University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses

Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle mapping System (ROAMS): a web application facilitating adventure motorcycling in Idaho public lands

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Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle mapping System (ROAMS): a web application facilitating adventure motorcycling in Idaho public lands

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Content RECREATIONAL OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE MAPPING SYSTEM
(ROAMS):
A WEB APPLICATION FACILITATING ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLING IN IDAHO
PUBLIC LANDS
by
Katherine Plank
A Thesis Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE USC DORNSIFE COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS AND SCIENCES
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
MASTER OF SCIENCE
(GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY)
August 2024
Copyright 2024 Katherine Plank

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To Philip, my parents and Pepper

iii
Acknowledgements
I am grateful for Dr. Ruddell and Dr. Osborne whose guidance and unwavering support during
the initial stages of conceptualization and development have been instrumental in shaping this
application. Thank you to Dr. Sedano for providing advice on the long road to thesis
development. Through the experience all the mentors have taught me an essential lesson that
sometimes one must simply send it.

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Table of Contents
Dedication......................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................iii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi
List of Figures............................................................................................................................... vii
Abbreviations............................................................................................................................... viii
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... ix
Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 A Background on Adventure Motorcycling ....................................................................... 2
1.1.1 What is Adventure Motorcycling?............................................................................. 2
1.1.2 A Brief History of Adventure Motorcycling ............................................................. 3
1.1.3 Adventure Motorcycling in the Present Day ............................................................. 4
1.2 Application Objectives and Overview................................................................................ 5
1.2.1 Motivation.................................................................................................................. 6
1.2.2 Target Users............................................................................................................... 8
1.2.3 Pilot Area ................................................................................................................. 10
1.2.4 Software Requirements............................................................................................ 11
1.2.5 Development............................................................................................................ 12
Chapter 2 Related Work................................................................................................................ 13
2.1 Tourism and Community .................................................................................................. 13
2.1.1 Community and Perception...................................................................................... 13
2.1.2 Drive/Motorcycle Tourism ...................................................................................... 14
2.1.3 Tourism and Social Media ....................................................................................... 15
2.1.4 Tourism Sustainability............................................................................................. 16
2.1.5 Tourism Post Covid-19............................................................................................ 17
2.2 Current Applications......................................................................................................... 17
2.2.1 Recommender Systems............................................................................................ 18
2.2.2 Navigation Tools...................................................................................................... 19
2.2.3 Web Versus Mobile Applications............................................................................ 21
2.3 What Makes a Good Ride? ............................................................................................... 22
2.3.1 Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 23
2.3.2 Risk 24
2.3.3 Safety ....................................................................................................................... 25
Chapter 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 27
3.1 Requirements and Objectives ........................................................................................... 27
3.2 Software ............................................................................................................................ 28
3.2.1 ArcGIS Pro............................................................................................................... 28

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3.2.2 ArcGIS Online ......................................................................................................... 29
3.2.3 GitHub...................................................................................................................... 30
3.3 Data ................................................................................................................................... 31
3.3.1 Roads ITD................................................................................................................ 32
3.3.2 Roads USFS............................................................................................................. 33
3.3.3 Trails........................................................................................................................ 33
3.3.4 Dynamic Environmental Events.............................................................................. 34
3.3.5 Points of Interest ...................................................................................................... 38
3.4 Data Processing................................................................................................................. 39
3.4.1 Clip and Merge ........................................................................................................ 40
3.4.2 Calculate Seasonality............................................................................................... 40
3.4.3 Calculate Difficulty.................................................................................................. 41
3.4.4 Initial Route Development....................................................................................... 44
3.5 Application Development ................................................................................................. 44
3.5.1 Web Map.................................................................................................................. 44
3.5.2 User Submitted Route Form .................................................................................... 45
3.5.3 Experience Builder................................................................................................... 46
3.5.4 Deployment.............................................................................................................. 48
3.5.5 Accessibility and Interface....................................................................................... 49
Chapter 4 Results.......................................................................................................................... 52
4.1 User Requirements............................................................................................................ 54
4.2 Routes and Criteria ........................................................................................................... 55
4.3 User Submissions.............................................................................................................. 56
4.4 Filtering Routes................................................................................................................. 56
4.5 Dynamic Environmental Events....................................................................................... 57
4.6 Points of Interest ............................................................................................................... 58
4.7 Accessibility and Interface................................................................................................ 59
4.8 Software and platform....................................................................................................... 59
Chapter 5 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 60
5.1 Challenges and Opportunities........................................................................................... 62
5.1.1 Data Updates............................................................................................................ 63
5.1.2 Network Development............................................................................................. 63
5.1.3 Widget Customization ............................................................................................. 64
5.1.4 Connectivity Limitations ......................................................................................... 65
5.2 Comparison to OnX Offroad ............................................................................................ 66
5.3 Future Work...................................................................................................................... 67
5.3.1 Formalized User Group Testing and Quality Control ............................................. 67
5.3.2 Expansion of Pilot Area ........................................................................................... 67
References..................................................................................................................................... 69
Appendix A: Data Diagram ............................................................................................................ 1

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List of Tables
Table 1. Federal Lands in Idaho ................................................................................................... 10
Table 2. All Data........................................................................................................................... 32
Table 3. Calculate Seasonality Example....................................................................................... 41
Table 4. Calculated Difficulty....................................................................................................... 42

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List of Figures
Figure 1. Example of an adventure route........................................................................................ 3
Figure 2. Honda CB500X with rider in full gear............................................................................ 5
Figure 3. Juvena Huang traveling the world by scooter ................................................................. 9
Figure 4. Idaho State Map............................................................................................................. 11
Figure 5. Yelp Recommender System .......................................................................................... 19
Figure 6. MyRoute App ................................................................................................................ 20
Figure 7. OnX Route Builder........................................................................................................ 21
Figure 8. Motivations for Adventure Activities............................................................................ 23
Figure 9. VIIRS Thermal Hotspots............................................................................................... 35
Figure 10. Air Quality Monitoring................................................................................................ 36
Figure 11. Stream Gauges Layer .................................................................................................. 37
Figure 12. USA Weather Watches and Warnings ........................................................................ 38
Figure 13. Data Diagram............................................................................................................... 40
Figure 14. Maintenance Level 5 USFS Road ............................................................................... 43
Figure 15. Create Features............................................................................................................ 46
Figure 16. ROAMS Web Application .......................................................................................... 47
Figure 17. Explore Section ........................................................................................................... 48
Figure 18. ROAMS Application................................................................................................... 52
Figure 19. Explore Section ........................................................................................................... 54
Figure 20. Filtering Routes........................................................................................................... 55
Figure 21. Filtering Clause Set ..................................................................................................... 62

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Abbreviations
AGOL ArcGIS Online
AMA American Motorcyclist Association
ATGAT All the Gear All the Time
BDR Backcountry Discovery Route
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BMW Bavarian Motor Works
CC Cubic Centimeters (displacement)
DT Drive Tourism
EV Electric Vehicle
GIS Geographic information system
GIST Geographic information science and technology
GPS Global Positioning System
HP Horsepower
POI Point of interest
PPE Personal protective equipment
ROAMS Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle Mapping System
RTW (a)Round the World (travel)
SSI Spatial Sciences Institute
TGIS Tourism Geographic Information System
USFS United States Forest Service
WCAG Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
VGI Volunteered geographic information

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Abstract
Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle Mapping System (ROAMS) is a novel application
created to facilitate motorcyclists’ enjoyment of nature, friends, and adventure. Currently there
are limited route planning tools developed specifically for adventure motorcyclists. The
developer of this application strives to apply relevant criteria and the needs of the emergent
market of adventure motorcycling to this application. ROAMS is a web-based application which
provides the ability to explore and locate user submitted routes that contain paved and unpaved
roads and motorcycle permitted trails. Dynamic environmental events layers keep motorcyclists
safe by identifying risks related to inclement weather, fire, and air quality. Points of interest such
as camp sites, parks, and emergency services assist the rider in planning their experience. The
application was designed to streamline the planning process and keep people safe by displaying
which trails may be closed, what types of terrain may be encountered, and where weather events
are occurring. In addition to enhancing the motorcyclist’s experience, the byproduct of this
application protects the environment by keeping riders on designated trails, away from fragile
ecosystems. All routes were developed in ArcGIS Pro to allow the user the ability to filter by
difficulty or seasonal closures in the web-application. This application was created using ArcGIS
Online’s Experience Builder and hosted in a GitHub page. ROAMS considers the motivations
for motorcycle travel and incorporates these needs into a functional application; however, there
is significant room for improvement in automation, data management, and interpolation. Future
developments include the expansion of the pilot area, formalized user group testing, quality
control, and network development.

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Chapter 1 Introduction
Motorcyclists who travel off-road have a limited toolset to assist with route planning. The
objective of this thesis was to provide off-road motorcyclists with a planning tool to enhance
safety, support on-trail decision making, define, and modify the viability of identified routes, and
improve situational awareness.
Adventure (ADV) motorcycling is a style of riding characterized by on and off-road
travel. The subculture places a high priority on self-reliant, multiday travel that highlights the
experience more than the destination. The emergence of the ADV segment was gradual, evolving
based on available tools and technology. The ADV segment, characterized by motorcyclists who
ride on and off-road, has grown in popularity in recent years. Presently, the ADV market is a
complete industry in which motorcycles, gear and accessories are specifically developed and
marketed for the ADV rider. Navigation tools specifically targeting ADV riders are lagging
compared to the rest of the industry.
There is a market need for the development of a map-based application which will
increase as the adventure motorcycling segment continues to grow. This segment is the fastest
growing market in the motorsports industry (Bertram 2022). As the industry grows there will be
additional need for these tools and additional financial resources for products that support the
industry. This segment influx also means there will be an increase in the number of individuals
who are new to route planning and route finding in off-road areas. Newer ADV riders possess a
more limited skillset in planning knowledge and technical riding skill. These individuals will
most greatly benefit from the direction and support that an ADV oriented mapping application
can provide. Experienced riders can benefit from finding exciting new places to ride. The need

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for a mapping application is present and growing as technology progresses a map with variable
features can support both new riders and experienced riders.
This project created of a novel product – the Recreational Off-road Adventure
Motorcycle Mapping System (ROAMS) – that supports riders with a variety of skill levels with
route planning and safety. Application users can sort, and filter user submitted routes by criteria
such as length, seasonal availability, and terrain difficulty. This allows a user to quickly find
routes in their area of interest which correspond to their comfort level, skill level or vehicle
capability. The application serves a target audience for whom the criteria that create a good ride
are highly variable, meaning that each rider has a different idea of that a good ride looks like.
1.1 A Background on Adventure Motorcycling
The ROAMS application serves the ADV motorcycling niche of the powersports
industry. This section establishes the framework for understanding adventure motorcycling in
historical and current contexts. It explains how ADV motorcycling is defined and provides a
history of the subject, then cruises through to the present day.
1.1.1 What is Adventure Motorcycling?
Adventure travel can be characterized as a trip that includes physical activity, interaction
with the natural environment and cultural immersion (Wang et al. 2019). This type of travel can
encompass nearly any mode of transportation; this thesis will specifically observe adventure
motorcycling. Adventure motorcycling can describe a style of riding, the motorcycle itself, and
the market. While the style of riding has few strict parameters, it places a strong focus on
experience and exploration. The rider often favors experiences which entail less traveled dirt or
poorly paved “goaty” roads as can be seen in Figure 1 which depicts a scenic adventure route.

