Rapid Assessment Survey

After analyzing current condition assessment processes at Pecos, the CAC Team created and implemented a new Rapid Assessment process to create a standarized, accurate, and efficient data collection process for future conservation work.

Why Rapid Assessment?

A conditions assessment review identified inefficiencies in the existing documentation system, largely due to inconsistent terminology used across the park’s records. To resolve this, a standardized graphic conditions glossary was developed to establish a unified vocabulary and enhance clarity. By maintaining consistency in terms related to site features, conditions, material fabric, and site evolution, the glossary enables meaningful connections across various data resources. For instance, consistent terminology can be seamlessly applied in both written reports and image metadata, streamlining future research and facilitating more effective data analysis.

With this standardized framework in place, the team implemented a Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) to:

Support ongoing maintenance prioritization
Monitor site conditions
Track patterns of deterioration

Three survey forms were piloted to determine the most effective data collection method, ultimately leading to a refined and repeatable survey process. The use of standardized forms ensures that annual data can be easily compared over time, promoting continuity in site monitoring efforts.

This revised RAS methodology marks a significant shift away from isolated, one-off assessments toward a long-term, data-driven approach. By focusing on consistency and comparability, the new method enhances the ability to allocate resources strategically for conservation efforts. A key challenge faced by parks nationwide is not the quality of individual surveys, but rather the lack of continuity and methodological consistency between successive assessments. Often, surveys are either not repeated or are conducted using different metrics, rendering comparisons ineffective. The RAS seeks to address this by establishing a core set of questions that, when answered annually, allow for meaningful time-series analysis and a deeper, evolving understanding of the site’s condition over time.

The RAS was then tested and improved in the field.

Field crew conducting an assessment of a wall (CAC 2019)

Trial and Solutions

In advance of the June 2019 field season, the CAC developed the survey form that was designed to enable park staff to efficiently document field data on an annual basis. The primary objective was to identify which veneer walls were most susceptible to deterioration and therefore required the highest priority for conservation efforts. During the June site visit, a team of five CAC staff members tested the form in the field to evaluate its format and usability. Feedback from this initial trial indicated that both the structure and content of the survey held significant value for future comparative analysis.

In alignment with the park’s long-term preservation goals, the effort was continued by National Park Service staff in the summer of 2020, using the same form to collect additional condition data. However, concerns emerged regarding the time-intensive nature of completing the Rapid Assessment Survey in the field.

To address these concerns, a new digital version of the survey form was developed. Designed as a PDF, commonly used with Adobe Acrobat, the form was enhanced with interactive fields using tools available in Acrobat Pro. This allowed data to be entered directly on a tablet, streamlining the documentation process.

The advantages of this digital format are numerous:

The need for manual transcription is eliminated, enabling the rapid tabulation of data
Completed forms can be printed for archival records
Identical blank copies can still be produced for traditional paper-based data collection, ensuring flexibility in the field regardless of available technology.

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