SEM Visitor Survey Process Visualization

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

The SEM Visitor Survey positions the NPS to better understand socioeconomic trends over time at a national scale. The Visitor Survey is designed to provide managers of the NPS with social science research, which will include data collection at a minimum of 24 NPS parks of varying types and sizes annually. This will result in visitor use data that can be aggregated across the agency to produce representative systemwide estimates annually, a first for the NPS.

How does a park get selected?

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

What we do before data collection

On-site process

What parks get after the survey

Multiple reports will be produced from this effort. Parks will be provided with a custom report that summarizes survey information provided by their park visitors. A national report will summarize data across the country and by region. Each year a wider trend analysis will provide up-to-date information about NPS visitors.

Data dashboard

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

Summary

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