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Figure 1. Example of an adventure route (Rupert 2022)
Poorly paved and dirt roads connect to both physical activity and interaction with nature,
which defines adventure tourism. Adventure motorcycles are known for a high level of comfort,
for traveling long distances as well as suspension capable of maneuvering over obstacles. An
adventure motorcycle is the tool that provides access to these areas. The capabilities of the tool,
in this case a motorcycle, must be practical for the riders’ needs and for their intended terrain.
The next section offers further context into the history and trajectory of the adventure
motorcycling market.
1.1.2 A Brief History of Adventure Motorcycling
The first motorcycle was invented in 1867, created by Pierre Michaux, and was a
modified bicycle propelled by steam (Timeline of Motorcycles n.d.). In 1885, two German
inventors developed the first diesel engine and shortly thereafter the first mass produced
motorcycles began being developed worldwide. The early 1900s saw the emergence of current

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manufacturers such as Royal Enfield, Triumph, Harley Davidson, and Indian. Subcultures of
motorcycling began to evolve both in formalized groups such as motorcycle clubs (MCs) or
informally such as groups like the mods and rockers, where membership was based on personal
style. As motorcycles became more specialized, subcultures evolved in parallel.
The adventure motorcycling segment evolved with pioneers like Carl Stearns Clancy who
was the first to officially circumnavigate the globe by motorcycle in (Mannion 2020). Since then,
there have been many notable figures who have participated in long distance travel by
motorcycle. These individuals did so prior to the advent of modern conveniences such as cell
phones, community forums or ubiquity of GPS. Notable riders such as Bessie Stringfield
(1930s), Ted Simon (1930s), Ernesto “Che” Guevara (1940s), Elspeth Beard (1970s), Ewan
McGregor (2000s), and many others paved the way for what is the modern adventure
motorcycling subculture.
1.1.3 Adventure Motorcycling in the Present Day
Adventure motorcycling in the present day is one of the fastest growing segments in the
motorsports industry (Bertram 2022). The adventure specific items on the market include
specialized protective gear, accessories (known as farkles), and motorcycles themselves. While
true ADV style motorcycles have been on the market since the 1980s, the segment is seeing a
new increase in ridership and is responding with a wider range of motorcycles within the class.
This range allows yet more access to the segment, with models that are more specialized for each
rider. Recently, smaller adventure bikes have become more common such as the Honda CB500x
(Figure 2) or the BMW 310GS. These small displacement, lower seat height motorcycles are
allowing people who are smaller in stature to comfortably enjoy adventure riding.

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Within the motorcycle industry adventure riders are often viewed as having a high level
of acceptance of new technology integrated tools such as improved safety equipment like airbag
vests and auxiliary lighting. There is an opportunity in this market to push improvements in
navigation and mapping related tools.
Figure 2. Honda CB500X with rider in full gear (Greaser 2019)
1.2 Application Objectives and Overview
This section provides an outline of the aim of the ROAMS application, describes the
target users, defines the pilot area as well as software requirements. Motivating factors for the
development of this application can be summarized as supporting new tools for the adventure
motorcycling industry through understanding the needs and limitations of GIS based
applications. There are few GIS based applications that directly serve the needs of adventure
motorcyclists. In addition to supporting new technologies, the development of the ROAMS seeks
to support conservation efforts through awareness and safe utilization of public lands.

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1.2.1 Motivation
This research is inspired by a desire to make adventure riding more accessible by
assisting newer riders with route planning and helping all riders have a safe and enjoyable
experience on our public lands. While the adventure motorcycling segment is growing, it still
makes up a relatively small portion of overall motorcycling groups. ROAMS and similar
applications help lower the barrier to entry and this allows for a more diverse range of
individuals to enjoy the great outdoors. Developing the necessary skills to navigate safely
through different types of environments can take many years. An application like ROAMS helps
bridge the gap between new riders and more seasoned riders. There are several critical skills that
an adventure rider needs, including how to ride a motorcycle across different surfaces, how to
navigate in the wilderness, as well as basic first aid, and survival skills. While simple web
mapping applications may not be able to provide the user with all these necessary skills, the
ROAMS application is seeking to utilize new technology to support individuals who are
performing preliminary research before their expeditions off of the beaten path. The application
can inspire confidence and increase safety measures by informing riders of current conditions in
the area as well as general difficulty levels of routes.
Approximately 63% of the state of Idaho are public lands (Idaho Conservation League
n.d.). These include United States Forest Service (USFS), Designated Wilderness areas, Bureau
of Land Management (BLM), county and city managed areas. Unlocking the ability to explore
these areas can help individuals gain access to a wide swath of lands which would otherwise be
inaccessible. When individuals are permitted to recreate in public areas it creates the opportunity
to instill a desire to safeguard and preserve those resources. Main concerns for off-road
accessibility regard emissions and the disturbance of vegetation. This application helps to

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minimize both concerns by helping riders stay on trails during appropriate time periods, and
supporting safe, respectful travel.
For a number of trails in the system, travel is permissible only during specific time
periods or motorized travel is completely prohibited. This application allows the user to input
their intended travel dates to find routes that are legal and accessible during that time. This
supports safe and legal travel through public lands by helping to keep users on appropriate roads
with less risk of going off-trail or into zones that are not permitted, such as environmental
rehabilitation zones. Allowing users to search for nearby routes minimizes highway travel which
contributes to far more emissions in comparison than off-roading. Traveling on improved
surfaces increases the mileage that riders may comfortably traverse per day. Riding off-road
increases cost values like obstacles or challenging road surfaces which decrease the expected
mileage of the rider. As the milage decreases so do the emissions.
The application lowers the barrier to enjoying the natural, rugged beauty of Idaho by
simplifying the planning process. Suitable off-road motorcycling routes are often shared through
word of mouth or tracing lines across paper or online maps. These forms of route planning are
limited, and typically cross-referencing of regulations, elevation, and conditions is done prior to
departure. This allows for an increase in tourism to rural places that would not otherwise be
visited.
Motorcycle specific tourism has not been studied as thoroughly as other forms of tourism.
As the ROAMS application gains usership the platform can provide additional data to support
future studies on ridership so that science can better understand motivations, impacts, and
infrastructure needs. This information in turn supports a better experience for the rider by
allowing businesses to better serve this demographic specifically.

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1.2.2 Target Users
Terms like “biker” or “motorcyclist” evoke mental representations of leather clad riders,
chrome, and risky behavior. This characterization embodied by television and films such as Sons
of Anarchy and Wild Hogs. In contrast to this stereotype, Adventure riders may be more
appropriately defined by a shared interest in novelty and exploration on two wheels, rather than a
one size fits all image (Gerai n.d.). The ROAMS application caters to individuals from a wide
background, and with a wide array of interests and skills, united by a common interest in
adventure motorcycling. To achieve this, ROAMS combines a streamlined user interface with a
clear description of each route and filtering abilities.
The term ADV can refer to not only the type of rider, but also the style of motorcycle
common to adventure riders. The industry definition of an adventure motorcycle is a medium to
large motorcycle, capable of both on and off-road, and known for a high level of comfort for
riding long distances. Top manufacturers for this segment are BMW, KTM, Yamaha, and Honda.
Despite the availability of these specially designed motorcycles, adventure can unfold on
almost any type of motorcycle. A rider might choose a unique style for many reasons including
that they are more comfortable with the performance, they seek the challenge of a less
appropriate machine, or they are using what they already have in the garage (sometimes referred
to as “run what you brung”). From scooters to superbikes, examples of popular adventure icons
who travel via unconventional methods are Juvena Huang (The Wandering Wasp (Figure 3), Ed
March (C90 Adventures), and Sjaak Lucassen.

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Figure 3. Juvena Huang traveling the world by scooter (Huang n.d.)
For many styles, a benefit in one area creates a shortcoming in another. For instance, in
general, super-sport motorcycles were designed for an extremely high-level of performance on
fast, paved courses. This creates limitations when using this machine in other applications. High
horsepower and aggressive throttling leads to wheelspin on surfaces where traction is limited.
This means this type of vehicle can be more challenging to ride on unpaved or poorly paved
surfaces or during times of inclement weather.
These types of performance differences across vehicle types reinforce a need for a highly
customizable route recommender system. Developing a practical, appropriate route for both rider
and machine depends on many variables. ROAMS includes information about the quality of
unpaved sections of road to allow users to select routes based on what is appropriate or
manageable for their machine.

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1.2.3 Pilot Area
The pilot area for ROAMS is the state of Idaho with the intention of developing a
national application. Idaho is known for agriculture, specifically potatoes, and an abundance of
natural beauty, and open space. In Idaho, federal land makes up more than half of its land area;
the majority of which belongs to the United States Forest Service (USFS) (Table 1).
Table 1. Federal Lands in Idaho
Agency Acreage
U.S. Forest Service 20,465,014
U.S. National Park Service 507,585
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 48,947
U.S. Bureau of Land Management 11,610,111
U.S. Department of Defense 4,178
Total Federal Land 32,635,835
Idaho has twelve wilderness areas, nine national monuments, six National Parks, and one
national conservation area (Congressional Research Service 2020). Figure 4 identifies the ten
largest National Forest areas in Idaho.

