Natural resource managers use a variety of computer-mediated presentation methods to communicate with the public about ecosystem dynamics and management practices.

This study explored the effects of visualizing and animating predictions from mathematical models in presentations to the public about forest succession, fire behavior, and land management.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Donald E. Zimmerman¹, Carol Akerelrea¹, Jane Kapler Smith, Ecologist, FEIS Lead Scientist³, and Garrett O’Keefe¹

¹Department of Journalism & Technical Communication Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
²US Environmental Protection Agency, US Bureau of Land Management, Anchorage, AK
³U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT

OBJECTIVES AND GOALS

Determine if use of visualized, animated computerized graphics in a presentation

1. increases understanding of forest growth and change, fire behavior, and mathematical models in a variety of adult populations (rural mountain residents, town residents, and college students).

2. alters perceptions of the land management agency and/or the role of models in the agency's decision making process in three groups of adults.

KEY RESULTS

Both animated and non-animated presentations increased participants’ knowledge for three public audiences-- rural mountain residents, town residents, and college students. The animated presentation was associated with significant knowledge gain over the non-animated presentation only for one group, the rural mountain residents, perhaps because they were generally older or because they had less biology background than town residents and students.

Participants reported that the presentations (whether animated or not) and the model described in them added to credibility of the land management agency (Forest Service). Even rural mountain residents, who tended to rate the agency as less helpful than city residents and students, followed this pattern.

Participants ranked the animated presentation more visually appealing and easier to follow than the non-animated presentation. These differences did not translate into consistently greater knowledge, however, nor did the greater appeal of the animated presentation lead to higher ranking of the agency’s credibility by viewers.

This study demonstrated that carefully planned and developed presentations, whether using computer animation or not, can help land managers communicate complex ecological and management information to the public. The use of visualization and animation can increase the appeal of a technical, information-packed presentation, though it may not increase actual knowledge gain or influence attitudes toward the agency.

FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS

We acknowledge funding from the Joint Fire Science Program under project #99-1-1-04.

The Forest Service portion of this research was completed by the Fire Modeling Institute Information Team.

PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS

Zimmerman, Donald E.; Akerelrea, Carol; Smith, Jane Kapler; O’Keefe, Garrett J. 2006. Communicating forest management science and practices through visualized and animated media approaches to community presentations. Science communication. 27(4): 514-539.

Guidelines for presenting model results to the public