba444cbbea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-13 / The interpretative trails have stood in the tourism context as a valuable tool in the natural patrimony conservancy. A modality of tourism that has gained more and more adepts is the Geotourism. This work intends to show the importance of the trails as an instrument of geotourism and geoconservancy, if equipped with the adequates interpretative mids. It has been observed that in many conservancy units the trails are underestimated as their educative potential, moreover, there is a small investment in their maintenance, signalization and interpretation. An example of this fact is the trail of Salto São Jorge, in the borough of Ponta Grossa – PR. This waterfall stands up due to the exposition of the rare geological contact constituted by rocks of the Furnas Formation, Iapó Formation and the Cunhaporanga Complex. The geosite even presents archaeological and historical attributes and it‟s visited for the sport practice and leisure. The area where it is located is part of the Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais, but it belongs to a private owner. The way that tourism has been made (often characterized as mass tourism) is causing impacts to natural heritage, including threats to geodiversity. To reverse that situation and contribute to the visitors can have esthetic appreciation and geological knowledge about the environment; some proposals of interpretative points in the trail are suggested. Taking into account the current context, the means of interpretation considered more advised to accost the points were the folders, panels and guided visits. Also, part of this research, are the evaluable of the trail carrying capacity and proposals to the trail and infra-structure improvements. The local infra-structure is very precarious and there isn‟t any type of adaptation for people with disabilities. Thus it is expected that this research might be a contribution to the planners and managers of trails in order to make them interpretive, accessible and efficient in relation to environmental education and geotourism. / As trilhas interpretativas têm se destacado no contexto do turismo como uma ferramenta valiosa na conservação do patrimônio natural. Uma modalidade de turismo que tem ganhado cada vez mais adeptos é o Geoturismo. Este trabalho pretende mostrar a importância das trilhas como um instrumento de geoturismo e geoconservação, quando equipadas com os meios interpretativos adequados. Tem sido observado que, em muitas unidades de conservação, as trilhas são subestimadas quanto ao seu potencial educativo, além disso, há pouco investimento em sua manutenção, sinalização e interpretação. Um exemplo desse fato é a trilha que vai de encontro ao Salto São Jorge, no município de Ponta Grossa - PR. Esta cachoeira destaca-se devido à exposição do contato geológico raro, constituído por rochas da Formação Furnas, Formação Iapó e Complexo Granítico Cunhaporanga. O geossítio ainda apresenta atrativos arqueológicos e históricos, e é muito procurado por visitantes para a prática de atividades de lazer e esporte. A área em que está situada faz parte do Parque Nacional dos Campos Gerais, porém pertence a um proprietário particular. A forma com que a atividade turística tem se realizado (muitas vezes caracterizada como turismo de massa) vem causando impactos ao patrimônio natural, inclusive com ameaças à geodiversidade. Para reverter tal situação e colaborar para que os visitantes possam obter, além da apreciação estética, conhecimentos geológicos sobre o ambiente, são propostos alguns pontos de interpretação no percurso da trilha. Levando em conta o contexto atual, os meios interpretativos considerados mais indicados para abordar os pontos foram os folhetos, painéis e visitas guiadas. Além disso, faz parte da pesquisa a avaliação da capacidade de suporte da trilha e propostas para melhorias da mesma e na infra-estrutura do local, que atualmente é muito precária e não possui nenhum tipo de adaptação para portadores de necessidades especiais. Dessa forma espera-se que essa pesquisa possa vir a ser uma contribuição para os planejadores e gestores de trilhas no sentido de torná-las interpretativas, acessíveis e eficientes em relação à educação ambiental e ao geoturismo.

Au cours des années 1970, l’Italie fut confrontée à une violence politique et sociale d’intensité particulière. Pendant cette période, le monde de la justice fut exposé à plus d’un titre. Non seulement magistrats et avocats furent impliqués dans les procédures judiciaires visant les protagonistes de la violence mais leur action fut également au cœur de controverses, les uns étant accusés d’être au service d’un État autoritaire ou répressif quand les autres étaient mis en cause pour d’éventuelles complicités avec les militants incriminés. Dans le même temps, de nombreux groupes de la gauche révolutionnaire décidèrent d'occuper le soutien de l'anti-répression et du soutien aux prisonniers politiques. Parmi ces organismes politiques, le Soccorso Rosso s'est imposé comme le principal, de par sa longévité, sa présence diffuse sur le territoire italien et l'implication de différents univers et couches sociales en son sein. De l'engagement d'intellectuels et de nombreux "avocats-militants" à la politisation des procès, en passant par les problématiques d'une lutte contre la prison ou d'une solidarité avec les détenus issus de la lutte armée, la trajectoire du Soccorso Rosso nous permet de traverser cette décennie d'une histoire encore en chantier afin de relire la période à travers la question de la répression pour comprendre la nature et la signification de la crise que connut l’Italie au cours de ces années. / During the '70s, Italy was confronted by a particulary intense violent politics. In this period, the justice system was severly exposed. Not only magistrates and lawyers were implicated in the law processes aiming violent protagonists but also their actions were deeply controversial. One part of the magistrates and the lawyers were accused of serving an autoritarian and repressive state, while the others were incriminated for having possible complicities with the militants. At the same time, numerous groups of the revolutionary left decided to occupy the ground of the anti-repression and the support to the political prisoners. Among these political groups, Soccorso Rosso stood out as the main thing, due to its longevity, its presence spreads on the Italian territory and the implication of various universes and sectors of society within it. The commitment of intellectuals and numerous "militant-lawyer" in the politicization of the trials, including the problems of a fight against the prison or a solidarity with the prisoners stemming from the armed struggle, the trajectory of Soccorso Rosso allows us to cross this decade of a still under construction history to reread the period through the question of the repression to understand a nature of the crisis which shook Italy during this years.

This thesis is a guide to building a sustainable rail-trail, wherein I focus on invasive species removal, green pavement, and creating an inviting space with the inclusion of integrated art. When the City of Kirkland, WA purchased the 5.75 mile long section of railroad going through the city, I approached city manager Kurt Triplett to ask about his plans for the corridor. He liked the idea of aiming for a sustainable trail, so I wrote a guide to building an environmentally friendly trail based on a number of prominent readings on sustainable design.

The aim of this thesis was to identify the characteristics of path segments and routes that are associated with where older residents choose to walk for recreation or for getting to destinations in retirement communities. The goal was to use the findings from this study to help formulate criteria and strategic choices that can be used to design retirement communities that support walking among elderly residents. Case studies were conducted at three Continuing Care Retirement Communities. The study shows that route choice for walking to destinations is shaped by practical considerations of distance and convenience and largely determined by the relative location of destination and origin. On the other hand, route choice for recreational walking is more complex and is determined by local, relational and structural environmental characteristics of the path segments that comprise the routes as well as characteristics of the residents themselves. Residents chose routes of different difficulty level for walking based on their physical abilities and health. This study also found that many residents chose to walk indoors for recreation, especially along corridors between resident apartments. Understanding how the different factors together shape route choice leads to the clarification of design alternatives. This study suggests that designing campuses to support walking involves not only a careful consideration of individual local path segment characteristics but also an understanding how path segments and routes fit within the larger network of path segments on campus. Further, it is important to design routes with a range of characteristics and a range of challenge so that residents have many options to choose from and they have the option to move from a lower level of challenge to a higher one when they feel ready.

The main subject of the thesis is planning &ldquo / cultural routes&rdquo / as a method for conservation of cultural and natural heritage areas at regional scale. Defining a framework of conceptual principles which should be considered in spatial planning of cultural routes and regional networks constitutes the major aim of the thesis. Within the scope of the study, a new developing concept recently, cultural routes are discussed as a tool for sustaining historic and local values of rural and archaeological landscapes. In this respect, the study is structured in two main parts. Firstly, conceptual background on the issue is discussed as the development of cultural route concept, definitions declared by international organizations working on the issue and principles of route planning. Secondly, based on the conceptual research, basic concepts and principles for route planning process is discussed through a case study. The case study for the thesis is selected as the Kas- Kekova region in Antalya, known as the Central Lycia in antiquity. Depending on the assessment of region&rsquo / s cultural landscape, the study is resulted by description of a spatial and conceptual framework for planning of a cultural route network in the region. Through areas rich in cultural and natural heritage, planning routes and networks at regional scale could be used as an effective tool for presenting and sustaining multivalent character of the place, and leading economic sectors which have effect on heritage.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture