Faculty and Staff Profile

Benjamin Fowler

Educational Background

2026 Clemson Ph.D. Parks, Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation Management

2019 University of Georgia M.S. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management

2011 UNC-Asheville B.A. Spanish & Biology

Profile

Ben is a native of Atlanta, GA and the founder and CEO of PARKS360 which delivers data-driven solutions for managers of parks, rivers, and other protected areas. Ben has collaborated on projects with the National Park Service Wild and Scenic River Program, River Management Society, Iowa DNR, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and other federal/state/local natural resource agencies. He is also currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Parks, Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation program at South Carolina's Clemson University. His research centers on multi-method approaches to understanding human dimensions of natural resources, focused on water-based recreation planning, design, and visitor use management. In particular, he focuses on river management of water trail systems and river access planning, design, and monitoring. He has experience with quantitative, qualitative, drone, 360-degree imagery, visitor estimation, and applied GIS methods and data collection for parks and protected area management. Ben builds his academic and research interests from lived experiences working as a professional outdoor guide as well as a Trip Leader for Outdoor Recreation Programs at UNC-Asheville, University of Georgia, and Georgia Tech. From 2014-2017, he served as the Director of Stewardship for the Georgia Conservancy (non-profit) and its statewide environmental trips program and Heartland Rivers of Georgia Paddle Series. He has published several papers on river management and his research experience includes working with the National Park Service, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. He holds the following certifications and skills: Part 107 Drone Pilot, Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) - BPERP, ASNT Level 1 UAS Thermographer, Wilderness First Responder, Swiftwater Rescue Level IV and has basic proficiency in Spanish and German. He is an active member and contributor to the River Management Society.

Research Interests

PARKS360 delivers next-generation, data-driven consulting solutions, specializing in outdoor recreation experience, management, and state-of-the-art applied technologies. Ben Fowler founded the company in 2023 during the middle of his Ph.D. research at Clemson University working with the Park Solutions Lab and the Virtual Reality and Nature Lab. PARKS360 was a natural emergence from a passion and call-to-action to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world application to inform much needed solutions to Parks and Protected Area Management problems. Our expertise spans visitor use management, river recreation access planning, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of emerging technologies including: 360-degree imagery and asset mapping, drone services, and digital platform development for Blueways and Water Trails. PARKS360’s 360° imagery mapping enables managers, stakeholders, planners, and the public to virtually "experience" river segments before physical site visits, dramatically improving planning efficiency and public engagement. Virtual river corridor or river access site tours allow comprehensive evaluation of potential access points, safety considerations, and recreational opportunities from any location serving both managers and recreationists. With diverse experience working alongside state and federal agencies such as Iowa DNR, The City of Lebanon TN Stormwater, The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Drake University and The National Park Service Wild and Scenic River Program, PARKS360 combines rigorous research methodologies with practical, on-the-ground data-driven solutions and experiences.

Research Publications

1. Use of Natural Areas among Latinxs Living in South Carolina
Journal of Park and Recreation Administration · Sep 23, 2024

2. Integrating importance- performance analysis into transboundary natural resource management of water trails: Case study at the Chattahoochee river national recreation area water trail in Atlanta, GA (USA)

3. Virtual River Tours — An Emerging and Essential Technology for River Recreation, Management, and Research
River Management Society Journal · Feb 1, 2023

4. Harnessing a multifaceted stewardship framework: A bare necessity for parks and protected areas
Harnessing a multifaceted stewardship framework: A bare necessity for parks and protected areas
The Interdisciplinary Journal of Place-Based Conservation · Apr 1, 2020

Honors and Awards

Outdoor Recreation Graduate Assistant Outstanding Achievement Award
Issued by UGA Recreational Sports - A Division of Student Affairs · May 2019

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
Issued by University of Georgia Office of Instruction · May 2019

Graduate Student Award of Excellence
Issued by Clemson's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Program · May 2024