Applied Trails Research partnered with Trail Dynamics to conduct a trail assessment of the eleven mile Beasley Knob OHV trail system in North Georgia. The trail system is on USFS lands adjacent to the town of Blairsville, GA.
Working with volunteers and USFS staff, we implemented a TRACS survey of the trails on Beasley Knob; The TRACS system is the USFS standard method for inventorying and assessing trails. TRACS data were collected using sub-meter accuracy GPS units and delivered to the USFS in spatial datasets which met their requirements for accuracy and FGDC metadata. Due to problems with field assessment of trail grade LiDAR derived terrain models were used to assess trail grade in the GIS environment. This data was used in conjunction with a solutions based assessment (implemented by Trail Dynamics) of the trail system to provide guidance and recommendations for trail system management. Applied Trails Research provided further support to Trail Dynamics with the creation of maps and figures to be included in the final assessment document.
The Beasley Knob Map provides an overview of this trail system, and shows some of the detail of LiDAR derived terrain models. Trails have been classed by their TRACS-assessed trail grade calculated using the LiDAR terrain model.
Beasley Knob was also rendered as a 3D model for visualization. See the interactive 3D model by downloading it, or the static version shown above.