SEM Visitor Survey Process Visualization

The Socioeconomic Monitoring (SEM) Visitor Survey is an important component of research designed by the NPS Social Science Program (SSP).

The SEM Visitor Survey positions the NPS to better understand socioeconomic trends over time at varying park types and sizes. The Visitor Survey is designed to provide managers of the NPS with social science research, which will include data collection at a minimum of 24 NPS parks annually. Currently, the results provide park-level and park-type results to monitor through time. As more years of surveys are conducted, this produces visitor use data that can soon be aggregated across the agency to produce representative systemwide estimates, a first for the NPS.

How does a park get selected?

Parks are randomly selected for the survey according to a formula that includes park type (natural, recreation, historic urban and historic non-urban), and a mix of high and low visitation. All parks that record visitation were considered for the study. Only parks that report visitation data through the STATS program are currently eligible for selection. Parks that are not part of the random selection can choose to opt in if they have funding available. If your park would like to be included and has funding available, please contact the SSP for more details.

What we do before data collection

On-site process

What parks get after the survey

Multiple reports are produced from this effort. Parks are provided with a custom report that summarizes survey information provided by their park visitors. An annual national report summarizes data across the country for the parks sampled. This provides wider trend analysis and up-to-date information about NPS visitors by park type.

Data dashboard

Along with traditional reports at the national and park level, SEM data will be visualized on a user-friendly data dashboard. Here, NPS staff, researchers, congress, and visitors can ask questions and display maps and graphs with the data.

Summary

The SEM Visitor Survey is a first-of-its-kind for the NPS that will allow the agency to better serve the general public and monitor long-term trends on an annual basis. First and foremost, the nationwide results will benefit regions and parks across the system by setting a baseline for comparison and aiding multi-scale decision making. Participating parks and associated regions will be able to better understand their visitors’ trip characteristics, experience evaluations, demographics, and spending.