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Dan Servian Graduate Student West Virginia University. An exploration of the spatial distribution of national park units. Introduction. The best way to learn about a region’s people is to see what its citizens have protected and preserved.
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Dan Servian Graduate Student West Virginia University An exploration of the spatial distribution of national park units
Introduction • The best way to learn about a region’s people is to see what its citizens have protected and preserved. • Can open a window into a culture’s: heritage, intellectual philosophy, triumphs, and sorrow. • Preservation is not a small undertaking; it takes extensive planning, vast economic resources, and most importantly agreement in the significance of the resource
Purpose of Research • The purpose of this study is to begin the investigation for my research into the National Park designation process. • The use of Exploratory Data Analysis as well as Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis will direct future research. • Final goal of the future research is to find what the measure of a places importance is.
The Yellowstone Act • The first designated National Park unit occured in 1872. • Yellowstone Act brought the federal government into the tourism industry. “To set apart a certain tract of land lying near the head-waters of the Yellowstone River as a public park.”
Designation Process Congress • Special Resource Study • Consider NPS recommendation • Put the location up for a vote President • Antiquity Act of 1906 • Only Monuments • Anywhere on already on federal lands • WY and AK must get congress approval if enlarging preexisting monument ***** NPS has no authority in the designation process
National Parks today • 392 National Park Units • 36 Unit types • 84,000,000 acres • 11,700,000,000 visitors
Do politics influence designation? 224 designations Dem. 94 designations Rep.
Do politics influence designation? 212 designations Dem. 82 designations Rep.
Global Moran’s I North-East Region Correlated with senate 46 out of 63 Dem. 15 out of 63 Rep. 2 out of 63 mix
Global Moran’s I North-East Region Correlated with Date 42 out of 63 parks share dates 2 in WV 1988 3 in VA 1930 2 in VA 1978 2 in VA 1926 2 in NJ 1962
Local Indicator of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) Cluster of High Income and NPS Sites Cluster of Low Income and no NPS Sites
Conclusion • These findings along with the other findings don’t answer questions. They produce more. • Using EDA and ESDA creates a robust starting point to begin research. It allows researchers to focus their time on exploring definitive abnormalities, trends, and unique details.