Outdoor Recreation & Data Lab

Researching nature-based tourism and recreation

Outdoor R&D is the University of Washington’s Outdoor Recreation and Data Lab. We do data-driven research on the benefits of outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. Our studies meld methods from environmental science, social science, and computer science – combining visitor surveys and other on-site data with big volunteered data from citizen scientists, social media, and mobile applications. We develop open-source software and reproducible approaches that make big geographic data and models more accessible for decision-makers. The Outdoor R&D team looks for partnerships where novel and innovative methods and data can inform management and improve opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Research

Fine-scale maps of recreational use

Innovating the use of crowd-sourced data and volunteered information from social media users and citizen scientists as instant and real-time data on recreation

Learning who is (and isn’t) recreating

Understanding who uses public lands in order to increase opportunities and equity of outdoor recreation

Enhancing the benefits of outdoor recreation

Identifying where gaps outdoor opportunities can be filled by better management, built infrastructure, and ecological restoration

Projects

The Lab has conducted over 60 research projects with partners in academia, non-profits, and government

Using mixed methods to understand recreation use patterns and visitor behavior

2024-2027 | US Forest Service

2025-06-01

Recreation monitoring of state lands in Washington

WA State Department of Natural Resources

2024-10-01

Modeling recreational use with digital mobility data

US Forest Service

2024-08-01

Participatory science and technology for visitor use monitoring

US Forest Service

2024-08-01

See all

Community

We are committed to making our science accessible and relevant to a broad community, including researchers, practitioners, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Outdoor Recreation Data Network

A community of practice advancing data for recreation management

2025-08-16

Deploying Vic the Chatbot

Since 2018, the Outdoor R&D Team has been successfully deploying our friendly chatbot “Vic” to engage with community scientists on public lands across the US.

2021-11-17

Visitor Perceptions of Lake Water Quality

Community members are encouraged to submit information about lake water quality in the greater Twin Cities Metro area.

2026-04-09

Mississippi River Water Quality

Community members are encouraged to submit information about water quality along the Mississippi River.

2023-11-30

Visitors Count in Washington

Outdoor enthusiasts in Washington are encouraged to submit additional information about their experiences at recreation sites on Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

2020-04-10

Recent Publications

Large Recreation Declines Persist for Years after Severe Wildfire but Not after Low-Severity or Prescribed Fire

K. Manley, S. Wood, C. Evers, H. Nowell, A. LoPresti, K. Siegel, J. Balch, L. Braun, A. Cale, J. Kreitler, T. McIntosh, J. Peeler, M. Villarreal, L. Dee

DOI