Research Purpose

The purpose of this research project is clear from the objectives of the client, the Nova Scotia
Department of Tourism, as set out in their user requirements tender from the provincial government
website. The site states that the purpose of the project is “to develop a resource land valuation model
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to identify, map, and model tourism values in Nova Scotia using GIS technology.” In short, the client
wishes to determine, through the auspices of the model, the future and current potential of crown
lands for tourism through using Geographic Information System (GIS) modelling technology. This
project is meant to help the client by providing some useful feedback on the Integrated Resource
Management data from the Department of Natural Resources because some of its classified lands
might be reclassified or reserved for tourism use and to help the client develop tourism by providing a
starting point for their future development of GIS spatial modelling capabilities. The project examined
tourism potential modelling in other jurisdictions and made recommendations to the client as to the
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data required and the process to follow for modelling, a process specifically mentioned by the client.
Before creating any model there must be extensive data collection, consultation with outside agencies
such as governments, and determination of what other information is required to both construct and
weight a potential model. This project has focused mainly on the requirements and factors for a
potential model rather than the creation of the model itself. Any output model would require factors
based on identified tourism values such as scenic viewplanes (water and land), hiking corridors, canoe
portages, snowmobile trails, beaches, scenic waterfronts, wildlife viewing opportunities, and other
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natural tourism values. However, the client will have to collect some data which does not exist
The project examines the following items: the type of nature tourism the client is interested in,
the user requirements (criteria and technical), an examination of general GIS modelling, a study of the
N.S. nature tourism market, an examination of GIS modelling in other jurisdictions, the similarities
and differences of these studies, the concept of tourism potential, model components, required data,
what is available in the province, recommendations, and conclusions.