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Figure 4. Idaho State Map
The U.S. National Park Service published a study in 2013 that determined Idaho’s
national parks and monuments generated 614,410 visitors and $29.4 million (Ballotpedia n.d.).
State recreation lands include 32 state parks generating $6.3 billion in visitor spending and $461
million in state and local tax revenue.
1.2.4 Software Requirements
The ROAMS application primarily leverages Esri ArcGIS suite which includes ArcGIS
Pro, ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Experience Builder to create a browser-based, interactive
application that assists motorcyclists with route planning. ArcGIS Pro is a desktop geographic

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information system (GIS) software which assists with mapping, geoprocessing, data management
and integration with ArcGIS Online.
ArcGIS Online is a cloud-based platform which is accessed via web browser. ArcGIS
Online supports data hosting, sharing, and application development. ArcGIS Online also
visualizes hosted layers through an online web map. Web maps can be developed to utilize
personally hosted layers or connect to publicly available layers such as those in the Living Atlas.
ArcGIS Online also provides the ability to link to streaming data layers to visualize real-time
data in a web map. Experience builder provides a streamlined interface for efficient and effective
development of web-based applications. This product uses a drag and drop interface, a range of
out-of-the-box widgets and extensive customization with connections to layers, maps and
applications hosted in ArcGIS Online.
GitHub is a web-based platform which supports software development though the ability
to host and manage code repositories. Web pages can be hosted using GitHub Pages. Pages are
created by publishing a repository in a pages branch. The web page is customized using HTML,
CSS, and JavaScript. These pages can be published and edited as needed.
1.2.5 Development
The ROAMS application was developed using ArcGIS Pro’s geoprocessing tools for all
data development. This data was then published to ArcGIS Online where it was incorporated into
a web map. The web map was configured, and all additional datasets were added from
authoritative sources. A web mapping application was created using experience builder and
linked to the aforementioned web map. The application was configured, styled, and then
embedded in a Git Hub web page.

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Chapter 2 Related Work
The ROAMS application is designed to facilitate the creation of personalized routes by
leveraging near real-time conditions and user selected preferences such as travel distance, road
surface, and proximity to scenic areas. Research in related fields include tourism, recreation, and
travel planning applications. Understanding and identifying tourists and their motivations allows
the application to meet the needs of users. Identifying related travel applications helps develop a
framework to build a novel application specific to adventure motorcycling. The related work
chapter provides a review of studies and literature related to moto-tourism, current applications
and seeks to scientifically answer the question – what makes a good ride?
2.1 Tourism and Community
Understanding patterns in tourism and community-informed decision making for the
ROAMS application by illuminating economic, social, and cultural impacts of tourism, tourism
sustainability, changes in tourism since the onset of Covid-19 and the perception of tourism by
members of the community.
2.1.1 Community and Perception
The International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research found that while
some negative perceptions toward motorcyclists appear to continue among some tourism
operators, the economic value is improving the overall appeal of the market segment (QuadriFelitti, Sykes and Chen n.d.). Sentiments toward motorcyclists are slowly changing and the more
that people continue to tap into this market the more changes will occur.

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2.1.2 Drive/Motorcycle Tourism
Drive Tourism is a market that consists of individuals who utilize a vehicle to travel for
leisure. This may include single or multiday trips to one or more destinations (Queensland
Government 2020). Factors that motivate drive tourism include marketing, destinations, highway
networks, infrastructure, attractions, and the vehicle itself. This information supports aspects of
the ROAMS application functionality, such as road networks, infrastructure, and specifying
travel needs based on the vehicle’s capabilities. Drive tourism relies heavily on local
infrastructure including road networks, fuel availability, lodging, and local businesses.
A recent study sought to clarify the relationship between transportation infrastructure and
the income of rural residents and concluded that transportation infrastructure, specifically roads,
correlated with a reduction in poverty levels and income inequality (Lu et al. 2023). This study
used self-reporting measures in a rural corridor with limited road network access. Research also
found that resident groups were not impacted at equal rates, residents with lower socioeconomic
status and less formal education did not receive as many benefits. It highlights that there is a
correlation between road infrastructure and income in rural areas.
Motorcycle tourism is a subset of drive tourism; however, there has been limited
academic research within social sciences despite industry growth (Cater 2017). The ROAMS
application was created with this in mind, as usership grows the collected data provides scientific
level data that can be leveraged to increase our knowledge base in the motorcycle tourism
sphere.
The motorcycle tourism segment is representative of a market that spends upwards of
$100 each day on amenities, fuel, and food (Sykes and Kelly 2016). While this number is near to
the amount that other drive tourists may spend, adventure motorcycle tourists have an increased
ability to disperse wealth to locations that are more remote. A significant increase in motorcycle

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tourism can positively affect local economies in areas where riders commonly congregate. The
article also presented a self-reported study that showed “Exploring new tourist destinations” was
the top factor in choosing a destination for motorcycle tourism (Sykes and Kelly 2016).
2.1.3 Tourism and Social Media
A positive image can trigger tourists’ visit behavior (Rodrigues et al. 2023). The Idaho
Backcountry Discovery Route Documentary Film as of June 2023 has over 342,460 views and
187 comments on YouTube (RideBDR 2015). The film documents the accounts of several riders
across 1,300 miles of scenic motorways, highlighting beautifully remote and rugged locations.
This film was successful in 2015 and is still relevant today by triggering visit behavior from
riders across the globe.
Not only is social media driving tourism, but it is also informing what we know about
tourism. Social media is increasingly leveraged to amend our knowledge of trends. In the past,
travel related studies most often had access to observation, trail and road counters, ticket sales,
survey data, and focus groups (Teles da Mota and Pickering 2020). These methods have major
flaws, such as being resource intensive and/or having a high potential for bias. Utilizing public
data from social media such as Flickr, Instagram, Twitter, Open Street Map (OSM), Geocaching,
and other task specific applications can inform modern tourism and recreation studies.
Geographic studies are accessible through the act of geotagging posts and photos, where
coordinates are associated with user submissions. This information can help us understand more
detailed information at a low cost. Topics of knowledge include understanding visitor needs and
sentiments, economic values, spatial, and temporal analysis, and ecosystem services (Teles da
Mota and Pickering 2020). Potential sources of errors center around representation as those more
likely to utilize social media tend to only represent specific populations. As the number of park

16
visitors grow, the need for improvements and infrastructure also grows. The information sourced
from social media assists in supporting and prioritizing infrastructure and continued support of
tourism in the face of changing demographics.
2.1.4 Tourism Sustainability
Tourism sustainability is concerned with the balance of economic advantages with
preserving local identity, environmental resources, and infrastructure (Cruz et al. 2022). Drive
tourism specifically is reliant on rapidly changing factors such as vehicle technology, marketing,
political environments, and climate change. The speed in which these influences change can
have profound implications for social and economic ecosystems. Achieving economic and social
balance in the tourism market may be unattainable; however, there are avenues that can help to
mitigate undue stress on communities.
The increase in population and tourism to the state of Idaho means being attentive of the
development of the application is a particularly critical component. Ensuring incorporation of
any applicable laws for road segments, including approved uses and seasonal availability results
in safety and more sustainable travel measures. The simplification of off-road travel in approved
areas support the protection of nature by limiting riders becoming lost and damaging ecosystems
in closed areas or off trail. The application supports local businesses and entrepreneurial ventures
by including local businesses, rather than prioritizing map results for global companies.
To accomplish social sustainability, facilitation of cross-cultural commitment such as
ecological or spiritual development should be highlighted as opposed to the focus on more
superficial goals (Cruz et al. 2022).

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2.1.5 Tourism Post Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the world in a near limitless number of ways, and as
much, fundamentally affected the tourism and hospitality market. During the height of the
pandemic travel limitations were imposed in every state, causing closures, and irrevocable
financial harm to local economies reliant on tourism opportunities.
Understanding the Covid-19 Tourist Psyche: The Evolutionary Tourism Paradigm looks
at how Covid-19 amplified fundamental human anxieties regarding social isolation and personal
safety (Kock et al. 2020). A massive increase in disease avoidance behavior meant that people
increasingly developed negative perceptions toward crowding and public places. How
individuals understood and felt risk meant that motorcycles were not the number one threat to
life and limb.
As travel restrictions began to lift, individuals increasingly prioritized outdoor leisure
activities. Activities like motorcycle riding afforded more personal space while maintaining a
sense of camaraderie if riding in a group (Wada, Bizen and Inaba 2023).
2.2 Current Applications
The ROAMS application contains aspects of systems such as recommender systems and
navigation tools. Recommender systems seek to recommend content or services to the user based
on user input. Navigation systems assist the user in navigating through the environment; this
might include navigation through road or trail infrastructure or understanding the user’s
geographic position relative to points of interest. These applications may be available in multiple
forms, most notably web versus mobile applications. Mobile applications are only available via a
smart phone or device, while web applications may be accessed with a computer and internet
connection.

18
2.2.1 Recommender Systems
Recommender Systems (RS) are systems deployed to share recommendations for services
to users. Recommender systems heavily utilize algorithms, filtering, and databases. Processes
that define recommender services are based on key factors that include available data, filtering
mechanism, result enhancement, database scalability, system performance, objectives, and
quality (Ravi and Vairavasundaram 2016). The goal of an effective recommender system is to
help the user visualize only relevant information. ROAMs application meets these criteria by
allowing the user to self-select criteria such as road surface and travel dates to filter the data,
showing only what the user needs.
Yelp is a commonly used example of a recommender system. Yelp employs a simple
interface. The list takes precedence in the center of the screen, with the map shown on the right
(Figure 5). Filters to specify results can be found on the right side of the screen. Their filters
include price point, category, features, neighborhood, and distance. Users can also interact with
the map directly and can select the option to refresh the search as the map moves. This tool is
particularly powerful as applied because the map can be set up to react to the user’s location (if
the user allows location access from their browser). When the map moves to the user’s location
items that are geographically relevant will populate in the list. Yelp’s recommender system
shows a powerful integration between the list and mapping tool.

19
Figure 5. Yelp Recommender System (Yelp n.d.)
2.2.2 Navigation Tools
Google Maps has become the standard of mapping user interfaces. The straightforward
design punctuated by clear symbols is easy to understand by a broad range of users. The aim of
the ROAMS application is a similarly simple interface while maintaining the ability to feature
critical information on request. There are two main reasons to use a navigation application: for
necessity or for curiosity. Those who are interested in a more exploratory search spend a good
amount of time panning and zooming. The ROAMs application utilizes ArcGIS Online
functionality which supports standard map navigation such as click and drag for movement and
scroll wheel zoom. Those who are interested in exploration also frequently utilize the point of
interest tools to find local restaurants. Furthermore, they tended to utilize this feature to look up
menus or home pages (Savino et al. 2021). This shows that navigation apps are extensively used
as a tool for exploration, rather than specifically to get from one place to another.
MyRoute-app (Figure 6) is a web and mobile application that allows users to plot routes
by searching for POIs or tapping the screen to add waypoints. My Route has features such as
color, the ability to code waypoints and reverse directions (MyRoute n.d.). The application can

20
export the planned route to GPS devices such as Garmin or TomTom. My route does include a
motorcycle feature; however, it does not consider road prioritization specific to the needs of
motorcyclists. The ROAMS application is developed with a motorcyclist in mind, the search
results are specific to the user in more terms than geography.
Figure 6. MyRoute App (MyRoute n.d.)
OnX Offroad is a blend of both a recommender system and a navigation tool. OnX
Offroad launched in Google Play and iOS app store in late 2019. The application delivers a
smooth mobile application where users can access over 550 miles of trails (Offroad onX n.d.).
The routes are submitted by users and contain difficulty ratings, photos the application also
contains trail closure dates and recreation point details. Custom waypoints can be included, and
the routes can be downloaded for offline use. The application is available for a $30-100 per year
fee depending on the subscription features. In late April 2023, OnX Offroad released a route
builder feature that allows users to string together segments to create custom routes (Stoecklein
2023). The function automatically traces the closest road or trail to build a route. Once created,
users can use a GPS enabled device to follow the route.

