Auditing Accessibility of Pavements and Points of Interest in Urban Areas: The ‘Seek & Go’ Tool

Abstract

In recent years, accessibility has become a topic of great interest on a global scale across the scientific, business, and policy sectors. There are two primary reasons for this growing trend. Firstly, accessibility serves as a vital indicator reflecting the social performance of communities, and the public is increasingly aware of critical social issues such as accessibility. Secondly, accessibility is essential for the sustainable development of regions and civil settings, facilitating inclusion and business growth. In this regard, information and communications technologies can play a crucial role in facilitating the accessibility of spaces by disabled people. Numerous digital tools and smart applications are already available to serve this purpose. This study presents a novel digital tool called ‘Seek & Go’, a comprehensive aid application designed specifically for disabled individuals. The app features a GPS navigation system that caters to pedestrians with disabilities and unique accessibility requirements. The present study documents the models underlying the development of ‘Seek & Go’, discusses technical aspects of the application, and presents user experience insights.

Keywords

• accessibility
• disabilities
• urban environment
• audit
• smart application