5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[HTT15-P07] Spatial Analysis of the Status of Barrier-Free Development Using GIS: A Case Study of Tactile Paving in Kita-ku, Tokyo
Keywords:barrier-free, tactile paving, visually impaired people, welfare administration
The development of environments supporting the mobility of people with physical disabilities has progressed as the concept of “barrier-free” has become widespread all over the world. In Japan, various mobility support technologies (e.g. elevators, ramps and tactile maps) have been installed in public facilities and roads as a result of the enforcement of laws on barrier-free since 1990s. On the other hand, there are also many such technologies that have problems. It is necessary to verify the state of technologies that have been installed in the past. However, while new technologies are being developed in the field of engineering, there has been little progress in verifying technologies that have already become widespread in society. Hence, this study used geographic information systems (GIS) to verify the state of barrier-free development from a spatial perspective, using tactile paving as an example of mobility support technology installed in public space.
In Japan, among the various barrier-free technologies, tactile paving—a system of textured ground surface to assist the mobility of visually impaired people—is remarkably well developed. Developed in Okayama Prefecture in the 1960s, tactile paving has spread throughout the country since the 1990s, in tandem with the enforcement of laws on barrier-free.
This study used the geographical data of tactile paving collected through the Tactile Paving Mapping Project (TPMP) that has been implemented in Kita-ku, Tokyo since 2015. In this project, the local non-profit organization, in cooperation with residents, conducted a field survey on the status of tactile paving installed on public roads in Kita-ku and created a geographic database using Google Maps API. The database records data on the location, number, color, management development, and deficiencies of tactile paving. The project has been implemented in nine districts in Kita-ku until now. In this study, data from the Oji district (surveyed in 2015) and the Akabane district (surveyed in 2016) and compared these data to analyze similarities and differences in the installation of tactile paving across districts. In addition, existing geographic information data on public facilities and roads (e.g. Digital National Land Information), data on barrier-free policy in Kita-ku, and TPMP data were overlaid on the map to examine the factors of the similarities and differences.
The results revealed the following. In the Oji district, directional block tactiles are laid to connect major stations and important facilities. On the other hand, in the Akabane district, while there are many places where warning block tactiles are laid in front of pedestrian crossings, there are few directional block tactiles. In addition, there are many inadequate tactile paving in both districts, and the number is higher in the Akabane district. Inadequate tactile paving tends to be concentrated in specific locations. For example, damaged blocks are concentrated on main streets under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in the Oji district and on main streets under the jurisdiction of Kita-ku in the Akabane district. The differences in the installation of tactile paving between the two districts can be attributed to differences in (1) facility location, (2) traffic volume, and (3) implementation of the barrier-free policy of Kita-ku.
Furthermore, this study suggests that GIS can be used to verify welfare administration and has social and political significance.
In Japan, among the various barrier-free technologies, tactile paving—a system of textured ground surface to assist the mobility of visually impaired people—is remarkably well developed. Developed in Okayama Prefecture in the 1960s, tactile paving has spread throughout the country since the 1990s, in tandem with the enforcement of laws on barrier-free.
This study used the geographical data of tactile paving collected through the Tactile Paving Mapping Project (TPMP) that has been implemented in Kita-ku, Tokyo since 2015. In this project, the local non-profit organization, in cooperation with residents, conducted a field survey on the status of tactile paving installed on public roads in Kita-ku and created a geographic database using Google Maps API. The database records data on the location, number, color, management development, and deficiencies of tactile paving. The project has been implemented in nine districts in Kita-ku until now. In this study, data from the Oji district (surveyed in 2015) and the Akabane district (surveyed in 2016) and compared these data to analyze similarities and differences in the installation of tactile paving across districts. In addition, existing geographic information data on public facilities and roads (e.g. Digital National Land Information), data on barrier-free policy in Kita-ku, and TPMP data were overlaid on the map to examine the factors of the similarities and differences.
The results revealed the following. In the Oji district, directional block tactiles are laid to connect major stations and important facilities. On the other hand, in the Akabane district, while there are many places where warning block tactiles are laid in front of pedestrian crossings, there are few directional block tactiles. In addition, there are many inadequate tactile paving in both districts, and the number is higher in the Akabane district. Inadequate tactile paving tends to be concentrated in specific locations. For example, damaged blocks are concentrated on main streets under the jurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in the Oji district and on main streets under the jurisdiction of Kita-ku in the Akabane district. The differences in the installation of tactile paving between the two districts can be attributed to differences in (1) facility location, (2) traffic volume, and (3) implementation of the barrier-free policy of Kita-ku.
Furthermore, this study suggests that GIS can be used to verify welfare administration and has social and political significance.