| A unit of Lasting Forests
evolving since March 30, 1999 |
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A Total Forest Management Plan
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Signs are a part of an effective management program for an area. They may seem to be only for the purpose of presenting information but they also help create the personality or image of an area. If the signs look cheap, un-cared-for, slovenly, amateurish ... then the people who see the signs and the area around them will form related opinions about the managers and the area itself. Such signs suggest that perhaps it is not important and can be treated with disrespect, at least without care or concern. Signs can be beautiful and can enhance the beauty of an area and improve the experience of people visiting the area.
Signs may inform (with a clear, positive, friendly simple message), identify, direct, warn or command attention, elicit an esthetic response, and in some cases generate respect. A few signs attempt to solicit a viewer response (such as completing a questionnaire). They are a communication tool, part of a balanced system of visual amenities and pleasant communication among people and their environment. One role is for them to "index" the environment. They may indicate what people of the area think of themselves and their environment, revealing pride, morale, or its lack. They may display the creativity and originality of the people of the area.
The can announce or scream, inform or confuse, delight or depress, infer or insult, stimulate or irritate, and point out or hide.
The general recommended policy about signs is that they be as few as necessary to cause the desired human behavior. They need to be compatible with their environment, appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain, expressive of the landowner and community as a whole, and legible in the likely circumstance of use.
They are costly and costly to maintain and are frequently vandalized.
They should be as compatible with the environment as possible...in color, size, shape, lighting, and font. (A formal letter font, for example, is generally inappropriate. In an area with management for oriental gardens, sculpture, and landforms, an oriental font might be considered.)
Lettering should be no larger than necessary for a person with normal vision to read it at the expected viewing distance.
Letter size is related to the speed of cars. Where high speeds are allowed, larger lettering is typically used. Textbooks are available for these standards. Lowercase letters are 2/3 height of capital letters.
The general principle followed within The Trevey is that the viewscape is public. People, even the landowner, have limited rights to mark it, overpower it, hide it, and add to its confusion. A sign saying "stables and horses for riding" is not needed on a horse trail. A horseshoe on a board with an arrow may be sufficient. "The Bearpaw Trail" seems an unnecessary sign; a carved bear-paw on a piece of wood by the trailhead may be sufficient. The sign provides markers and locations. Information may be given within the area or at a site, usually verbally or on paper.
The following signs or types can be considered:
Sign design assures that sign features are combined to draw attention to the sign and that it is consistent with the objectives of the area. A sign is a means to help achieve objectives. The major design elements are size, shape, contrast, color, composition, and lighting. The message must be simple and clear. Legibility and size must combine with placement to permit adequate time for viewing and proper response.
The shape of the sign can itself provide information. For example, a triangular sign, consistently used, may mean a warning or hazard. Squares, rectangles, tall rectangles, and diamonds each may be used for one or more of the above listed signs.
Standard colors also aid in signs being recognized and responded to properly. Reflectorized paints may be used when nighttime viewing is desired.
Typically, highly contrasting colors are needed for sign letters and background. Further study is needed of the effectiveness of light-color letters on dark background (as used by the U.S. Forest Service) or the reverse.
Signs intended for viewing from a moving vehicle need letters as follows:
| 6 inches tall | 50 mph |
| 5 inches | 35 - 50 mph |
| 4 inches | 20 - 35 mph |
| 3 inches | less than 20 mph |
On non-motorized trails, 1 inch letters are adequate.
As driving speed increases, the driver's point of concentration recedes. His or her eyes concentrate far ahead of the wheels. At 25 mph the natural focus point is about 600 feet ahead of the vehicle. At 45 mph, it is some 1200 feet ahead of the vehicle. Signs need to be placed to maximize viewing distance.
Drivers can handle no more than 30 letters or 10 items of information at a time.(Driving faster than 30 mph required reading faster than 440 words per minute...unlikely.)
Interpretive and information-giving signs have letter heights related to their viewing distance.
| 5/8 inch | when viewed from less than 4 feet |
| 3/4 inch | from 5 - 7 feet |
| 1 inch | 8 to 12 feet |
| 2 inches | 13 to 20 feet |
| 3 inches | greater than 20 feet |
A standard letter font should be used.
Symbols or pictures can be remembered better than words or letters.
Signs need to be placed to maximize the chance that they will convey the intended message or have the intended effect. Generally, signs are placed on the right of travel-ways as close to standard locations as possible. They may be placed at entrances, along trails, and in convenient places. Readers that are delayed may need extra space to reduce congestion along trails. Reduce or avoid viewing obstructions such as dips in a roadway or trail, just beyond the crest of a hill, where it may interfere with normal operations, and where trees or foliage cover the sign face.
Normally mount signs individually on posts.
The height should be comfortable for seated/standing adults and children.
Placed slightly out of reach, some vandalism can be reduced.
Perimeter signs are generally placed about 100 feet apart 4 to 6 feet from the ground and visible from an adjacent marker. Where trees are not present. wooden stakes or rock piles will be used.
No more than 10 items of information are displayed on one sign. Selling slogans are not allowed.
Signs must be maintained and a schedule needs to be created to avoid very high replacement or maintenance costs in peak periods. Surveys of the signs should be conducted to be sure they are performing as desired. Simple verbal, brief questions to area users can be useful.
Neighborhoods, communities (watersheds?) should have distinctive colors (and perhaps letter fonts) for signs, housing, etc. to enhance the "sense of place."
A well formulated and executed signing program can play a major role in area management and help achieve some of the understanding, reduced conflicts, and appropriate behavior so abundantly discussed as part of modern wildland management.
The following panel might be used in a small operation plan such as at a mine or earth removal site on an ownership:
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The following provisions for signs and markers are to improve public awareness of activity within the area, to improve knowledge about the local environment, to increase public safety and welfare, to reduce regulatory costs, and to improve the overall effectiveness of the operation. To the best ability of the owners, the following provisions will be met. In certain cases vandalism, natural catastrophy, or accidents may reduce the effectiveness of the sign and marker program. Replacements will be made as soon as practical. Police protection will be sought when persistent vandalism coours. Site identification signs will be placed at each main entrance. Total area of the sign will be 36 square feet based on a driver-reaction time of 8 seconds, a two-lane road, a speed of 45 miles per hour, a distance traveled during reaction time of 528 feet. Letter heights will be 10 inches based on the above data. Many signs on the permit site will be constructed of wood. They will have dimensions of 2 by 3.2 feet and will be securely fixed to a sturdy metal or wooden post. They will be above 4 feet from the ground and visible to access road traffic and to others. Perimeter markers will be placed about 50 feet apart and will be clearly visible from the adjacent marker. They will be 4 to 6 feet above the ground. Where trees are not present, wooden stakes driven into the ground will be used. Signs nees to attempt to provide information that make the area safe, convenient, and meaningful. They are needed to give adequate orientation while on the land. Most signs related to activities will be near roads. Signs need to orient travelers as to where they are. |
The assistance of Mr. Scott Boggs, June, 1998, is appreciated.
Literature
Ballinger, L.B. 1972. Sign, symbol, and form. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, N.Y.
Ewald, W.R. 1971. Street graphics. The Landscape Architecture Foundation, McLean, Va. PLAE, Inc. 1994.Universal access to outdoor recreation, PLAE, Inc. Berkeley, CA
U.S. Forest Service. (no date) Standards for Forest Service signs and posters, Washington, DC
U.S. Dept. Interior. 1980. A guide to designing accessible outdoor recreation facilities, Ann Arbor, MI
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Giles, Jr.
Last revision January 17, 2000.