Part 3 - Use your data like a pro
Now that the data is rolling in, it's time to start analyzing. Summer data often gives lots of juicy insights, so it's important that you use it to its max. Here are our tips:
1. Perform seasonal analyses for year-over-year comparison
Summer traffic is naturally higher—but how much higher? Without a seasonal baseline, it’s hard to measure progress or justify new investments. Compare this summer’s data to last summer (instead of to winter or spring) to get more meaningful insights for growth, program impact, or infrastructure upgrades.
📘 What to do:
- Pull last summer’s data and monitor this summer's data as it comes in
- Sum up the data for each summer and calculate the % difference by day/week/month (Eco-Visio can be a big help!)
- Look at average weekday vs weekend traffic for both summers
😎 Pro tip: It’s interesting to see the increase in volumes between winter and summer too. If you have the data, quantify how many more people are active in June, July, and August!
2. Coordinate with programming or events teams
Don’t work in a silo. Summer events like marathons, bike tours, outdoor movies, or yoga in the park will spike activity—and your counters are there to track it. Help other teams measure success and plan events while you connect your data with the real world to prove its validity.
🤝 Best practice:
- Communicate with event staff to learn when events are planned—also, move counters to event areas if possible
- Tag data in Eco-Visio with event labels
- Compare “event days” to baseline activity
🙌 Helping hand: This helps make events better for your community by improving maintenance, trash collection, staff support, and more. Plus, it's a great way to tell stories with your data to share on social media.
3. Capture weekend and holiday traffic spikes
Chances are, weekends and holidays mean more activity. In your parks, trails, bike paths, and pedestrian streets, make sure you include these essential data points for annual reporting.
🎆 How to do it:
- Tag holidays, long weekends, or special occasions (e.g. beginning of summer break for students) on Eco-Visio
- See if these dates have more activity than usual (compare averages of the same day-of-week from other weeks surrounding the holiday)
- Compare weekends vs. weekdays in Eco-Visio to understand if and how much activity spikes
🔗 Check out the study we did on the Fourth of July in the U.S., where bike activity spiked almost 50%
4. Add weather and temperature to your analysis
Overlaying count data with weather data helps you study how the weather affects people's behaviors. This helps you predict, for example, if there will be a sharp decline in activity if it rises above a certain temperature or if it rains.
🌡️ Data to track:
- Daily temperature highs/lows
- Precipitation
- Sunshine hours
🌤️ How-to: Use the weather module Eco-Visio to layer weather data onto count data in your dashboard. There are also tools like OpenWeatherMap where you can access weather data.
5. Support year-end planning and reporting
What you gather now supports decision-making for the rest of the year. Summer is your most data-rich season—don’t wait until fall to act on it.
📝 Ideas for use:
- Share early data insights internally, with local organizations, or with community partners
- Identify early successes in pilot programs or new facilities
- Inform planning for autumn and winter programming based on summer trends
💭 Example: If real-time summer data shows an increase in people using a trail, it could suggest that there will be more people than usual in the fall too—meaning more maintenance will be needed.
Conclusion: Set your counters—and yourself—up for summer success
Summer is the busiest and most vibrant time for parks, trails, cities, and public spaces. Making sure your counting program is ready ensures that you not only capture accurate data but also maximize the value of every moment spent on the program.
Remember, your counters do more than track numbers—they tell the story of how your community interacts with your facilities. Preparing them properly sets the foundation for smarter management and advocating for long-term growth.
👉 Need help with your counting program this summer?
Our team is here to support you with expert advice, data reports, and customized solutions. Contact us today to get started!
Revisit: Part 1 - Prep your Counters.
Revisit: Part 2 - Set up a System.
