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 CriteriaSelection 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

Attribute Attribute Definition

Core Question Applies To

Notes

Ta

bu

lar D

isp

lay

Sp

atia

l Dis

pla

y

Overlap Allowed

?Reg Trail

NST NHT1 NHT2 NHT3

Trail Management & Use

MOTORIZED PROHIBITED

Motorize use is prohibited yearlong along the trail.

X X X Note: Do not record conflicting data between Managed Use & Motorized Prohibited

X X No 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.

X X X X X Allow Multiple Entries

ACCESSIBILITY STATUS

Accessibility guideline compliance status for trail segments that are actively managed for pedestrian use.

X X X Per current agency Accessibility Guidelines

X X No Overlap Allowed

Defining the Attributes

36 Core Data Attributes

Additional Attributes:

7 NST/NHT Attributes

13 NHT Attributes

Developing Codes

Establishing Standardized Lists of ValuesAttribute

NameAttribute Definition List of Values (LOV) LOV Definition Overlap

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

AGENCY Agency 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 BenefitsAdditional Benefits of Working Together

• Trail Class

• Designed & Managed Use

• NHT Corridor Concept

• NHT Condition Categories

Potential Management Tools for Interagency Adoption:

Current StatusInternal & External Review

• Internal Review: BLM, NPS & USFS (2003)

• External Review (May 4 – June 30, 2004)

Where to Find It? www.nps.gov/gis/trails/index.html

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?

0.0

13.2

5.6 24.3County A

County B

Frequently Asked Questions

Trail Segment Examples:

Trail Length: 24.3 miles (segment 0.0 - 24.3)

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)

0.0

13.2

5.6 24.3County 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 County Mile 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 0.00 - 17.4: Mineral County Mile 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 www.nps.gov/gis/trails/index.html

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