Selected Projects

The Outdoor R&D Lab has conducted over 60 research projects with partners in academia, non-profits, and government. Our work spans geographies ranging from national and international to local studies of recreation in city parks. Projects have resulted in new methods and tools, open-source software, technical reports, and articles in academic journals.

Visitor-related data for federal lands and waters

US Department of the Interior Office of Policy Analysis

A national model for estimating US public land visitation

US Forest Service

Using mixed methods to understand recreation use patterns and visitor behavior

2024-2027 | US Forest Service

Recreation monitoring of state lands in Washington

WA State Department of Natural Resources

Modeling recreational use with digital mobility data

US Forest Service

Participatory science and technology for visitor use monitoring

US Forest Service

Beach use characterized by mobile phone trip data

Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment

Recreation monitoring of Oregon forest lands

Oregon Department of Forestry

Public lands in public hands: innovative technology and community science for parks and outdoor recreation

University of Washington Computing for the Environment Initiative

Climate change impacts on National Park visitors

US National Park Service

Recreational use of King County Parks

King County Parks and Recreation

Improving Visitor Estimation Techniques at National Wildlife Refuges

US Fish and Wildlife Service

Advancing novel approaches for visitor monitoring and management on federal public lands

US Geological Survey

Monitoring winter backcountry recreation

Northwest Avalanche Center

Collaborative visitor use management of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

WA Recreation and Conservation Office

Estimating recreational use in the Bridger-Teton National Forest

US Forest Service