TRACS Trail Assessment Condition Surveys Collect the right

TRACS Trail Assessment & Condition Surveys Collect the right information the first time

TRACS Trail Assessment & Condition Surveys

Why Trail Condition Surveys? § First-hand field knowledge § Program management, inventory & accountability § Collect the right information… the first time

TRACS § TMO-Based Reflecting forest plan & management decisions § Field Inventory Trail length, width & constructed features § Condition Assessment What kind of shape is the trail in? § Prescription What is needed & how often to meet standard?

TRACS Inventory + Assess + Prescribe Trail Management Objectives

TRACS Efficiency, Consistency, Quality § ‘Collect the Right Information the First Time’ § Trained & Skilled Personnel § TRACS Infra Seamless Relationship § Standardized Data Dictionary § Consolidated and Efficient Forms § e. TRACS

TRACS Makes Sense ü Efficiency & Consistency ü Sound Business Management ü Required Approach for USFS Trail Condition Surveys

TRAC’ing for Success § National Quality Standards § TMO: Point of Reference § Training & Skill Development § Application of Design Parameters § Appropriate Level of Accuracy & Specificity

National Quality Standards § Health & Cleanliness § Resource Setting § Safety & Security § Responsiveness § Condition of Facilities

TMO’s To be effective, every TRACS survey must be based on a trail-specific TMO

TRAC’ers Training & Skill Development § TRACS Apprentice § Journey-Level TRAC’er § TRACS Master

Assess & Prescribe Based on the Design Parameters identified for the trail, what’s needed to meet standard?

Trail CASM Survey Accuracy & Specificity

GIS, GPS & TRACS What’s the connection? § GIS: Spatial & tabular data displayed in digital map coverages § GPS: Survey method well-suited for collecting GIS spatial data § TRACS: Survey method well suited for collecting GIS tabular data

Ready, Set…. üNational Standards üTMO: Point of Reference üTraining & Skill Development üApplication of Design Parameters üAppropriate Level of Accuracy & Specificity

T A R ! S C

TRACS User Guide Instructions, Forms & Examples: § TRACS Data Dictionary § TRACS Surveys § TRACS Productivity Factors § TRACS Sign Inventory § TRACS Photo Record § e. TRACS

TRACS Data Dictionary Standardized Codes & Definitions: § § § Constructed Features Feature Condition Codes Tasks Severity Factors Required & Optional Fields

TRACS Feature Inventory By Type, Location, Dimensions, Material § Trailway § Turnpike § Puncheon § Culvert § Retaining Wall § Etc.

USFS Standard Drawings & Specs www. fs. fed. us/. ftproot/pub/acad/dev/trails. htm

USFS Standard Drawings & Specs

TRACS Assessment & Prescription Concise, Consistent Identification of: § Feature Condition § Trail & Feature-Specific Work Needed to Meet Standard

TRACS Condition Codes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Routine Maintenance Repair/ Rehab Replace Decommission Expand Alter Function Install New

TRACS Data Dictionary Features & Unit of Measure Standardized features, unit of measure, drawing #, required dimensions & material types

TRACS Data Dictionary Features & Tasks Standardized features, tasks, unit of measure, & severity factors

Get Organized! TRACS Survey Form: § Systematically record key trail inventory, dimensions, materials, conditions & prescriptions § Walk out of the woods with a consistent, quality, & useful set of information

TRACS Survey Forms Record trail-specific inventory, dimensions, conditions & tasks

TRACS Survey Example

Productivity Factors

Productivity Factors Collecting Key, Trail-Specific Information § Physical factors that have a predominant effect on the accomplishment and cost of trail construction, maintenance and/or reconstruction

Productivity Factors § Site-specific data (per CASM accuracies) § Usually don’t change much over time § Used to refine costing § Useful for planning, management & other information purposes

Productivity Factors § Typical Tread Grade § Typical Side Slope § Typical Soil Type § Typical Vegetation: Brush § Typical Vegetation: Timber

Productivity Factor Codes § Standardized codes § Developed from perspective of trail construction & maintenance production rates

Productivity Factor Codes

Productivity Factor Codes Field Data is Collected: § Via a Productivity Factor Survey § Usually during the 1 st full TRACS survey § (Default values can be created in Infra)

TRACS Productivity Factor Survey Field observations about key variables affecting trail construction & maintenance

TRACS Infra Trails Productivity Factors § Site-specific data § Used to refine costing § Useful for planning & management

Productivity Factors Because all trails are t o n created equal …

TRACS Sign Inventory

TRACS Photo Log

TRACS Photo Record

Where to find it? www. fs. fed. us Recreational Activities Special Programs Trail Management

Where to find it? http: //fsweb. wo. fs. fed. us/rhwr/ibsc/index. shtml

Results…. TMO CASM TRACS Infra § Standardized approach to trail condition surveys § Based on TMO § Influenced by CASM § Quality Trail Prescription & Cost Information § Consistent, Versatile & Useful Data

TRACS Make the Most of Your Trip

TRACS Collect the right information… …the first time