The National Park Service (NPS) is piloting an innovative trail condition assessment and mapping methodology.
Using electric bicycles (eBikes) equipped with a camera and sensor system, the ‘Trailblazer’ eBikes efficiently collect high-quality, objective trail condition data. The system captures photographic, accelerometer and annotative data, which is mapped and organized in a geodatabase, and used to inform trail maintenance and management decisions.
Beyond NPS trails, the Trailblazer eBikes present a cost-effective and easily transferable methodology for other federal, state and local organizations to assess the condition of their trail networks.