Tofino Human Mobility Study

This study uses participatory, community-scale GPS tracking to understand how residents and visitors move around Tofino during both everyday activities and simulated tsunami evacuation scenarios. These exercises model routes from beach areas to public assembly points or nearby high ground, providing valuable insights to improve evacuation planning. While residents may benefit directly in the future through safer and more efficient evacuation strategies, visitors contribute to enhancing long-term safety for others by supporting the development of better tsunami preparedness measures.

Join us as we build a shared vision of disaster resilience that is grounded in equity, tailored to local realities, and driven by collaboration.

Flyer

If you are interested in joining this study, please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Register
Complete the registration form. Once submitted, the research team will provide you with a Participant ID.

Step 2: Review Consent Information
Carefully read the Letter of Information and Consent Form before proceeding.

Step 3: Complete the Entry Questionnaire
Fill in the entry questionnaire and make sure to include your Participant ID.

Step 4: Install the OwnTracks App
Download and install the OwnTracks app. Follow the installation instructions provided.
You will need to enter:

Your Participant ID
The secure server URL https://mobility-western.es.uwo.ca/pub

Step 5: Participate in the Study
You are now participating in the study.

Keep the OwnTracks app active for the study duration (minimum of 2 weeks).
When convenient, complete the hypothetical evacuation exercise. Please follow the provided instructions carefully (including start and end points).
If you encounter any issues, contact the research team at kgoda2@uwo.ca or hha24@uwo.ca.

Step 6: Complete the Study
At the end of the study: