University Population and Wildfire Risk: An Analysis of Perception-Based Variables and Geospatial Differences

Abstract

This research presents a novel perspective on university students, staff, and faculty and their perception of risk concerning wildfires in the fire-prone US State of Idaho. Past studies have conducted resident surveys in high-risk communities to investigate what factors make homeowners more likely to engage in mitigation activities, increasing communities’ resiliency. Research on a population without property ownership and using the wildland-urban interface (WUI) as activity and recreation spaces is limited. The main hypothesis is that a university population will have different perception and awareness levels in perception-based variables when comparing students to staff/faculty in a traditional survey and geospatial analysis. This study investigates Boise State University’s population’s risk perception using an online survey and interactive spatial assessment to examine differences between associated and geographically allocated risk spaces. Findings from perception mapping, binomial regression, and geostatistical analysis contrast current literature with traditional residents’ surveys. The explorative geostatistical analysis reveals distinct allocation patterns of perceived risk not captured in survey questions. Overall, findings promote a better understanding of where risk and awareness are apparent and suggest that wildfire communication efforts should reach out to all users of the WUI.