21
According to OnX, the trails network was created from the ground up by a geospatial
team evaluating content to create a navigable network of trails. Over 1.6 million edits were made
to the network as of April 2023. Figure 7 shows the OnX web application which allows users to
discover new off-road routes. The available routes are submitted by users including the difficulty
levels and other information. The main way to navigate the web application is via the map. When
the user selects a route the details window pops up on the left showing the information about that
route. This mapping application was built using Mapbox tools, which allows for custom mapping
applications for both web and mobile. Mapbox also supports applications such as Strava and All
Trails.
Figure 7. OnX Route Builder (Offroad OnX n.d.)
2.2.3 Web Versus Mobile Applications
Seventy-seven percent of travelers search for travel information via mobile devices (Lu et
al. 2015). Reliance on smartphones for transportation is also commonplace. Attributes of
successful mobile applications include perception of relative advantage over competition,
consistency with user values, and marketing strategies. They include the ability to utilize unique

22
services through tapping into a phone’s hardware such as the camera, sensors, and projectors.
Studies have shown that despite this potential for innovation a negative user perception is
common due to perceived inability to use the product (Lu et al. 2015). This can be minimized
through prior user experience with similar technologies. This shows that the interface is of the
utmost importance, particularly for mobile applications.
In many areas of rural Idaho service tends to be intermittent which could cause the
application to not function properly. Adoption of the ROAMS application requires the ability to
download maps for offline use; many adventure riders use GPS devices to navigate in areas with
little or no cell signal. Specific to development, mobile applications also have a higher developer
cost, phones and tablets vary in size and are continually changing. This means that frequent
updates to manage both the functionality and user interface will be necessary.
2.3 What Makes a Good Ride?
What makes a good ride? A phenomenon described as the flow state is when an
individual is completely immersed in an activity until action and awareness merge and total
concentration on the task is present (Boudreau, Mackenzie and Hodge 2020). This flow state is
an enjoyable, strong motivational factor for adventurists of all kinds. The flow state is a soughtafter sensation experienced during a ride which can be identified as good. The flow state is
measured using nine variables the first of which is described as an appropriate balance between
skill and challenge of the activity (Boudreau, Mackenzie and Hodge 2020). Motorcyclists with
varying levels of skill and perception of challenge can be observed in this state at different levels
of difficulty. To achieve the flow state the rider must seek out and pinpoint the balance between
their personal comfort zone and a challenging level of terrain. While specific criteria can be

23
highlighted as having a strong importance to unfolding a good ride, the weight and range of
those criteria is dependent on the rider.
2.3.1 Criteria
The top reasons adventure motorcyclists embark on a ride are to experience adventure,
interact with nature and enjoy friendship (Figure 8) (Ramoa, Pires and Añaña 2021). Interacting
with nature can look like camping, hiking, having a picnic or simply riding motorcycles through
green spaces.
Figure 8. Motivations for Adventure Activities (Ramoa, Pires and Añaña 2021)
Enjoying friendship seems like an unexpected motivation for ADV motorcycling because
during motorcycling there is limited verbal communication between riders. Riders use many
communication strategies including body language to communicate on the trail, some may even
employ rider to rider communications in the form of a headset installed inside the helmet. In
addition to communication on trail riders also stop for frequent breaks for food, water, rest, and

24
exploration. Participating in these activities with friends can be very rewarding and shared
experience of the adventure itself can help to solidify that bond.
Experiencing adventure is a vague term. Adventure can be different scenarios for
different individuals. Many adventures are in search of the flow state. Achieving the flow state as
well as adventure itself centers the idea of skill and challenge. This can look like a variety of
things to different individuals. Individuals’ need for adventure can be based on skill level and
comfort zone.
2.3.2 Risk
Challenge can be strongly correlated with risk. While a high level of risk taking is not
intrinsic to adventure tourism, challenge and risk play a critical role in individual motivations for
engaging or avoiding specific activities. Adventure travelers have higher rates of engagement
with risky recreational activities (Wang et al. 2019). This correlation shows that a foundation of
understanding of risk and risky behaviors should be developed to provide a framework which
appeals to adventure travelers, specifically adventure motorcyclists. Adventure travel is divided
into categorical risk variability; a soft adventure is relatively low risk, while a hard adventure
involves higher levels of risk (Wang et al. 2019). The source article splits these items based on
activity (i.e., skiing vs. rock climbing); however, it is important to note that within these
activities there is significant variability in risk tolerance among individuals. While motorcycling
can be considered a high-risk recreational activity, there is still a wide range of risk tolerance
amongst participating individuals. While travel literature suggests that risky behavior can be
related to environmental triggers, psychological research suggests that engaging in risky
behaviors is correlated with sensation-seeking personality types (Wang et al. 2019). Sensation
seeking is associated with a need for varied and complex sensations and often characterized by

25
an increased level of risk tolerance. Some risks can be mitigated through implementation of
safety measures as related to adventure tourism; there is a distinct population of individuals that
seek higher levels of engagement through adventure recreation. While risk is accepted by the
individual, ultimately the success of the activity is directly tied to the ability to arrive home
safely (Wang et al. 2019). This shows that understanding the level of risk and the variables
related to adventure riding that compose risk will serve to help riders arrive back home safely,
and therefore have a more positive experience.
2.3.3 Safety
While it may take a combination of many factors to make a good ride, a safety incident
can negate any positive experience. Riding a two wheeled vehicle inherently comes with a
heightened vulnerability that includes instability and lack of crash protection (Elliot et al. 2023).
These factors must be considered for the development of ROAMS to achieve the optimal
outcome. Factors that are most likely to contribute to the death or injury of the rider are
speeding, overtaking and instability.
Riding off-road or in inclement weather increases the probability of encountering a
situation with insufficient traction. When a rider has limited traction rider input such as braking
or turning must be performed with extreme care or the motorcycle can overturn. In a motorcycle
overturn situation, there is significantly less engineered protection than in a four wheeled
vehicle. Motorcyclists are strongly encouraged to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to
assist with impact resistance and slide resistance. Particularly helmet use is of large concern in
this, however, use of a helmet is not required in all states and may by rider preference.

26
Safety courses are also thought to lower the level of risk for motorcyclists. Safety courses
for motorcycling both on and off-road have become more accessible for new riders and seasoned
riders.

27
Chapter 3 Methodology
The methodology chapter explains the steps taken and elaborates on the decisions made during
the development of the ROAMS application. Understanding the methodology to create ROAMS
begins with establishing the needs and objectives of the web mapping application. ROAMS’s
primary objective is to support the adventure rider route planning experience by creating a
searchable database of routes tailored to the needs of motorcyclists. Secondary objectives bring
in other aspects of a “good ride” such as providing environmental context, points of interest,
safety and social aspects. Once the objectives are identified, selecting the software can begin.
There are many tools that can be used to create a web mapping application, ROAMS leveraged
the Esri products ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and Experience Builder. These tools were
selected because of their high level of interoperability and accessibility.
Data was then prepared for integration into the web mapping application. Data was
sourced and processed to assist in integration into the web mapping application tool, Experience
Builder. The application was built out with considerations for accessibility, ease of use and
finally deployed in a GitHub page. This section outlines the methodology used to develop the
ROAMS application including requirements and objective, data description and development
and software leveraged to create the product.
3.1 Requirements and Objectives
The primary functionality of ROAMS is to display an interactive database of routes
created by the developer and via user survey entries. The database contains fields related to the
identified criteria in the related literature that can be identified as playing a major role in a good
ride. Identified criteria that make a good ride include social and community aspects, finding flow

28
and interaction with nature. It is well documented that social pull is a strong reason for tourism
and travel.
To find flow, a balance of challenge and comfort must be achieved. To support
overcoming challenges to reach difficult goals the application allows users to filter based on
level of route difficulty, where comfort level can vary from rider to rider. This can be facilitated
through searchable routes database by providing route difficulty ratings as accurately as possible.
The mark of a successful database is searchable and filterable data via the deployed web
application.
Dynamic environmental events layers need to provide real-time or near real time
environmental context to be relevant to the user. The most straightforward way to accomplish
this is to stream layers from ArcGIS’s Living Atlas which provides a wide range of data to users
to include in maps.
ROAMS also contains geographic information identifying campsites and public lands.
These points of interest do not have to be updated regularly; however, they do need to be updated
on a semi-regular basis. This means that these items should also be streamed from authoritative
datasets or using the ArcGIS Living Atlas layers.
3.2 Software
The tools used were primarily components of the Esri Suite including ArcGIS Pro,
ArcGIS Online and Experience Builder. In addition to Esri Products, GitHub was used to host
the application on a webpage.
3.2.1 ArcGIS Pro
Initial data processing was performed in ArcGIS Pro 3.1. Initial processing consisted of
field calculations, merging layers and development of initial routes. ArcGIS Pro is a desktop

29
mapping software which allows a user to create maps, edit data and publish layers to the web.
This program was chosen because it provides all the necessary tools to edit the data. Tools
leveraged are merge, calculate field, add features and publish to the web. While there are many
other GIS software and tools available, ArcGIS Pro is currently the industry leader. The platform
provides direct access to online portals, tools and public data. This means even after the data is
processed in ArcGIS Pro, the transition to a web application will be straightforward and any
additional layers can be sourced through the ArcGIS Living Atlas. The Living Atlas is a
collection of geographic information that can be directly linked into web maps and even includes
real time and near real time content. As part of the University of Southern California’s Master of
Geographic Information Systems and Technology program, the university provides a license to
use ArcGIS Pro.
3.2.2 ArcGIS Online
In addition to providing access to ArcGIS Pro, the University of Southern California
provides access to both ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise. While ArcGIS Online and
ArcGIS Enterprise functions much of the same way, ArcGIS Enterprise offers additional
customization and integration (ArcNews 2023). ArcGIS enterprise supports widget
customization which allows for greater functionality of the application. Utilizing this USC’s
enterprise would allow for greater functionality of the ROAMS application by developing
widgets that negotiate limitations of the out-of-the-box widgets provided by ArcGIS Online
services. The two services can be used in conjunction; however, in previous theses work issues
have arisen with configuration of developer support within the USC web server (Khatry 2023).
While the researcher found a temporary solution, the application could not be successfully
launched as intended. It was for this reason that the ArcGIS Online environment was decided to

