Good afternoon -
Improving how we understand and manage visitation to public lands and national parks is essential to preserving these uniquely American treasures. Just a few days ago, President Biden signed the "Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act" (EXPLORE Act) into law. This represents a significant achievement-not just for public policy, but for the INFORMS community. Through our advocacy efforts, we played an important role in ensuring that operations research (OR), analytics, and data science were explicitly included in the language of the law.
At first glance, it may seem surprising that INFORMS was involved in efforts related to a bill focused on U.S. public lands and recreation.
However, Section 132 of the Act, "Improved Recreation Visitation Data," establishes a unified system for consistent, annual visitation data collection across Federal recreational lands and waters. It also introduces a Real-Time Data Pilot Program to leverage predictive analytics and geospatial tools for managing visitation, addressing overcrowding, and optimizing access. These provisions reflect the tools and methodologies at the heart of our community-and validate the hard work of many INFORMS members in demonstrating the value of data-driven decision-making in public policy.
INFORMS' Role and What This Means
Our involvement over the past couple of years in advocating for the inclusion of OR, analytics, and data science in the EXPLORE Act underscores the growing recognition of these tools as essential for solving complex, real-world challenges. At INFORMS, we have consistently championed the role of advanced decision-making tools in crafting better policy, and this legislation affirms our contributions to shaping the future of public lands management.
This isn't just about recognition or celebration-it's about opportunity. The INFORMS community is uniquely positioned to contribute to the development of the visitation models called for in the Act. These models will optimize resource use, improve equity, and support sustainable tourism. Whether it's dynamic forecasting, real-time monitoring, or data visualization, many of our members are ready to work with federal agencies to ensure they understand how the expertise of our community can help them meet the objectives outlined in the law.
Looking Ahead
The passage and enactment of the EXPLORE Act is a win for OR, analytics, and data science-and for the INFORMS community. It reflects our ability not only to advance our field but to influence meaningful, lasting change in public policy. As the Act's programs roll out, we have a unique opportunity to collaborate with federal agencies, gateway communities, and private partners to ensure these initiatives succeed.
Our national parks and public lands are treasures that deserve the best tools to preserve and enhance them for future generations. The inclusion of OR, analytics, and data science in this legislation marks a turning point, and INFORMS is ready to lead the way.
Thank you to everyone who worked with us to advocate for these critical provisions. This is a big success!
Best regards,
Jeff Cohen
PS - Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about the EXPLORE Act or about INFORMS' advocacy efforts.
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Jeffrey M. Cohen, MBA
Chief Strategy Officer
INFORMS
jcohen@informs.org------------------------------