Final project for PLS 431 class

1. Ziplining Management
Elliott Lagendyk
Harold Sowards II
PLS 431

2. LAC to be examined
• Group size limits
• How many years until the zip line must be repaired or replaced
• How many years until the poles must be replaced or repaired
• Animals removed from the area due to displacement
• Damage done to trees
• Damage to rock formations

3. Primitive Class
• Example: Home made zip lines
• Length of line: Max. 150 ft.
• 0 Lightning Poles
• 0 Guides
• Also, no ecological improvements done

4. Primitive: LAC
• Group size limit: This would be about how many people you have coming
over to your house at any one time : Noise ordinances and city party
ordinance would dictate this as well
• Line repair: This would depend on how fast you break the line you are
using
• Pole repair: Homemade zip lines require no poles, just the zip line itself
• Animals removed from area: 0, if you do it in your backyard. More if you do
it in an area near your house, but not that high.
• Damage to trees: The zip lines anchors are placed at the ends of two trees
and could snap and rip off the bark of the trees if the weight limit of the
line is reached.
• Damage to rock formations: This would depend if you decide to place the
anchors in a solid area or not. Could involve cracking in the rock faces.

5. How to manage Primitive
• Deal with the ordinances that a city allows, try to monitor the amount
of people that use it and the weight of each user because the lines
used for these aren’t as reinforced as other areas.
• Minimal damage to Natural resources

6. Semi-Primitive
• More commercial areas
• Length of line: 200 and up
• Lightning Poles: Yes
• Guides: 1 per group of 10

7. Semi Primitive : LAC
• Group size limits: Depends on the size of the area, usually the most that a
group can have is 15
• Line repair: 25 years
• Pole replaced: Only once they start to get weathered or bowed due to the
weather or extended usage
• Animals removed or displaced: Lots of them would probably be displaced,
because these are meant to be used for cash
• Damage to trees: The poles themselves are cut down from trees, also they
usually place towers ontop of the trees and thus have to cut out parts of
the tree to allow access
• Damage to rocks: Anchors are placed inside rock formations if need be, but
only in areas of high use

8. How to manage Semi-Primitive
• Require groups to reserve their place so that there isn’t compacted usage
at one point in time allowing each line to rest and the trees themselves to
have a break
• Make sure to maintain each tower so the maintenance cost isn’t so high
• I would allow hot air balloon access to get to the top of the zip lines for
repairs
• Natural resource damage depends on the number of lines present and the
length of the line and how each indicator is properly managed

9. Rural
• More commercialized zip lines
• These could be seen as the eco tours as well
• Length: 300 and up
• Lightning Poles: Yes, around each of the towers or maintenance areas
• Guides: 1 per group of 10, usually paid and have to go through all
regulations and training requirements

10. Rural: LAC
• Group size limits: 15 at most
• Line repair: 25 years, because steel piping is required
• Poles: Must be placed in inaccessible locations
• Animals removed: Usually, ecotours try to bring about the awareness
and appreciation of the forest canopy ecology and thus don’t displace
animals, however, sometimes animals are scared off by humans
• Damage to trees: 0, usually stuck inside rock formation
• Damage to rocks: Rock bolts are used and are placed 24 inches down
into the rock to allow the most concentrated impact in the center of
the formation

11. How to manage: Rural
• Observation posts and transportation routes have to be dispersed throughout the length
of the zip line so impact is dispersed evenly along with the lightning poles
• Poles and towers are usually applied to the middle of a scenic landscape
• Execute digging well to avoid as much impact as possible
• Maximize backfilling efforts to avoid damaging soil quality
• Use steel pipes to ensure the longest lasting life of the zip lines
• Deliver all resources using people or donkeys to avoid damaging the ecosystem
• Using the rock formations as anchors protect the flora of the area from being disturbed
and destroyed
• Natural resource damage: Slim, due to the fact that most of these zip lines try and
promote the environment and minimize all impacts, but there is some that are going to
happen regardless

12. Urban
• Commercial zip lines that are usually part of a larger resort
• Length: 500 feet and higher
• Lightning poles: Yes, to avoid lawsuits and maximize insurance policies
• Guides: Required for all tours and groups, usually up to 2 guides per
group
• Other activities can be include other than just zip lining

13. Urban: LAC
• Group size limit: 15 for safety
• Line repairs: 25 years
• Pole repairs: When necessary
• Animals removed: Since these are part of bigger resorts, probably massive amounts of
animals are displaced due to the construction and constant human interactions along
with parking lots and road accesses
• Damage to trees: Depending on the length of the line, two trees are damaged per
suspension bridge, anchoring damages more if used in trees, additional damage if rope
ascension devices are used and are also damaged if more towers are present
• Also there is usually aerial trams and gondolas present as well to get you to and from the
starting and ending points which provide more damage to the environment
• Rock damage: Depends on the length of the line, but rock damage is significant
depending on the amount of impact and development occurs in the area

14. How to manage: Urban
• Require reservations and waivers for all participants, so that insurance and
lawsuit problems are solved
• Try and make the line as short as possible while making it exciting, so that
damage is limited :unrealistic, because usually they want to make it longer
so that more people can go at one time and multiple groups can be on a
single line at different towers
• Try and manage the other activities that are present in the area so that all
conflicting uses aren’t in the same area
• Natural resource damage is the highest in this area, due to this being only
focused on getting money and providing thrill instead of preserving the
environment

16. References
• http://www.zipkokanee.com/blog/2015/6-features-every-great-zipline-should-have/
• http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/25/travel/worlds-coolest-zip-lines/
• http://www.captainzipline.com/about-us/zipline-design-and-construction.html
• http://www.acctinfo.org/?page=109
• http://www.thetravelword.com/2014/02/03/zip-lines-in-costa-rica-sustainability/
• http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20140106/NEWS/301069885
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350630715300613
• http://www.zip-fiji.com/fiji-zipline-ecological-cultural-responsibility/
• http://zip.ziptrek.com/whistler-canada/sustainability/minimizing-impacts
• http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674775514000353
• http://traveltips.usatoday.com/kauai-zipline-tours-10031.html
• http://www.theworldorbust.com/the-5-longest-zip-lines-in-the-world/
• http://bateyziplineadventure.blogspot.com/
• http://www.ziplinerider.com/Build_Zipline.html
• http://help.ziplinegear.com/entries/23354727-How-to-Build-a-Zip-Line
• http://www.wikihow.com/Construct-a-Zip-Line

18. •Questions?