Creating an inclusive society through crowdsourced barrier-free access information
Creating an inclusive society through crowdsourced barrier-free access information
Published 1 April, 2019
If most people utilise google maps to find routes via driving, working or public transport, then why can't we have an equivalent version for persons with disabilities?
Tan Hwee Xian
Former Assistant Professor of Information Systems (Practice)
In brief
- Persons with disabilities travelling around with wheelchairs face difficulties finding barrier-free access paths for their travel needs.
- The project relies on passive crowdsource data from volunteers to find accessible paths all over Singapore. It also collects survey data to learn more about mobility difficulties in the daily lives of persons with disabilities.
- Finding sufficient volunteers willing to participate in the project was a challenge. There was also technical complexity and the need to improve the efficiency of storage and analysis in the project.
Many of us use Google Maps for our daily commute, especially when we are exploring new places. Through Google Maps, we can easily find routes that provide access via various means – such as driving, public transport and walking. However, persons with disabilities who travel around in wheelchairs might face difficulties finding barrier-free access paths for their first-and-last-mile travel needs.
In this podcast, Assistant Professor Tan Hwee Xian from SMU's School of Information Systems shares her ongoing work in the Smart Barrier-Free Access project. The project uses passive crowdsourced road accessibility information from wheelchair volunteers to map barrier-free access paths in Singapore.
Methodology & References
- SmartBFA. Retrieved from {https://smartbfa.com}