Route planning for blind pedestrians using OpenStreetMap
While most people take wayfinding and orientation for granted, instinctively utilizing their visual channels to do so, millions of blind people around the world face challenges and obstacles when attempting to perform the most basic tasks, such as walking to the corner store or using public transportation. As blind pedestrians lack critical information about the space they traverse outside the familiarity of their home, they are restricted, dependent on others, and have decreased quality of life. While assistive technologies for providing specific navigation solutions do exist, research is still limited regarding customized wayfinding solutions for blind pedestrians. This research aims at developing a wayfinding algorithm that relies on the OpenStreetMap mapping catalogue for planning accessible and safe routes specifically suited to blind pedestrians. In-depth investigations, observations, and interviews were conducted with blind people and with orientation and mobility instructors, in order to define and categorize spatial criteria relating to mobility, accessibility, and safety. Using controlled iterative experiments, weighted network graph criteria were defined, leading to the development of a route planning software that generates optimized routes for blind pedestrians. The developed software was then tested on a variety of routes, with the help of blind volunteers and orientation and mobility instructors. The results show that the optimal routes generated by the software were identical or very similar to those suggested by the experienced orientation and mobility instructors. Moreover, the blind volunteers also stated that the software planned routes were indeed more accessible and safer for them to walk along compared to routes suggested by existing commercial software developed for seeing pedestrians. The findings of this research indicate that the authors' solution, based on OpenStreetMap and developed for the benefit of blind pedestrians, is effective and practical, and could improve the mobility, independence, and quality of life of this population, as well as increasing their integration into society.
- Record URL:
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/23998083
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Supplemental Notes:
- © Achituv Cohen and Sagi Dalyot 2020.
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Authors:
- Cohen, Achituv
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0000-0002-1357-8296
- Dalyot, Sagi
- Publication Date: 2020
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
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Serial:
- Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science
- Publisher: Sage Publications Limited
- ISSN: 2399-8083
- EISSN: 2399-8091
- Serial URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/epb
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Blind persons; Maps; Pedestrians; Route choice; Software; Wayfinding
- Identifier Terms: OpenStreetMaps (Software)
- Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01840083
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 24 2022 5:26PM