challenge
Detecting Sidewalk Accessibility Problems Using Streetscape Imagery
challenge
Detecting Sidewalk Accessibility Problems Using Streetscape Imagery
Sidewalks should benefit all of us. They provide a safe, environmentally-friendly conduit for moving about a city. For people with disabilities, sidewalks can have a significant impact on independence , quality of life, and overall physical activity. While mapping tools like Google and Apple Maps have begun offering pedestrian-focused features, they do not incorporate sidewalk routes or information on sidewalk accessibility, which limits their utility and disproportionately affects people with disabilities
Traditionally, sidewalk audits—which gather data on the presence and quality of sidewalks—are performed via in-person inspections by city transit departments or community volunteers. However, these audits are expensive, labor intensive, and infrequent.