30
be the optimal placement despite limitations in configuration and networking processes. While
leveraging ArcGIS enterprise would provide additional flexibility and functionality, the goal to
successfully launch the piloted application was prioritized with the option of moving the
application later.
Within the ArcGIS Online environment, the ROAMS application utilizes Experience
Builder, an Esri tool capable compatible by use with both web and mobile applications. The
developer can select to design the application based on different screen sizes and ways to
navigate the tools (mouse, touch screen). Experience Builder has a high level of interoperability,
particularly with other Esri tools. Esri tools were leveraged to achieve an integrated workflow.
The web experience includes a web map which serves as the container to the layers both
hosted and accessed through ArcGIS Online. ArcGIS Online, a software as a service (SaaS) tool
provides a database of public and authoritative hosted layers, images, and web maps. These
authoritative hosted layers are maintained outside parties, this reduces maintenance costs and
allow users to receive the most updated information possible.
3.2.3 GitHub
GitHub was used as the hosting service for a webpage in which to publish the application.
This serves as a holding space to share the project. ROAMS was developed to be marketed as an
application that will be integrated into the client’s pre-existing webpage. To show this
functionality, the application has been embedded into a temporary holding space which Git Hub
provides free of charge.
GitHub is a cloud-based system, which is primarily used as a storage space in which a
repository can be created for a project’s code. GitHub Pages can host static web pages using a

31
HTML, CSS and JavaScript which are stored in a repository. These services are free to use
provided they comply with GitHub’s terms of service.
3.3 Data
Data leveraged in this application includes roads by authority, forests and points of
interest (POIs). Current conditions include wildfires, weather, and snowpack information (Table
2). The data was either downloaded from authoritative online sources or added directly to the
web map by linking to a published web service via URL. Initially sourced data, layers now also
include VGI sourced information that allows users to submit information regarding trail
conditions and safety.

32
Table 2. All Data
Name Category
Satellite (VIIRS) Thermal Hotspots and Fire
Activity
Dynamic Environmental
Events
AirNow Air Quality Monitoring Site Data Dynamic Environmental
Events
Live Stream Gauges Dynamic Environmental
Events
USA Weather Watches and Warnings Dynamic Environmental
Events
Mask Map Support
Mask Countries Map Support
Roads Network
Routes Network
User Routes Network
Police Stations Point of Interest
Ranger Stations Point of Interest
Medical Emergency Response Structures Point of Interest
Campgrounds (BLM and USFS) Point of Interest
Alternative Fuel Stations Point of Interest
USA Census Populated Place Areas Point of Interest
USA Parks Point of Interest
Recreation Structures (Campgrounds,
Trailheads, Cabins, Shelters, Picnic Areas,
Headquarters, Visitor Information, Ranger
Stations)
Point of Interest
USA Airports Point of Interest
3.3.1 Roads ITD
The Idaho Department of Transportation publishes a GIS dataset representing the
centerlines of all roads in Idaho. The original layer’s coordinate system is NAD 1983 Idaho
transverse Mercator using Meters. This layer contains 115,938 features as of October 29, 2023,

33
and is routinely maintained by Idaho Department of Transportation. This line layer has five
fields, Object ID, Shape, SegCode, BMP (Begin Mile Post) and EMP (End Mile Post). This layer
was used to show standard roadways managed by Idaho’s Department of Transportation in the
state of Idaho.
3.3.2 Roads USFS
The USFS publishes a comprehensive data set of managed roads within areas designated
as forest services. The original coordinate system is WGS 1984 Web Mercator (auxiliary
sphere). There are 169,597 segments located across the states. Each line segment contains fields
including route number, name, segment length, jurisdiction, status, operable maintenance level
(passenger vehicles, high clearance, etc..), surface type (gravel, native material, improved, etc.),
permitted use (truck, car, motorcycle) and dates open for each permitted use. This information
supports user query widgets by isolating the motorcycle use column and motorcycle dates open.
It is important to note that this USFS Roads layer contains some overlap between the Idaho
Department of Transportation Roads Layer.
3.3.3 Trails
The USFS publishes a data set that represents trail locations and characteristics on
ArcGIS Online. The line layer shows trail location and quality in USFS Areas across the United
States. The original coordinate system is NAD 1983. This dataset is updated at irregular
intervals. There are currently 24,887 segments in this dataset. Attributes include trail name and
number, surface, where and when users may be prohibited from using the segment.

34
3.3.4 Dynamic Environmental Events
Dynamic environmental events layers show the user fire information, stream depths, air
quality and emergent weather information. Dynamic environmental events assist in supporting
rider planning by providing insights into current conditions in the area. These layers are streamed
hosted via their authoritative sources that are updated frequently to allow the user to see the most
updated data possible. The service layers can be linked into a web map while reflecting updates
to the original source layer. The dynamic events are included to assist the rider in understanding
potential conditions they might encounter on the trail.
The Satellite (VIIRS) Thermal Hotspots and Fire Activity shows points where the VIIRS
sensor on the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellites have detected areas of thermal
activity in the previous seven days (see, e.g., Figure 9). This layer is hosted by Esri as a part of
the Living Atlas program and is managed by Esri live feeds. This layer was created on April 1,
2020, is updated every fifteen minutes using aggregated live feed methodology and points are
available in the service approximately three hours after initial detection.

35
Figure 9. VIIRS Thermal Hotspots
VIIRS is a radiometer device which travels on the Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellite.
The device measures land, atmosphere, cryosphere, and oceans in both visible and infrared bands
(Esri 2024). The thermal hotspots representing potential fire activity is a product of the VIIRS
imagery derived from NASA’s VNP14IMG_NRT active fire detection product. The layer
contains attributes including hours old, confidence and FRP which describes the radiative power
of the fire in megawatts. Due to the sensor sensitivity, false positive points may occur as the
sensor will produce a point for anything which has a thermal signature including volcanoes and
oil wells.
The AirNow Air Quality Monitoring Site Data (Current) is a point feature layer that
reflects the latest hour of air quality as monitored by stations which report to AirNow (EPA
2023) (Figure 10). This data was originally published on April 2, 2019, and is hosted by EPA’s
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. Data is updated at the end of every hour. The Air

36
Quality Index is focused on protecting human health and as such calculates the air quality based
on ground level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
AQI us scored based on levels of health concern and ranges from Good to Hazardous with colors
representing this range.
Figure 10. Air Quality Monitoring
The Live Stream Gauges layer shows current and past water depth trends at measurement
points. Forecasted water depths are provided when they are available (Esri 2021). This layer was
originally created January 22, 2021, and is a part of the Esri Living Atlas. This layer is managed
by Esri and is updated every hour. Current data contributors to the Live Stream Gauges layer
include United States Geological Survey, National Weather Service, several individual states,
and country datasets are also included. It should be noted that no Idaho state specific datasets are
included in the Live Stream Gauges layer; however, there are still many stream monitoring
locations located in Idaho (Figure 11). The stream standard symbology is a blue point; the point
adjusts to orange or red to highlight any streams which are currently flooding.

37
Figure 11. Stream Gauges Layer
The USA Weather Watches and Warnings is an Esri Living Atlas group layer. This data
is sourced from the National Weather Service and displays polygons showing official weather,
warnings, watches, and advisory information (Esri 2023). The layer is updated every five
minutes. This layer is composed of over 100 categories established by the National Weather
Service and include these categories include warnings for extreme wind, flash flood, fire
forecasts, shelter in place, law enforcement emergency and other warnings, advisories and
watches. Each of these categories is symbolized using assorted colors (Figure 12). An advisory
indicates a less serious event than a watch, while a warning is more serious than a watch.

38
Figure 12. USA Weather Watches and Warnings
3.3.5 Points of Interest
Points of interest are layers with less frequent update intervals. While these layers are still
streamed, they are less focused on delivering live feed information due to less frequently
changing data. These layers reflect contextual points such as such as police stations, ranger
stations, medical structures, recreation locations, airports and fuel stations.
The Police Stations is part of a group called Law Enforcement Structures which leverages
National Geospatial Data Assets to show points representing police stations as well as prisons
(Esri US Federal Data 2021). Published on June 29, 2021, by Esri US Federal Data, this layer is
checked weekly for updates. Only the police stations layer which was chosen to be included as
emergency services can be relevant to application users. In addition to the aforementioned layer,
the Medical Emergency Response Structures group layer was also created by Esri US Federal
Data using Nation Geospatial Data Asset data. This layer contains point locations for hospitals,

39
ambulance services and fire stations. This layer was also originally published on June 29, 2021,
(Esri US Federal Data 2021).
The Recreation Structures layer group contains multiple layers that were used in the
ROAMS web map. This group contains point layers showing campgrounds, trailheads, cabins,
shelters, picnic areas, headquarters, visitor information centers and ranger stations in the United
States (Esri US Federal Data 2021). This is published as a part of the Living Atlas by Esri US
Federal Data.
The USA Parks layer shows both national parks, state parks, forests, country, regional
and local parks (USA Parks 2014). The layer was created by Esri March 13, 2014. Parks in this
layer are represented by polygons. Airports were also included as a part of the application
context.
3.4 Data Processing
All initial data was processed in the ArcGIS Pro environment. ITD Roads, USFS Roads
and Trails layers were downloaded from online sources. Once downloaded they were clipped to
the Idaho State Boundary. To produce one layer which contains all sources, the layers were
merged. During this process, attributes were knitted to together to tailor the needs of Experience
Builder’s filtering criteria. Any attributes that were not used in future steps were removed to
streamline the product and minimize processing time. Once these steps were completed,
seasonality was calculated using the calculate field tool. Seasonality refers to months during
which the trails are open as per USFS fields. These attributes are calculated to allow
searchability in the Experience Builder application. The next calculation performed is the
difficulty field. The calculate difficulty field is performed to provide the user with context and
searchability related to the level of challenge they can expect for each segment.

40
Initial routes were developed by selecting individual segments, calculating a new field to
identify routes, copying those identified segments and merging those features based on the routes
field. Once the features are merged the maximum difficulty level and the minimum seasonality
are selected from each segment which composes the route. These steps are shown in the data
diagram in Error! Reference source not found..
Figure 13. Data Diagram
3.4.1 Clip and Merge
All data was clipped to the extent of the Idaho State Boundaries before any data
processing occurred. Clipping the data prior to any other processes limited the processing time
and storage associated with the storage of larger files. The USFS layers initially contained data
for the entire United States
ITD Roads, USFS Roads and USFS Trails were merged into one layer, maintaining
source information and fields. The merged layer was set to the Web Mercator projected
coordinate system for use with ArcGIS Online.
3.4.2 Calculate Seasonality
The USFS Trails layer contains information on seasonal trail open status by specific
vehicle type. For this application, the field Motorcycle (Open Date) needed to be used to create a

41
month open date in the application. Motorcycle (Open Date) is a text field with the open season
shown by the date open, a dash and date closed. As is, this format is incompatible with
Experience Builder’s query functionality. To circumvent this widget limitation, the season open
duration was re-coded into text string containing each month the season is open (Table 3). When
added to the merged layer fields this data allows the user to specify their month of travel using a
“Contains” the text filter on the Seasonal Code field.
Table 3. Calculate Seasonality Example
Road ID Motorcycle (Open Date) Month Open
Example 12345 01/01-12/31 January February March
April May June July August
September October
November December
Example 12346 6/01-8/31 June July August
3.4.3 Calculate Difficulty
Difficulty was calculated for each road segment. The maximum difficulty for each route
based on road segments was then calculated and used in the final product. Difficulty levels range
from 1 to 4 (Table 4). These difficulty levels were developed with background information in
mind; however, it should be noted that as client discussions commence difficulty levels will be
refined based on the specific audience of the client.

