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Using Public Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) to Explore Uses and Values for Mojave Trails National Monument, California

Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5037
Land Management Research Program
Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management
By: , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255037

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Abstract

Many people ascribe a variety of values to public lands and waters, but some values are more difficult to assess and quantify than others. Public participatory geographic information systems (PPGIS) are tools that have been used to help quantify and map the public’s diverse values for a landscape. This work describes the first known Office of Management and Budget–approved use of PPGIS by a Department of the Interior bureau. The U.S. Geological Survey developed an internet-based application to aid in gathering PPGIS data, called Values Mapping for Planning in Regional Ecosystems (VaMPIRE). Further, this work describes the first pilot of the VaMPIRE application in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management to collect spatial data and other survey data regarding the public’s uses of and values for locations within Mojave Trails National Monument. We emailed the link to the VaMPIRE application to an interested party email list in 2024 with 207 valid emails and received 74 responses; we also received 47 responses from members of an off-roading social media group. Of the list of 16 value options, recreation was the most popular value for the monument, followed by wilderness and inspirational. Over 1,000 points were placed throughout the monument, indicating locations people use or value, with the locations spread throughout the entire monument. Additionally, most survey respondents stated their ability to receive benefits in locations they mapped would not change in response to a hypothetical scenario related to recreational facility development. This report describes exploratory results from the first use of the VaMPIRE tool in Mojave Trails National Monument and includes reflections on how the process went and considerations for future use of VaMPIRE.

Suggested Citation

Wilkins, E.J., Lindley, S.M., Rogers, K., Schuster, R., Hannon, M.T., Rowland, P.T., and Runnels, M.J., 2025, Using public participatory geographic information systems (PPGIS) to explore uses and values for Mojave Trails National Monument, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2025–5037, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255037.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. The Survey Instrument
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Using public participatory geographic information systems (PPGIS) to explore uses and values for Mojave Trails National Monument, California
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2025-5037
DOI 10.3133/sir20255037
Publication Date June 26, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston VA
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description Report: vi, 27 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Mojave Trails National Monument
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details