Navigation and the environment: Understanding the interaction between human navigation behaviour and terrain through Agent-Based Modelling in the wilderness
Principal investigators:
Krystal Dacey, PhD Candidate, Doctor of Philosophy, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, kdacey.sar@gmail.com, 0417 456 627
A/Prof Rachel Whitsed, PhD Supervisor, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Science and Health, Charles Sturt University, rwhited@csu.edu.au, 02 6051 9641
Dr Prue Gonzalez, PhD Co-supervisor, Sub-Dean, Learning and Teaching and Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management, Charles Sturt University, pgonzalez@csu.edu.au, 02 6582 9407
Overview:
Human navigation is linked to the terrain through which a person is navigating, particularly in a wilderness environment. This project aims to explore this theory by looking at how and where people move in the wilderness by combining human navigation behaviour and environmental data into a spatial model. The model will attempt to understand the interaction between human behaviour and the environment to predict the movement of humans in the wilderness for use in search and rescue, emergency management and protected area management.
You are invited to participate in a research project which will use spatial modelling to determine the most likely areas that a person might travel to based on the environment and their behaviour. Your experiences in the Australian wilderness will provide insight and behavioural information to better inform the model and assist in obtaining accurate movement data.
Before you decide whether or not you wish to participate in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully.
What is the purpose of the study?
The main objective of this research is to develop an agent-based model that will be able to predict aggregated human navigation behaviour in order to examine the interaction between human navigation and the environment. This model needs to take into account information such as terrain, geographic features, decision-making, goal setting and human navigation behaviour.
Why have I been invited to participate in this study?
To develop an accurate model that can effectively estimate the possible movement of humans in the wilderness, the navigational and decision-making behaviours of people are essential inputs. Gaining insight into local experience is important to give depth to the model and determine the appropriate input as well as ensure the accuracy of the output through validation. As a person over 18 years of age who is willing to spend time in the wilderness and record a journey to a particular point and back using a GPS device, your thoughts and experience are a valuable resource to provide additional insight.
What does this study involve?
If you agree to participate, you must first read this information sheet. By agreeing to participate in this project you are agreeing to travel to a specific location (either Namadgi National Park in the ACT, Noosa National Park in Qld, Kosciuszko National Park in NSW or Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park in Vic) at a particular time and date most suitable to yourself and agreed with the researchers to complete an approximately 7-kilometre walk to a predetermined location and back (approximately 3.5km each way) carrying a GPS tracker.
By clicking on the Start Questionnaire button you are consenting to complete a short questionnaire, including demographic information, a set of questions to determine your sense of direction and some questions about your wilderness experience. You will then be invited to select a location and time frame to participate in the GPS tracking event. Prior to the event you will receive a second short questionnaire asking about your plans and intended route for the walk within the event. You will then meet researchers at the event location at the predetermined date and time to participate in the walk. Following arrival back at the meeting point, the researchers will ask a few short questions and retrieve your GPS device to export your track data for analysis.
You are welcome to bring others along for your walk, however, if you have registered for the event you will be the individual carrying the GPS device, and we encourage you to make the navigation decisions on behalf of the group to ensure the navigation behaviour matches the demographic information from your questionnaires.
Are there any risks and benefits to me taking part in this study?
There are no foreseeable risks in participating in the initial questionnaire, however, if you are feeling uncomfortable or change your mind about participating, you can discontinue the questionnaire at any time.
Participation in the event does come with risks that are involved in all outings in the wilderness. Participants will be provided with GPS trackers with inbuilt satellite communication, and a full safety briefing will occur prior to departure at the event. GPS trackers will not be monitored during the outing, but can be used to locate you in case of an emergency. Water, insect repellent and sunscreen will be provided at the meeting point and researchers encourage the wearing of safe, enclosed walking shoes and sun-smart clothing, including hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants. Following the return from the walk, water, tea, coffee and morning/afternoon tea will be provided to participants. There are no immediate benefits of you taking part in this study, but the results will help develop a model to predict human movement in the wilderness, which has benefits for use in search and rescue, emergency management and protected area management. If you're unsure of your health status, have multiple health problems or are pregnant, speak with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.
Will taking part in this study cost me anything, and will I be paid?
It is estimated that the two questionnaires involved in the study will take approximately 10- 15 minutes of your time each. It is anticipated that the day of the event will involve 2-3 hours of your time. Attending the event will be at your own cost, and you will not be paid to attend. The GPS device with satellite communication will be provided to you to use during the walk and must be returned upon arrival back to the meeting point. Sunscreen, water, tea, coffee and morning/afternoon tea will be provided to participants. At the conclusion of the data collection period (end of October 2023), four of the GPS trackers used for the project will be raffled off to participants. All participants names will be added to the draw, and the first four names drawn out will receive one of the trackers. Winners will be notified by email, and a postal address will be requested.
What if I don’t want to take part in this study?
Participation in this research is entirely your choice. Only those people who give their informed consent will be included in the project. Whether or not you decide to participate is your decision and will not disadvantage you. You can stop the initial questionnaire at any time by closing the form. Also, you can withdraw from the project at any time before the event, by contacting the researchers and do not have to give a reason.
How will my confidentiality be protected?
The only identifiable participant data collected will be your name and email address, which will be used to match all the data you provide during the collection period (February 2023 – October 2023). Once the data collection period has finished, your name and email will be removed from the dataset and replaced with a unique ID. This unique ID will represent your questionnaire details and GPS tracks. No person will be individually identified in publications arising from this research.
What will happen to the information I give you?
Deidentified questionnaire and GPS information will be stored digitally on the researchers’ password-protected computers for a minimum of 5 years after the conclusion of the project. If you choose to exit the study, please let the researchers know if you would prefer your data is not stored. Data collected may be used in future research projects however no participant data will be individually identified in any publications arising from this data. Names and email addresses will be stored separately from any data collected from the questionnaire.
What should I do if I want to discuss this study further before I decide?
If you would like further information, please contact Krystal Dacey, kdacey@csu.edu.au
Who should I contact if I have concerns about the conduct of this study?
Charles Sturt University’s Human Research Ethics Committee has approved this project (Protocol: H22411). If you have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this project, you may contact the Governance Officer on (02) 6933 4213 or ethics@csu.edu.au. Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be informed of the outcome.
What do I do next?
If you wish to participate, please agree to the informed consent and complete a short questionnaire asking questions about you and your experience in the wilderness here. If you know of anyone else who could help with providing their experiences, please share the questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/4vjjfCYBC8jtMcgZA
THANK YOU!