Conjoint Analysis of Snowmobile Use

and Northern Access Road

Methodology

This project utilizes the conjoint analysis valuation method. The project seeks to measure nonuse values associated with two environmental issues in Denali National Park and Preserve using the direct survey process. Respondents will first be asked a series of questions in order to obtain demographic information and will then be given two sets of scenarios and asked to rate the scenarios based on a scale from 1 (very undesirable) to 10 (very desirable).

Explanation of Demographic Variables

The demographic questions are designed to gather relevant information about the personal backgrounds of respondents. The first several items all ask basic questions pertaining to age, gender, and number of dependents. These items seek to control for environmental preferences, which might vary over generations, sex, and family size. The survey then asks the respondent for annual household income to determine if it affects preferences.

The next several items attempt to control for people who have visited national parks. The survey specifically asks the respondent how many times he/she has visited a national park and how many family members usually accompanied him/her. The information to be gained from these items measures whether people’s environmental preferences depend on how often they visit national parks.

The questions pertaining to snowmobile preferences collect information that will control for those respondents who have an abnormally high or low frequency of snowmobile use. We also measure snowmobiling experience, which helps highlight how years of experience with snowmobiles affects preferences. We then narrow our focus to snowmobile use in national parks. An individual’s preferences might be influenced by a propensity to use a snowmobile in a National Park as opposed to other areas (i.e. state parks, private lands, etc.).

The final set of questions is exclusive to visitors of Denali National Park and pertains to the issue of the new road. It will allow us to understand the concerns of the people who have been to Denali and their desire to have a new road crossing the northern portion of the park.

We begin by asking the mode of transportation used to enter the park. It is our feeling that people who entered by car or bus would have a bias for the road because they would be the people most affected by the new road. Similarly, we ask the primary mode of transportation within the park because those who travel through the park by car or bus would get the most benefit from the road and would probably be in favor of it. However, those who enjoy travelling through the park on foot may have the quality of their experience reduced by the existence of the road, as they could be forced to cross it while hiking.

Finally, the last few questions seek to control for the people who potentially might be biased for or against the road for reasons concerning length of time they spend in the park and the their primary reason for visiting the park. Those who spend a great deal of time in the park might take more interest in preserving the park’s natural beauty and therefore not want a road. Similarly, visitors whose sole intention is to hike or camp throughout the park may not want a road because they will not use it. Conversely, sightseers may enjoy having a new road because it will allow them easier access to various parts of the park.

Scenario Variables and Non-use Values

The snowmobile scenario variables include the number of acres available for snowmobile use, the number of permits issued in a given day, the number of hours each permit allows a user to snowmobile, and the price of the permit. All four of these variables affect the number of snowmobile users, as well as the amount of land exposed to snowmobile use. This helps measure how much the respondents value snowmobiling activities and the environment.

The acreage available for snowmobiling determines how much land will be affected by snowmobile pollution (i.e. noise pollution and snow compression). The maximum number of permits issued each day determines the density of snowmobile users – how much damage is done to the land available for snowmobile use. The number of hours each permit allows its holder to snowmobile and the price of the permit affect the number of permits people will purchase. These help determine the density of the environmental damage as well.

The scenarios variables involving the new road include the surface of the road, the estimated reduction in travel time, the number of streams crossed, and the increase in park entrance fee. The surface of the road determines the amount of damage done to an area, as respondents might see a paved road as more destructive to the surrounding environment than a dirt road. The reduction in travel time will test how the respondents value a decrease in travel time. The number of streams crossed will measure the respondents’ sensitivity to environmental damage, as the principal damage done by roads involves water run-off that enters streams thus affecting the its wildlife.

The nonuse values that respondents hold for the environment around the road will hopefully be measured. For instance, if they are strongly against damage to the ecosystem, they will be more likely to choose a scenario where a lower number of streams are crossed. The mere existence of the streams is very important to these individuals. In addition, the increase in the park entrance fee will give a monetary estimate to the marginal benefit each particular road will provide to the respondent.