Improving Accessibility Information in Pedestrian Maps and Databases

Abstract

As populations age, more and more people have some kind of restrictions on their mobility. In order to increase the potential of mobility-impaired persons to move around and navigate independently, information on the accessibility of the environment should be supported by map services and delivered together with spatial information to their devices for personal navigation. Spatial databases for pedestrian route planning should contain more detailed information on accessibility, such as pavement surfaces, slopes, and stairs. This study examines a wide range of examples of map services in Finland in terms of the extent to which they support accessibility. The authors then provide and discuss a proposal for the information content of a geospatial database to fulfil the requirements of users with impairments. With guidelines for data content, data classification, and functionality, map information can be developed so that it is also more useful for special user groups and makes the environment more accessible for everyone.