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VIDBE-Q Volume 63 Issue 4
AccessPath
pathVu's main mission as a company is to improve accessibility and walkability
for all people. One way in which pathVu is working towards that mission is through the
development of AccessPath. AccessPath is a federally-funded project with the Federal
Highway Administration as part of ATTRI (Accessible Transportation Technologies
Research Initiative) [https://www.its.dot.gov/research_areas/attri/index.htm]. The goal
of AccessPath is to develop a pedestrian wayfinding tool tailored towards wheelchair
users and individuals with visual impairments. AccessPath is being developed as an
Android and iOS mobile app to assist pedestrians with real-time step-by-step navigation
along accessible routes.
There are a few benefits to AccessPath compared with typical navigation apps.
First, typical navigation apps use the centerline of the road when navigating users rather
than the sidewalk and crosswalk network. This means that a user could be routed down
a back alley without a sidewalk because it is assumed that a sidewalk exists on both
sides of the road. AccessPath not only uses the pedestrian pathway network, but the
location of curb ramps for those who require curb ramps for mobility as well.
Second, AccessPath considers the quality of the route combined with the user's
customized route preferences. AccessPath routes are tailored based on the user's
needs and desires set in the app, rather than weighing every path as equal. For
example, if a user wants to avoid steep hills, the user specifies that in the settings menu
and AccessPath will avoid steep hills if possible. Further, AccessPath alerts users to
potential hazards along the route. This may be especially helpful for people with visual
