Economic Impact Analysis

Data science-powered visitation and economic impact analysis

Radbridge leverages advanced methodologies including machine learning, geospatial analysis, and mobile location data to quantify economic impacts of outdoor recreation, restoration projects, and infrastructure investments.

We combine cutting-edge data science with traditional economic analysis to provide comprehensive assessments that capture both market and non-market benefits. Our innovative approaches overcome challenges of sparse visitation data by integrating mobile location analytics with observed data and robust economic modeling.

Our methodologies provide a defensible analysis that aim to incorporate the latest advances in spatial analytics and machine learning. We also quantify non-market benefits including consumer surplus, healthcare cost reductions, and ecosystem services alongside traditional economic multiplier effects.

Our Approach

Data Science & Analytics

  • Mobile & sensor-based visitation capture: Acquire and clean anonymized mobile-location, trail counter, and other sensor feeds
  • Geospatial data fusion & processing: Integrate land-manager boundaries, trail networks, amenities, and environmental layers
  • Machine-learning demand modeling: Use ML algorithms to fill data gaps, predict visit counts, and create time-series forecasts
  • Visitor segmentation & trip profiling: Classify visits as local vs. non-local, attach trip distance, dwell time, and activity type
  • Statistical QA/QC & validation: Apply cross-validation, hold-out testing, and benchmark comparisons for defensible estimates

Economic Impact Assessment

  • Visitor-spending research & profiling: Triangulate literature-based benchmarks, custom surveys, and credit-card data for robust spend profiles
  • Regional input-output modeling (IMPLAN / RIMS II): Convert direct spending into jobs, labor income, GDP/value-added, and supply-chain effects
  • Fiscal impact analysis: Estimate state & local tax revenues plus potential infrastructure cost offsets for budget officers
  • Non-market valuation & health/ecosystem benefits: Measure consumer surplus, avoided healthcare costs, and ecosystem-service values
  • Interactive dashboards & data-visualization: Deliver web-based dashboards and presentation-ready graphics for scenario exploration

Application Areas

Outdoor Recreation

Local, state, and national parks & trails, adventure parks, and whitewater parks

Restoration Projects

Watershed restoration, habitat enhancement, green infrastructure investments

Infrastructure Investments

Transportation, utilities, community facilities, resilience projects