Glacier National Park in Montana sees over 2,000,000 visitors every year. Search & Rescue operations must be properly informed to ensure the safety of visitors taking advantage of Park’s recreational activities or scientists/glaciologists performing studies. Two maps will demonstrate which areas of the park each station should attend to and which areas are most/least accessible. The third map will apply specifically to glacial rescues and will identify the most efficient route of travel. These will be calculated utilizing weighted factors of Slope, Vegetation, and Road Type.

1. BACKGROUND
CONCLUSIONS
OUTPUT
Value Speed on Foot (km/hr) Friction (meters/minute)
0 – 5% 1.8 0.03333
6 – 10% 1.5 0.04
11 – 20% 0.9 0.06666
21 – 55% 0.3 0.2
55 – 60% 0.1 0.6
>60% No Access No Access
WEIGHTED ACCESSIBILITY FACTORS
When analyzing efficient search and rescue routes, pure distance
measurements are of little value. This analysis measured weighted
distance, also known as effective distance or cost distance, which we
measure in friction units. Effective distance takes into account variables
which hinder a ranger’s ability to reach a particular location. These
friction factors are listed below.
Table I: Slope
Type Speed on Foot (km/hr) Friction (meters/min)
Forest & Woodlands 0.9 0.0666
Shrubland & Grassland 1.5 0.04
Polar & High Montane Vegetation 1.1 0.545
Non-Vegetated Land (non-NVC) 1.8 0.0333
Nonvascular or Sparse Vascular Vegetation 1.6 0.0375
Agricultural Vegetation 1.3 0.0461
Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland 1.4 0.0428
Table II: Vegetation
Table III: Roads
Type Speed on Foot (km/hr) Friction (meters/minute)
Paved 50 0.0012
Unpaved 25 0.0024
This map illustrates the recommended coverage areas for the
Bowman and Two Medicine Search & Rescue Headquarters
(stations).
This map illustrates the accessibility costs from the Headquarters to
all areas of the park. Increasing cost corresponds with increasing
barriers to access/travel.
Cost Allocation Cost Distance
This map illustrates the travel paths from the
Search & Rescue Headquarters to each glacier.
Roads are divided into Paved and Unpaved to
account for differing friction units. Foot path
costs have been calculated using the weighted
accessibility factors of Slope and Vegetation.
Increasing cost corresponds with increasing
barriers to access/travel.
Cost Path
Glacier National Park in Montana sees over 2,000,000 visitors
every year. Search & Rescue operations must be properly
informed to ensure the safety of visitors taking advantage of
Park’s recreational activities or scientists/glaciologists
performing studies. Two maps will demonstrate which areas
of the park each station should attend to and which areas are
most/least accessible. The third map will apply specifically to
glacial rescues and will identify the most efficient route of
travel. These will be calculated utilizing weighted factors of
Slope, Vegetation, and Road Type.
Search & Rescue Resource Allocation
Analyzing the spatial characteristics of Search & Rescue Headquarters in Glacier National Park,
Montana and determining the most efficient spatial operation framework based on accessibility
factors
**Absolute Barriers such as Lakes, High Order Streams, and Slopes >60% were given values of NoData
**Data Source: National Park Service Data Store; Maps compiled by Michael Kelly
This analysis can be utilized by decision-makers in the Search &
Rescue Division of Glacier National Park. The following
information can be disseminated:
• The Cost Allocation analysis shows that the Bowman
headquarters should respond to the majority of the park –
including most glaciers.
• The Cost Distance analysis shows that glaciers often
represent High Cost areas, leaving scientists and hikers
vulnerable in case of injury. Any tourist simply looking to see
a glacier should be advised to visit those characterized by
low cost.
• The Cost Path Analysis should be considered when
determining rescue/travel routes to glaciers. Decision-
makers would benefit from strategizing a network of routes
based on this analysis to ensure maximum safety for visiting
scientists/glaciologists.
METHODS
This analysis utilized the Cost Distance, Cost Allocation, Cost Path,
and Backlink tools. The following steps summarize the basic
methodology:
• Incorporate friction units into Slope, Vegetation, Road Type,
Lakes, and High Order Streams.
• Combine Slope & Vegetation layers.
• Incorporate the absolute barriers (lakes, high order streams,
slopes >60%).
• Incorporate the Roads layer to produce a Total Friction layer
• Use Total Friction layer as the input in Cost Distance and Cost
Allocation analysis.
• Use Cost Distance layer as input in Cost Path analysis.
This map shows the coverage areas calculated purely by
distance. The stark difference between this Euclidean
distance calculation and Cost Distance illustrates the
importance of the friction variables. (Above)