Accessible Mapping

The creation and use of maps and geographic information systems that represent the accessibility characteristics of physical environments — including sidewalk inclines, curb cuts, surface types, path widths, stairs, and elevators — to support navigation and trip planning for people with mobility disabilities. Traditional maps and navigation services treat all pedestrians identically, ignoring that wheelchair users need different routes than ambulatory users, and that individuals within each category have diverse preferences and capabilities. Accessible mapping systems like AccessMap provide personalized, individualized routing by allowing users to set their own accessibility thresholds (e.g., maximum incline, whether curbs are barriers) and dynamically generating routes that respect those constraints. Key challenges include the fundamental lack of pedestrian infrastructure data, the need for scalable data collection methods, and the heterogeneity of user needs.