Recommendation system to determine suitable and viable hiking routes: a prototype application in Sierra de las Nieves Nature Reserve (southern Spain)

Jesús Vías (), José Rolland, María Luisa Gómez, Carmen Ocaña and Ana Luque
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Jesús Vías: Málaga University
José Rolland: Málaga University
María Luisa Gómez: Málaga University
Carmen Ocaña: Málaga University
Ana Luque: Málaga University

Journal of Geographical Systems, 2018, vol. 20, issue 3, No 4, 275-294

Abstract: Abstract This paper describes a system for recommending hiking routes to help manage hiking activities in a protected area. The system proposes various routes, based on five criteria that maximize some aspects of hikers’ requirements (by analyzing the viability and difficulty of the trails) and also those of protected areas managers (by proposals to relieve congestion in areas already used for hiking and to promote awareness of new ones, as a contribution to environmental education). The recommendation system uses network analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis and geographic information system by free software tools: PgRouting, PostgreSQL and PostGIS. This system has been tested in Sierra de las Nieves Nature Reserve (Andalusia, Spain). Of the 182 routes obtained by the system, 62 (34%) are considered viable for hikers in Sierra de las Nieves, taking into account the type of user most likely to visit this protected area. Most routes have a high difficulty level, which is coherent with the mountainous character of the protected area.

Keywords: Recommendation system; PostgreSQL; PgRouting; PostGIS; A* algorithm; Hiking; Routes; Network analysis; Multi-criteria decision analysis; GIS; Recreation; Tourism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s10109-018-0271-8

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