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Table 4. Calculated Difficulty
ROAMS Difficulty Level Description
1 Novice
2 Beginner
3 Intermediate
4 Advanced
Difficulty was based on three fields from the datasets: TRAILCLASS,
OPER_MAINT_LEVEL and Source. USFS Trails Trail Class fields describe the level of trail
development for each segment (United States Department of Agriculture n.d.). Trail Class 4 well
developed, wide trail that is smooth with a few irregularities. Trail Class 3 is single lane with
areas for passing, obstacles are not substantial. Trail Class 2 is a single lane which is narrow and
rough, developed with native materials and obstacles can be challenging. Trail Class 1 may
require route finding, and can include narrow passages, brush, steep grades, rocks, and logs.
The USFS Roads OPER_MAINT_LEVEL describes the level of maintenance that is
required for each segment (United States Department of Agriculture 2012). Maintenance level 5
is a double lane road with centerlines and edge markings, paved with stabilized shoulders (Figure
14). Maintenance level 4 must prove a moderate degree of comfort during normal season of use
for a standard passenger car. These roads are double lanes and may be paved or stabilized
aggregate surface. Maintenance level 3 roads are low speed, gravel surface, passable in a
passenger car and may have potholes or wash boarding. Maintenance level 2 roads are
maintained for use by high clearance vehicles. They have low traffic volume and often used for
dispersed recreation. Maintenance level 1 are roads that are prohibited for use. This marker is
often used for planned road deterioration. Standard roads sourced from Idaho Transportation

43
Department did not contain any conditions indication and were given a blanket value of 1-
Novice with the understanding that many of these roads are paved, maintained throughways.
Figure 14. Maintenance Level 5 USFS Road
To simplify the process of creating a merged route difficulty and create a foundation of
automation required for future application development the following script was developed for
use with the calculate field tool.
if ($feature.TRAILCLASS=='TC1 - MINIMALLY DEVELOPED'){
return 4;}
else if ($feature.TRAILCLASS=='TC2 - MODERATELY DEVELOPED'){
return 4;}
else if ($feature.TRAILCLASS=='TC3 - DEVELOPED'){
return 3;}
else if ($feature.TRAILCLASS=='TC4 - HIGHLY DEVELOPED'){
return 3;}
else if ($feature.OPER_MAINT_LEVEL=='2 - HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLES'){
return 2;}
else if ($feature.OPER_MAINT_LEVEL=='3 - SUITABLE FOR PASSENGER CARS'){
return 1;}
else if ($feature.OPER_MAINT_LEVEL=='4 - MODERATE DEGREE OF USER COMFORT'){
return 1;}
else if ($feature.OPER_MAINT_LEVEL=='5 - HIGH DEGREE OF USER COMFORT'){
return 1;}
else if ($feature.MERGE_SRC=='ITD_Roads'){
return 1;}

44
3.4.4 Initial Route Development
While future routes are intended to be developed by users, initial route development was
performed to provide a basis on which to develop the application. Routes were chosen based on
significant research on local adventure motorcycling forms and established rides. The route
segments were selected and the segments of which a part was noted in the route field. Some of
the segments contained more than one route indicator. The summarize tool was used to
summarize each route’s maximum difficulty, seasonality and sum of segment miles. Segments
indicating that they are part of routes were merged and the summarized information was joined
into the merged segments.
3.5 Application Development
This section provides a detailed account of the stages to application completion specific
to processes using ArcGIS Online’s Experience Builder tool. Once the initial process was
complete, the Routes layer was published to ArcGIS Online. In ArcGIS Online a web map was
developed. A web application built on the web map. When the application was complete, it was
deployed in a webpage hosted by GitHub. Considerations for accessibility and user experience
are detailed in the following sections.
3.5.1 Web Map
The ArcGIS Online environment seamlessly integrates with ArcGIS Pro; all data was
processed in ArcGIS Pro and published to ArcGIS Online (AGOL). Once published, the routes,
roads and editable routes layers were added to a web map in AGOL. The web map serves as the
foundation for the web mapping application. Esri’s topographic basemap, that shows cities,
water features, highways and administrative boundaries was used in the ROAMS web map. The
basemap prioritizes mountains and natural areas using shaded relief imagery and “green” space.

45
The basemap can provide coverage to 1:4 scale for much of the world. The basemap was chosen
for its visual simplicity that allows the roads and dynamic environmental events layers to take
visual precedent.
Dynamic environmental events layers help the rider visualize the kinds of conditions they
might be encountering. These dynamic events layers are streamed by linking to the originally
published items. This results in limited work needed immediately or as updates occur. Points of
interest layers were also linked into the web map. These layers help riders locate important
safety, lodging and infrastructure. Labels and symbols were changed to be consistent with styling
of the web map and to be more intuitive in the context of the ROAMS application.
3.5.2 User Submitted Route Form
To allow this application to grow with the user base, ROAMS is designed to accept and
share route submissions from riders. These submissions will go through a formalized quality
control process before they are integrated into the database.
A distinct layer was created to contain any user submissions. Attributes added were route
name, route difficulty, route length, notes, and source. ROAMS uses the Edit widget to allow
users to add routes (Figure 15). The user can create features by clicking and following the trail
and the tool will automatically snap to the trails layer to help assist the user with accuracy. Once
the user adds the route, they complete the information on the form, which was created to
streamline the process of route addition. The form requests the name, difficulty, notes, and
source of the route. The route length is automatically calculated and populated using an arcade
expression. Once the user has entered all the required information, they can select the Create
button which will create the new layer.

46
Figure 15. Create Features
3.5.3 Experience Builder
The ROAMS experience was built on the platform of the web map described in section
3.5.1 Web Map. Experience Builder is an Esri product which is accessed via ArcGIS Online
(Figure 16). The tool can be configured in countless ways to create objective specific
applications. The ROAMS application opens with a window disclaimer. This is particularly
critical as ROAMS is in the initial stages of development. Windows can be set to pop up any
time that the application is loaded or refreshed. The colors and styling used for the disclaimer are
consistent with the main page of the application. The title of the page contains the application
title, subtitle and three widgets to allow users to share, print maps or get directions. The
directions widget can only give directions to existing roadways, not trails.

47
Figure 16. ROAMS Web Application
The main page contains two primary parts: the map on the right and the list and
navigation on the left. The navigation utilizes three sections, which are Route, Add Route and
Explore. The route section is how the application opens. This shows a list of all the available
routes and a short description. The description shows the seasonal availability, route length,
difficult level, notes, and the source of the original route. When the user clicks on a list item the
map will zoom and highlight the selected route. The actions pop out shown as four circles can
allow the user to filter routes or export routes to CSV, JSON or GeoJSON.
The add route section allows the user to create new routes by using an edit tool. The edit
tool uses an editable layer called User Routes and allows the user to type in information
necessary to proceed to the quality control stage.

48
The explore section summarizes nearby points of interest. When the user zooms to a
route via the route or add route section, the results of the nearby widget show nearby VIIRS
hotspots (if any) and summarizes air quality (Figure 17). The user also has the option to explore
addition layers from this screen by turning them off or on.
Figure 17. Explore Section
3.5.4 Deployment
The ROAMS application was deployed in a GitHub web page. To embed the experience
in the page an iframe code was used. HTML iframes can be used to display a webpage in another
webpage, in this context we are displaying the ROAMS web application within the GitHub page
by including the web address in the source code. The image frame was set to 1025px width and
600px height, this is because the application was developed for this size. This limited the need to
reformat the application. The rest of the page was formatted based on HTML as a continuation of
an existing portfolio. This page was created to show the potential to include this web application
in other websites once a client relationship is established.

49
3.5.5 Accessibility and Interface
Development of the ROAMS application included considerations for ease of application
navigation, screen sizing, color palette, and other Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
(WCAG) Requirements. WCAG provides detailed guidelines to improve equality and inclusion
when it comes to web content (Henry 2023).
While some of these guidelines can be challenging to apply to web mapping applications,
these guidelines must be followed as closely as possible to allow for a higher diversity of users,
as well as to meet current regulations set forth by the business which adopts the application and
prepare for future regulations. Users must be able to navigate the application intuitively, quickly,
and receive the information they want. Navigation through the application pages were made
possible by using the Experience Builder section and navigation widgets. There are three
buttons, Route, Add Route, and Explore, which correspond to three different pages within the
application. Route is the main page; this page displays all the available routes and includes a
filter option. Add Route allows users to submit their own routes to the application. Explore
shows the user’s area of interest with layers that provide environmental and infrastructure related
layers. Users are required to access the application via a web browser from a phone, tablet or
computer with an active internet connection. This means the user will interact with the
application in one of two ways; by using a mouse and pointer or a touchscreen. The buttons were
developed to be large format to help the user accurately select the button that are aiming for.
Additional considerations were made for accessibility while wearing motorcycle riding
gloves. Many gloves now have touch screen capabilities; however, these gloves add bulk to the
finger which may result in some difficulty selecting the proper button. To accomplish this
objective ROAMS selected a large area in a prominent location on the top left of the application,
below the title to include the page navigation. The ROAMS application also considered not

50
placing additional buttons directly adjacent to the navigation buttons to avoid accidental
selections. WCAG also highlights the importance of clear and consistent navigation (Henry
2023). This means that websites should have consistent styling and position for navigation
buttons across the application. After building the Route page, subsequent pages were developed
using the Route page as the framework. This kept all buttons, styling, and placement as
consistent as possible.
Users are required to access the application via a web browser from a phone, tablet or
computer with an active internet connection. Experience Builder can be set up for three different
screen sizes. ROAMS is configured to be viewed on a computer screen (1280 x 800 pixels), a
tablet (834 x 1112 pixels), and a phone (360 x 720 pixels). For screen sizes that fall in between
these sizes, the application will automatically adjust to best fit the screen. Adjusting for
alternative screen sizes adds multiple layers of complexity. Esri’s auto-resize did an adequate job
showing the most valuable information; however, much of the stylized items including the
navigation pane was cut off and required readjustments. This means the application needs to be
recreated for each screen size setting.
The ROAMS color palette was developed for a high level of contrast while exuding a
sense of adventure and excitement. The ROAMS color palette contains primary color (Green –
2C4227), a secondary color (Red – A4243B), a secondary variant (Orange-D8973C), black, and
white. The primary, secondary, and tertiary variant colors all contain a higher grey value than
traditional reds or greens. This is intended to create a sense of cohesiveness and nostalgia. The
green represents forest and nature, the red and orange represent excitement. These colors were
assessed for accessibility considerations including color blindness using the Coolors web
application (Bianchi n.d.). This shows that there is sufficient contrast between the primary and

51
secondary colors to differentiate between them. Areas with more text, such as the list of routes,
are shown as black text with a white background to assist in distinguishing the information. The
color palette is the first thing a user will observe, and a poorly chosen palette can render the
application unusable. For the aforementioned reason, the color palette was designed carefully
with considerations to make the application accessible to as many people as possible. To increase
usership, the application needs to appeal to a diverse range of individuals so considerations for
accessibility are paramount. In addition, to appeal to users, the application also needs to consider
the potential future client who may be required to adhere to specific standards. Therefore, the
application needs to be built in a way that can support both current and future guidelines.

