Ecological criteria, participant preferences and location models: A GIS approach toward ATV trail planning

This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based method for recreational trail location for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) which considers environmental factors, as well as rider preferences for trail attributes. The method utilizes the Least-Cost Path algorithm within a GIS framework to optimize trail location. The trail location algorithm considered trail impacts and benefits associated with water bodies, slope, land ownership, noise, trail separation, views, and rider preferences for vegetation types and loop trails. Alternative trails were generated to highlight the influence of different preferences for trail attributes and to demonstrate the capabilities of the Least-Cost Path algorithm as applied to trail location. The method shows promise for use in generating ATV trails, as well as other types of recreational trails, for consideration in recreational planning and analysis.