RBSim - Geographic simulation of wilderness recreation behavior

Simulation techniques are used to explore the complex spatial interactions between recreationists and their environment as a way to improve wildland r ecreation management. The Recreation Behavior Simulator (RBSim) uses rule-d riven autonomous agents as surrogates for human visitors coupled with geogr aphic information systems to represent the environment for dynamically simu lating recreation behavior. Behavioral rules are derived from visitor surve ys conducted in Broken Arrow Canyon, Sedona, Arizona. Model runs allow both statistical and spatial analysis to quantify and explore recreationists' m ovement patterns, encounters, and the influence of management actions on vi sitor use levels.