52
Chapter 4 Results
ROAMS aimed to assist adventure riders by uniting data that had previously been disjointed and
by highlighting information that is specific to a “good ride”. The application achieved these
results by showing and summarizing routes submitted by users (Figure 18). The application can
be accessed through GitHub at: https://advkat.github.io/Portfolio/Portfolio_ROAMS.html.
Figure 18. ROAMS Application
The ROAMS experience was built on the platform of the web map described above (see
section 3.5.1). Experience builder is an Esri product which is accessed via ArcGIS Online. The
tool can be configured in numerous ways to create specific applications to fulfill various
objectives. The ROAMS application opens with a window disclaimer. This is particularly critical
as ROAMS is in the initial stages of development. Windows can be set to pop up any time that
the application is loaded or refreshed. The colors and styling used for the disclaimer are
consistent with the main page of the application. The title of the page contains the application
title, subtitle, and three widgets to allow users to share, print maps or get directions. The
directions widget can only give directions to existing roadways, not trails.

53
Figure 18. ROAMS Web Application
The main page contains two primary parts: the map on the right and the list with
navigation on the left (Figure 18). The navigation utilizes three sections, which are Route, Add
Route, and Explore. The route section is how the application opens. This shows a list of all the
available routes and a short description. The description shows the seasonal availability, route
length, difficulty level, notes, and the source of the original route. When the user clicks on a list
item the map will zoom and highlight the selected route. The actions pop out shown as four
circles can allow the user to filter routes or export routes to CSV, JSON or GeoJSON.
The add route section allows the user to create new routes by using an edit tool. The edit
tool uses an editable layer called User Routes and allows the user to type in information
necessary to proceed to the quality control stage.

54
The explore section summarizes nearby points of interest. When the user zooms to a
route via the route or add route section, the results of the nearby widget show nearby VIIRS
hotspots (if any) and summarizes air quality (Figure 20). The user also has the option to explore
additional layers from this screen by turning them off or on.
Figure 19. Explore Section
4.1 User Requirements
While this document represents ROAMS’s initial stages of development, future work is
intended to expand and refine the product. ROAMS requirements to use the product are
computer or cellphone and an active connection to the internet. The need for internet connection
presents limitations for use in areas with little to no internet access, such as while out riding. This
product is intended to be marketed and published as an add on to a website with considerations
for future work to bring the application out of the browser and into an app store.

55
4.2 Routes and Criteria
Five initial routes were created to test the initial work of the application. These routes are
shown on the left of the application as a list widget (Figure 21).
Criteria identified in section 2.3.1 found the top reasons for motorcycle travel are
interaction with nature, achieving the flow state, community, and social drivers. Interaction with
nature was made possible in two ways; in allowing the ability to cross reference routes with the
parks layer and by lowering the barrier to entry to get off the beaten path by assisting with route
planning. Social drivers are supported by allowing users to share routes, publish their own
routes, and easily share all routes stored in the database. To achieve the flow state the rider must
experience a balance of skill and challenge. ROAMS allows the user to filter routes based on
difficulty level.
Figure 20. Filtering Routes

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4.3 User Submissions
The user can develop new rides by selecting the “+ Add Route” section button from the
main menu. The user traces their route, adds additional information, and can submit that route for
processing and inclusion into the application. Once complete the user selects the create route.
Quality assurance and quality control will be required for any user submitted feature, but
particularly routes. This is because these routes contain information which is critical to be
accurate. Information provided by users can contain their perception of the level of difficulty
which has the potential to be very subjective. For this reason, the difficulty will be cross
referenced based on methodology defined above (see section 3.4.3). In addition to difficulty
level, it is also critical to have the lines match to original trail lines. Current tools may not be
practical to expect a high level of accuracy in the route geometry when users are drawing routes
manually. When the route is included, the application maintenance technician will be responsible
for integrating accurate geometry, subsequently merging the quality-controlled user route into
the routes layer.
4.4 Filtering Routes
In ArcGIS Pro, the “Motorcycles (Dates Open)” text field from USGS contains a range of
dates. With the end goal of allowing the user to select their travel date, another text field was
added called MonthsOpen. The field was populated using the calculate tool and a selection of
items with the same date range. The names of each month contained within the open period were
added to the new column. It should be noted that some dates did not fall on the 1st or last day of
the month, so these months were not included. The Query widget utilizes the MonthsOpen field
using a contains statement and predefined values for each month of the year (Figure 19).

57
The Operational Maintenance Level allows the user to specify the type of terrain. USFS
provides this field based on the options “High Clearance Vehicles,” “Passenger Vehicles,” and
“Moderate Degree of User Comfort.” As this application advances more specific options will be
available based on additional fields such as Road Surface and Elevation. The application has
been developed to only show options that are allowable based on user input for the first clause.
Once the user has made these elections, they are able to either zoom to the extent or
select the extent using a point or polygon drawing tool and select their buffer distance. Once
these are applied the user can see, select, and export the results.
4.5 Dynamic Environmental Events
The Explore Section shows the user fire, stream depths, air quality, and emergent weather
information. As this section opens, a Near Me widget is embedded in this page to allow the user
to find items within the map view. The user can then navigate back to the list of routes by
selecting the Route section. The dynamic environmental events layers support riders to make
safer decisions about their route by providing real time context for their ride.
Fires are an ever-growing concern in many areas; this is of particular concern for heavily
forested, dry areas, like many locations in Idaho State. The VIIRS thermal hotspots fire activity
produces data approximately three hours after satellites detect the thermal area. While this
information may not assist an individual who is in an imminently dangerous situation, it can help
see where small fires may spread and become larger fires. This layer is also supported by the
USA Weather Watches and Warnings that contains a fire forecast warning which seeks to
provide red-flag information on areas which have high potential for fire activity. While a
physical fire can be an immediate, acute hazard to travelers, most often the hazard is the air
quality.

58
AirNow Air Quality Monitoring Site Data can be helpful to understand what the current
air quality is before leaving for a trip. Air quality can change quickly but can also be hazardous
even after the fire danger has passed. In addition to fire caused hazardous air quality, poor air
quality can also arise during cool seasons where wood stoves are common and during certain
wind conditions.
There are also specific conditions which can cause stream and river waters to rise; one of
these conditions is a high level of snowmelt. Some routes may contain water crossings. If a water
crossing is unmanageably deep this results in a dangerous situation for the rider. Getting an idea
of nearby streams that are flooded can help riders make decisions that prioritize their safety
based on understanding of current conditions.
As previously stated, while these conditions may change more quickly on the ground than
can be updated in real time, they can still help the user get an idea of what they might expect to
encounter on the trail. As the technology becomes more sophisticated the temporal accuracy will
increase. It is also likely that there will be additional data points for better spatial accuracy as
time goes on. The benefit of streaming these layers is that as updates occur, they will be
automatically updated in the application which saves resources for future development of the
application in other avenues.
4.6 Points of Interest
The points of interest layers show context that is updated less frequently than the
dynamic environmental events layers. The points of interest can be understood as emergency
services (Police Stations, Ranger Stations, and Medical Emergency Response Structures) and
recreation (Recreation Structures, USA Parks).

59
4.7 Accessibility and Interface
Mobile view provides a way for users to interact with the application from a small device
such as a cell phone or tablet. The Application was formatted for three size screens Mobile (360
x 720), tablet (843 x 1112), and desktop (1280 x 800). To access the application outside of the
web browser format, the website provides a link below the embedded application which directs
users to the application which can sense and resize the application appropriately.
4.8 Software and platform
Software leveraged was ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and GitHub. ArcGIS Pro and
ArcGIS Online were created to work in synchrony. Layers published online can be accessed both
in the online format or through the ArcGIS Pro software. The ROAMS application was
embedded in the GitHub page using HTML tags which allows a web page to be shown within
another page. This allows users to access the application when it is published in another page.
This is to allow a client to adopt the application and add ROAMS to their existing website.

60
Chapter 5 Discussion
The application successfully achieved the goals outlined in section 3.1. There were frequent
challenges that presented themselves during the development of this project. This chapter
enumerates those challenges and reviews areas where opportunities for future developments
remain. Challenges include inconsistent data updates, lack of resources for network
development, limitations on customization, and connectivity limitations. This section also
includes a comparison to OnX Offroad, which was developed during the same period in which
ROAMS was developed and shares similar goals as ROAMS.
At this point in the application there are no user submitted routes. All routes have been
pre-created as examples to show what routes will look like once users begin to make
submissions. As the user submits a route it will be manually added to the official routes layer.
This process has only been completed a few times so there may still be additional refining done
to the process. Additionally, there may be a point in the application where user submission
volumes increase, and the quality control process has financial or time limitations on keeping up
with the demand. In this case, future refinements will need to be completed in the form of python
scripting or ArcGIS Model Builder to automate the task.
Essential factors which make a good ride are identified as interaction with nature,
friendship, and adventure. These criteria were confirmed to be supported in the application.
These criteria can be seen in dynamic environmental events and points of interest layers.
Emergency services and dynamic environmental events assist the rider in planning a safe ride.
While most often these are not forecasting tools, these layers can still provide information for
rides which are planned soon. Point of interest layers show the user where emergency medical
services may be located which serves the safety criteria. The recreation layers show locations

61
where the user can camp, hike, or visit a park, this assists users to interact with nature, another
criteria identified as making a good ride. Social criteria can be fulfilled through sharing the rides
with others they plan to take a journey with or publishing their own ride.
User submissions allow for the user to include their own routes in the application. The
user submits these routes using ArcGIS Online Forms integrated into the Web Experience. While
this ultimately was successful, there is some potential for the quality control measure to become
too labor intensive to continue to process new route suggestions. This will need to be automated
in the future which poses a large challenge because of the human factor of entry.
Many of the route filtering functionality changed throughout the development of this
process. The final filtering method used the list widget to allow users to query their results. The
integrated tool is excellent for streamlining the look of the user interface, users may find the
filtering feature challenging to find or difficult to use (Figure 22).
ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online Experience Builder worked seamlessly together. In the
future development of this application there should be consideration for moving this to ArcGIS
Enterprise to allow for a higher level of widget customization. The ability to customize widgets
would allow ROAMS to carry a more distinctive style and polished user interface/user
experience.

