AN EXPLORATION IN GEOLOGIC INTERPRETATION: INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY OF GEOLOGIC INFORMATION IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND BUFFALO GAP NATIONAL GRASSLAND

This study analyzes the upward trend in visitation to public lands across the United States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, employing Badlands National Park and Buffalo Gap National Grassland as a representative case study. Visitation and outreach data was collected on these public lands from June to August 2021 and June to September 2022 and was then analyzed in conjunction with 20+ years of existing visitation data.

Though increased visitation frequently exacerbates existing problems on public lands (such as visitor injury, land and property damage, litter, and widespread misinformation and confusion), it also provides an expansive opportunity for visitor outreach programs and geologic interpretation. Drawing upon the central tenants of interpretation, this study suggests that more effective and accessible visitor education in geologic topics will foster an awareness of geologic time, a deeper connection between the individual and the land, and recognition of the long-term consequences one’s actions can have on the planet. Therefore, increased exposure to geologic interpretation on a societal scale will, over time, drive more people towards environmentally-conscious thought and action.

This study concludes that the response to fill this informational niche must be multi-faceted. An effective and pandemic-conscious approach—proposed in this study and now in the initial stages of development—is a user-friendly, interactive phone application, tentatively titled “GeoSplore”, GeoSplore will present geologic information to visitors in an interpretive, accessible, park ranger style and emphasize customizability, accuracy, and effect design.

Existing signage and geologic information are not accessible, and visitation is increasing—GeoSplore would address both issues. Simply put, it would take advantage of a rare opportunity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and bring more information, that is more easily understood, to more people. It is not a perfect nor catch-all solution; it would, however, alleviate pressure on understaffed public lands and represent a distinct step down the path to sustainable ecotourism and a society-wide shift in mindset.