5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[U15-P04] Geoscience for enhancing the functions of protected areas: A discussion on the importance of multilingual materials
★Invited Papers
Keywords:geopark, national park, interpretation tools, innovative applications, geo-education, facility management
Protected areas are crucial for conserving the natural ecosystems while providing the resources for recreation, education, and research. National parks and geoparks featuring iconic landforms (e.g., volcanic and periglacial landforms) have become essential excursion sites for promoting geo-education in schools, universities, and society. As globalization advances, visitation by international students, researchers, and tourists is becoming more and more prevalent. To better fulfill the demands of different users, the traditional geoscience-based products, including guidebooks, maps, signboards, and interpretation videos in protected areas, all require a multilingual reform.
The recent innovations in geoscience have also accelerated the sustainable management of facilities in protected areas. The 3D mapping approaches, including UAV mapping and LiDAR scanning, have been verified to be usable for managing soil erosion issues in trails and campsites. These innovations have made centimeter-level changes in ground surface detectable. Promoting the methods to collect and process 3D data among the staff and local communities in protected areas would enhance the efficacy of facility management. However, the manuals/interface of the processing software and applications are usually written in English. The language can become a significant barrier for the park staff, who are non-native English speakers.
This presentation will discuss the necessity of developing multilingual environments in protected areas, taking the cases of geoscience-related excursions and outreach activities in two protected areas in Hokkaido, Japan.
The recent innovations in geoscience have also accelerated the sustainable management of facilities in protected areas. The 3D mapping approaches, including UAV mapping and LiDAR scanning, have been verified to be usable for managing soil erosion issues in trails and campsites. These innovations have made centimeter-level changes in ground surface detectable. Promoting the methods to collect and process 3D data among the staff and local communities in protected areas would enhance the efficacy of facility management. However, the manuals/interface of the processing software and applications are usually written in English. The language can become a significant barrier for the park staff, who are non-native English speakers.
This presentation will discuss the necessity of developing multilingual environments in protected areas, taking the cases of geoscience-related excursions and outreach activities in two protected areas in Hokkaido, Japan.