Helsinki: Collection and generation of accessible pedestrian route information

Background

The City of Helsinki provides a Service Map that contains information on public service locations in the Capital Region. This Service Map platform offers information, for example, regarding the accessibility of the services, but it does not provide instructions on accessibility of routes to the service locations.

Challenge

From this background, the City of Helsinki is looking for solutions that can provide accessibility information about the pedestrian routes to these service destinations. This solution should be based on participatory data collection methods, such as crowd-sourcing. Furthermore, it should preferably be self-sustaining. In other words, it should be able to continuously verify and update the information in question. The pilot is expected to take place in 1–2 of Helsinki’s districts, and the participatory target group will be residents who specially need information on accessibility, such as redients with sensor and/or mobility impairments as well as intellectual or learning disabilities.

The Helsinki Service Map Team is prepared to host 1–2 pilots and there is an opportunity for a cross-border pilot with the City of Tallinn. For additional information, visit Service Map at GitHub and Traffic and Mobility Options test environment.

What routes would visually impaired people prefer to use, instead of the routes they currently are using? What reasons do they have for not using these preferred routes?

Published on 29 September, 2023.