RAPG Methodology

River Access Assessment

Every access site generates 144+ discrete data fields plus 96 per-face observations—safety conditions, amenity inventories, ADA compliance, water features, and management recommendations based on River Access Planning Guidelines methodology.

What Is River Access Assessment?

River Access Planning Guidelines (RAPG) provide a structured framework for evaluating water access sites. Our analysis applies this methodology to 360° imagery, generating comprehensive site inventories that capture safety hazards, existing amenities, accessibility barriers, and improvement opportunities.

Each scene produces over 240 individual data points when combining site-level assessment with directional per-face analysis—documentation that would take hours per site to complete manually in the field.

144+
site-level fields
96
per-face observations
10
assessment categories

What Gets Measured

Scene Context 7

Location and positioning

  • Scene number, GPS coordinates
  • Elevation, heading direction
  • Confidence scores

Site Profile 7

Access site classification

  • Site type classification
  • Primary use categories
  • Capacity estimate
  • Access difficulty rating

Landscape Setting 14

Physical environment

  • Terrain type and slope
  • Vegetation cover and type
  • Water body characteristics
  • Shoreline configuration
  • Upstream/downstream features

Safety Assessment 20

Hazard identification

  • Water hazards (current, depth, obstacles)
  • Shore hazards (erosion, drop-offs, debris)
  • Infrastructure hazards
  • Wildlife/environmental concerns
  • Emergency access evaluation

Amenities Inventory 21

Existing facilities

  • Parking (type, capacity, surface)
  • Restrooms, trash receptacles
  • Signage (types, condition)
  • Boat ramps, docks, launches
  • Seating, shade structures
  • Lighting availability

Condition Assessment 14

Infrastructure condition

  • Overall condition grade
  • Surface condition ratings
  • Structure integrity
  • Maintenance needs identified
  • Deficiency inventory

Recreation Assessment 18

Use and activity types

  • Supported activities list
  • User group suitability
  • Seasonal considerations
  • Capacity constraints
  • Conflict potential

Water Access Features 19

Launch/landing specifics

  • Access point type
  • Entry/exit configuration
  • Water depth at access
  • Bottom composition
  • Current/flow at access
  • Suitability by craft type

Accessibility Assessment 15

ADA compliance

  • ADA compliance rating
  • Path of travel assessment
  • Surface grades and cross-slopes
  • Barrier inventory
  • Accessible amenities present

Recommendations 9

Management guidance

  • Priority improvements
  • Safety mitigations
  • Accessibility upgrades
  • Maintenance actions
  • Enhancement opportunities

Per-Face Analysis (×6 faces, 16 keys each = 96 observations)

Each of the six cube faces is analyzed independently with 16 directional keys including: face_direction, features_observed, water_visible, safety_concerns, amenities_visible, vegetation_type, surface_type, slope_assessment, infrastructure_visible, signage_visible, accessibility_barriers, activity_evidence, maintenance_needs, photo_quality, notable_elements, and face_notes.

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Who Uses This

State DNR Agencies
County Conservation
River Commissions
Water Trails Programs
Paddling Clubs
Outfitter Networks
Army Corps of Engineers
Tourism Boards

Use Cases

See It In Action

Frank A. Gotch State Park

13 scenes analyzed for river access. Click any marker to preview.

Get Started

Contact us to discuss River Access Assessment for your water trail.

Contact Us All Assessment Types