This research investigates the influence of layout and design on the severity of trail degradation. Previous trail studies have been restricted by relatively small study areas which provide a limited range of environmental conditions and therefore produce findings with limited applicability; this research improves on this limitation by analyzing a representative sample of the Appalachian Trail with significant topographical, ecological, use-related, and managerial diversity. Many trail science studies have also focused on a singular form of trail degradation, whereas this study investigates all three core types of trail impact: trail soil loss, widening and muddiness. Relational analyses with all three indicators provide a more cohesive understanding of trail impact and reveal interrelationships between trail degradation processes. ANOVA testing of the mean values for these trail impact indicators across categories of influential independent factors confirms and refines the relevance of core trail design principles, specifically the sustainability advantages of trails with low grades and side-hill alignments. Findings also reveal and clarify the importance of landform grade in determining the susceptibility of trails to degradation and the influence of routing decisions; these relationships have received relatively little attention in the literature. The results also reveal several methodological considerations for trail alignment metrics and trail impact indicators.

中文翻译：

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布局对阿巴拉契亚小径土壤流失，拓宽和泥泞的影响：对可持续小径设计和管理的影响。

这项研究调查了布局和设计对步道退化严重性的影响。先前的试验研究受到相对较小的研究区域的限制，这些研究区域提供的环境条件范围有限，因此得出的结果适用性有限；这项研究通过分析具有明显地形，生态，使用相关和管理多样性的阿巴拉契亚足迹代表性样本，改善了这一局限性。许多步道科学研究也将重点放在步道退化的奇异形式上，而本研究调查了步道影响的所有三种核心类型：步道土壤流失，拓宽和泥泞。所有这三个指标的关系分析提供了对线索影响的更紧密的了解，并揭示了线索退化过程之间的相互关系。这些足迹影响指标在各个有影响力的独立因素类别中的平均值的ANOVA测试，证实并完善了核心足迹设计原则的相关性，尤其是低坡度和山坡路线的可持续性优势。调查结果还揭示并阐明了地貌等级在确定变质径迹的敏感性和走线决策的影响方面的重要性；这些关系在文献中很少受到关注。结果还揭示了路线对准指标和路线影响指标的几种方法学考虑因素。特别是低坡度和山坡路线的可持续性优势。研究结果还揭示并阐明了地貌等级在确定径迹是否易于退化以及路线选择的影响方面的重要性；这些关系在文献中很少受到关注。结果还揭示了路线对准指标和路线影响指标的几种方法学考虑因素。特别是低坡度和山坡路线的可持续性优势。研究结果还揭示并阐明了地貌等级在确定径迹是否易于退化以及路线选择的影响方面的重要性；这些关系在文献中很少受到关注。结果还揭示了路线对准指标和路线影响指标的几种方法学考虑因素。