Detailed condition survey
The following information is based on the condition survey methodology for National Trails developed by the Pennine Way Coordination Project and the Cleveland Way Project (unpublished notes).
The purpose of the survey is to provide baseline information on route surface and countryside furniture (walls, fences, stiles, bridges etc.). The survey provides the means for identifying management priorities for major restoration, alignment and maintenance programmes. The survey provides a picture of the state of the route, and identifies eroded and marginally eroded sites to allow prioritisation of work programmes. From it a database can be compiled for long term maintenance and management.
Routes are referenced by public right of way identification numbers, or grid references for start and finish points. Each survey entry is identified by a code, which is sequential from the start to finish points. Definitive routes, and walked lines not on the definitive route are noted. The survey information is referenced to 1:10,000 Ordnance Survey base maps, using GIS.
Survey details are divided into two main categories: ‘crossings’ and ‘surface condition’.
A crossing is any boundary crossed by an item of countryside furniture, including walls, hedges, fences, ditches and streams, crossed by gates, stiles, fords, stepping stones, bridges, culverts and boardwalks. The location, type and condition of each boundary and crossing is noted, using a coding system.
To record surface condition, the path is divided into sections of fairly uniform nature with similar surface features. This type of division was found to be more useful for management purposes than using an artificial dividing line such as a boundary. A change in section occurs when there is a change in soil type, terrain, amount of surface damage, where the gradient alters by more than 15 degrees up or down, where there is an obstruction, or the route divides. Information recorded for each section includes land use and terrain, soil, drainage, habitat type, gradient across and along the line of the route, unlawful obstructions and causes of surface damage. A surface class is recorded which includes a measure of overall path width, bare width, depth of soil loss and braiding (parallel path development). Types of man-made surface are recorded. Photographs are taken as required, indexed to a numbered flip pad which is included in the photograph.
The survey is designed to be standardised and objective, so that in theory two different surveyors should produce the same data. The surveyors themselves are only involved with recording what they find, and not in recommending what may or may not need to be done to maintain or improve the path. Surveyors require diligence and stamina, plus the ability to carry about 20 items of survey equipment, including a measuring wheel, camera, depth probe for soil, hand-held computer and mobile phone. For safety reasons, upland routes should be surveyed by a two person team.
General condition survey
The Countryside Commission has undertaken two condition surveys of rights of way in England, in 1988 and 1994. These were done to provide a national picture of the condition, usability and availability of rights of way, and to assess progress towards the National Target of having all rights of way in England legally defined, properly maintained and well publicised by the year 2000.
The surveys were carried out on a sample basis by local volunteers, based on a 5 x 5 km square for walkers, and a 5 x 10 km rectangle for cyclists, riders and other users. The survey technique involved recording the condition of all paths in the sample area. For the purposes of recording, the path network was divided into ‘links’, each link being the length of path between junctions with another path or road. The survey details were recorded in two main categories: ‘crossings’ and ‘hazards/obstacles’.
For each link, details were recorded of the condition of crossings including gates, bridges, steps and stiles, which were classified as either ‘satisfactory’, ‘needs attention’ or ‘unusable’. Hazards or obstacles such as fences, fallen trees, overhanging and overgrown vegetation, crops, mud and erosion were recorded as either making the path ‘inconvenient’ or ‘unusable’. Details of signposting at link junctions, and of waymarking along its length were also recorded. All details were recorded on a standard form. For full details see ‘Rights of Way Condition Survey’ (Countryside Commission, 1993).
Surface condition survey
In upland areas of mountain and moorland, where boundaries are few, the ‘crossings’ category as used in general surveys may not be needed. The condition of the surface and its surrounds are the main concern. Pathcraft Ltd., based in Scotland, use a survey method which includes details of gradient across and along the path, a measure of path roughness, a description of the path surface, surrounding vegetation and soil type. Drainage and erosion is recorded by amount of path scour, presence of puddles, braiding, bare width and damaged width. Recording is done in sections along the path, with each section being given a priority rating and management prescription. See below for further details.
Visitor monitoring
Visitor surveys and monitoring have been widely used in recreation management to gather information about the use of recreation sites. Simple counts of numbers of people using a path can be made, with other details such as size of groups, direction of travel, time of day and so on. Counts of cars may also be useful. Questionnaire surveys can be used to gather more detailed information about types of visitor, the distance they have travelled to the site, their use of it, and their views and attitudes on relevant issues. This type of information is very helpful in making management decisions about planning, resource allocation, staffing and other matters relating to countryside management.
Automatic people and traffic counting devices have become very sophisticated over recent years. People counters use a range of technologies including electro-magnetic fields, acoustic beams, passive infra-red sensors, micro-switches and micro-chip technology. Acoustic sensors or infra-red beams are housed in a metal box or post near the path, and record the number of passes and the time of day. Data can be printed out, or downloaded direct into a computer. Power sources include solar panels for remote sites. These type of counters will always produce estimates rather than true figures, because people walking side by side or back and forth across the survey line will produce inaccuracies. Other sensors or mechanical devices can be fitted to stiles and gates.
Detailed information on people and traffic counters and questionnaire surveys is contained in the publication ‘Visitor Monitoring Training Manual’, published by Scottish Natural Heritage. SNH also publish a Visitor Monitoring Equipment Inventory, and are able to offer training and advice.
For path planning work on individual sites, there is still much to be learnt by simple observation of the way people use paths.