62
Figure 21. Filtering Clause Set
5.1 Challenges and Opportunities
There were a significant number of challenges to the development of the ROAMS
application, including infrastructure limitations, and unplanned data inconsistencies. Initially the
work offered to build a network that could allow users to develop their own route, this
proposition was abandoned due to time and resource limitations. The work also proposed
development of custom widget which also was not possible under the current system.
Additionally, the datasets were changed during the development of the application which
required an overhaul of the systems originally in place. These types of issues should be expected
when building an application and can be accounted for with expertise with the systems along
with ample communication.

63
5.1.1 Data Updates
Data challenges to the development of ROAMS center on the idea of building
consistency in a frequently changing world. A critical trial to this data is that the three datasets
that represent roads (ITD Roads, USFS Roads, and USFS Trails) are updated irregularly.
Changes to these roads could be addition or removal of roads or adjustment of fields, such as the
dates the route is open or closed. The merged layer used as the basis of this application is a
standalone layer that does not have the capability update as the foundational layers change.
Adding functionality for regular updates would bring a new level of value to the product.
Development of this tool is currently in progress via the model builder application. Efforts were
made to develop a scripted model to perform the data update process; however, during testing a
field name was changed in the published USFS GIS, the model broke, required troubleshooting,
and needed repair. This led to delays in the republication of the dataset, as well as
reconsideration for the viability of the model. To create a product that is effective, we will need
to communicate with USFS GIS team to alert them to changes in the data structure to avoid
future issues. Additionally, the publication of new field names caused the need for a full update
of the application due to the field name dependent widgets. Inconsistencies in regularly updated
data is common. The solution to this is communication of these updates and planning flexibility
into the application.
5.1.2 Network Development
The ROAMS application was initially proposed to be a customizable network dataset;
however, with limited time this proved to be a concept that will need to be addressed in future
deployments. The application idea was originally conceived of with the intention of allowing
users to select distance, season, and develop a route based on a customized network. A network

64
dataset is a transportation model which can serve as a platform to solve connectivity scenarios.
These datasets can be used for many different types of transportation modeling such as bus, rail,
and road networks. Esri currently allows users to utilize their pre-made network dataset. This
service is not free to use and only contains drivable roads, not trails. To include trails a new
network dataset needed to be developed based on the data sourced for roads, forest service roads,
and forest service trails. The road segments proved to require significant human processing to
create a viable product. Manually linking all the connections and processing each roadway was
not possible in the limited time to develop this product. Future work should be completed to
begin reformatting the lines to achieve this need in the future. This concept is discussed in
greater detail in section 5.2 Comparison to OnX Offroad.
5.1.3 Widget Customization
By their nature, every service has limitations; offerings of the service have natural
borders which mean that which services are used must be carefully considered. Previously
published work determined that due to structural system limitations in USC web server creating
custom widget to show routes would not be possible at this time. Initially it was intended to
develop customized applications that appealed more to the target audience. Because the custom
widgets could only be created in ArcGIS Enterprise this option was no longer available. This
created a limitation by having to only rely on out-of-the-box widgets, using existing settings to
provide the best possible result for the user. While out-of-the-box widgets were able to satisfy
the ultimate goals of the project, the user interface could continue to be refined in the future
using custom widgets that allow for additional flexibility and improved user experience.
Specifically, the list widget which displays each route could have been improved upon by
allowing a filtering system that was more streamlined. A filtering system would add value to the

65
product by improving the ease of use and efficiency of the application, as well as upgrade the
overall look of the product. This step would be optimal after a client relationship was established
to fully incorporate the client style guidance.
5.1.4 Connectivity Limitations
There is a strong need here to improve the application to allow for additional
functionality while offline such as downloading the data for offline use or downloading the route
for use with a GPS device. In its current state, the application requires an internet connection.
Accessing the application with limited connectivity is not possible. If the user has already
navigated to the application layers showing current conditions will be unavailable or out of date.
The current events features were developed for riders to observe changes in their environment in
real time. This suggests riders will use this application while riding. In many areas with a surplus
of off-road opportunities there is limited cell service which interferes with the usability of the
application. This issue can be resolved by making an offline compatible version of the
application which would allow the user to save their map by printing or saving the image locally.
This solution poses several technical challenges which include consideration for any updates to
real-time environment information layers that are hosted by other organizations and streamed
into ROAMS which would not be updated. This solution also suggests that a static map is
adequate for users and does not provide an interactive system. A second solution would be to
improve interoperability between a GPS or other device and ROAMS. This would allow users to
send routes directly to their preferred offline device before they begin their journey. This
solution would be particularly beneficial if the application supported turn by turn directions in
the future.

66
5.2 Comparison to OnX Offroad
The OnX Offroad application identified a need in the market in parallel to the ROAMS
application. The newest feature, allowing for route planning, is being unveiled during the
development of the ROAMS application. OnX exemplifies the goals of the ROAMS application;
however, these features come at a cost to users. The OnX data development shows that a network
is possible given an extended timeline, additional financial, and personnel resources.
Potential criticisms of OnX Offroad include that difficulty ratings lack consistency. This
can be attributed to the ability of users to submit their own difficulty ratings. Difficulty ratings
can change based on skill level, vehicle type, capability, and environmental changes. Trail
difficulty ratings can be a challenge to pinpoint due to changing conditions, machine
performance, and personal preferences. While it doesn’t directly solve the issue, ROAMS
includes supplemental information such as river and creek level indicators and weather
conditions to help account for the challenge here. ROAMS also uses a standardized system of
rating based on trail maintenance levels, so the system is consistent in the level of maintenance
provided the data delivered by USFS is accurate and current.
In addition, ROAMS is specific to motorcycle travel, and while difficulty can still vary
significantly, there are specific factors that are related to traveling on two wheels rather than
four. While OnX offers several different vehicle types, they only show one rating. An easy route
for a jeep may be extremely difficult for a motorcycle. For instance, rocky surfaces may be much
more difficult on two wheels due to the balance which is needed to manage surfaces which are
moving as the vehicle travels over it. Likewise, some routes may be easier for a motorcycle
because a narrower footprint may mean that they can select a more optimal “line” or path of
travel through the obstacle.

67
5.3 Future Work
Future work for the ROAMS application can bring significant value to the application.
Two such examples of future work are formalized user group testing and the expansion of the
pilot area.
5.3.1 Formalized User Group Testing and Quality Control
ROAMS will benefit from both user interface testing and field data confirmation. User
interface testing would serve to find additional opportunities in the resulting application. The
focus groups will help determine if the user interface is effective and the application meets the
needs of the rider through a survey. Testing will consist of focus groups where participants will
be selected from a pool of adventure motorcyclists with consideration for a sample size which
includes a range of levels of experience. The participant will be asked to use the application and
then complete a survey that will be deployed using Google Forms. Published data will be field
verified on a ride-by-ride basis by local adventure riders after the commencement of this
document. The rider intent would be to confirm difficulty rating, include any additional
information on the route, and verify all locations are open and maintained.
5.3.2 Expansion of Pilot Area
As this idea is adopted by an interested party the area shall be expanded to the client’s
area of interest. The success of the pilot area showed it will be possible to expand the scale of the
application. Idaho proved to be an excellent opportunity to explore the scope of the application.
The main objectives have proved to be possible to meet with an application such as this. One of
the goals of the ROAMS application is to unite multiple agencies and jurisdictions which have
been disjoined by formalized boundaries. Allowing the ROAMS application, a wider geographic
range reinforces this notion. Additionally, a more expansive geography would allow for a greater

68
number of users to use the application. As the number of users grows the number of routes that
have been volunteered will also grow. This in turn will increase the impact of the application. It
should be noted that when expanding the application some areas may have very limited off-road.
States like California have far less routes available to off-road riders. Areas with more off-road
availability will be more influential on the application and these should be a higher priority when
planning expansion.

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References
A Tua Escola De Fora-De-Estrada. n.d. Classes of Terrains. https://bn-adv.com/pages/adventureroute-rating-system.
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1
Appendix A: Data Diagram

Abstract (if available)

Abstract Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle Mapping System (ROAMS) is a novel application created to facilitate motorcyclists’ enjoyment of nature, friends, and adventure. Currently there are limited route planning tools developed specifically for adventure motorcyclists. The developer of this application strives to apply relevant criteria and the needs of the emergent market of adventure motorcycling to this application. ROAMS is a web-based application which provides the ability to explore and locate user submitted routes that contain paved and unpaved roads and motorcycle permitted trails. Dynamic environmental events layers keep motorcyclists safe by identifying risks related to inclement weather, fire, and air quality. Points of interest such as camp sites, parks, and emergency services assist the rider in planning their experience. The application was designed to streamline the planning process and keep people safe by displaying which trails may be closed, what types of terrain may be encountered, and where weather events are occurring. In addition to enhancing the motorcyclist’s experience, the byproduct of this application protects the environment by keeping riders on designated trails, away from fragile ecosystems. All routes were developed in ArcGIS Pro to allow the user the ability to filter by difficulty or seasonal closures in the web-application. This application was created using ArcGIS Online’s Experience Builder and hosted in a GitHub page. ROAMS considers the motivations for motorcycle travel and incorporates these needs into a functional application; however, there is significant room for improvement in automation, data management, and interpolation. Future developments include the expansion of the pilot area, formalized user group testing, quality control, and network development.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Plank, Katherine (author)

Core Title Recreational Off-road Adventure Motorcycle mapping System (ROAMS): a web application facilitating adventure motorcycling in Idaho public lands

School College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Degree Master of Science

Degree Program Geographic Information Science and Technology

Degree Conferral Date 2024-08

Publication Date 06/25/2024

Defense Date 01/24/2024

Publisher Los Angeles, California (original), University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag motorcycle,OAI-PMH Harvest,Recreation,travel

Format theses (aat)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Sedano, Elizabeth Jane (committee chair), Swift, Jennifer (committee member), Vos, Robert (committee member)

Creator Email katherineplank@gmail.com,kplank@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-oUC1139970FN

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Legacy Identifier etd-PlankKathe-13140

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