· SMART CITIES PROJECTS ·
A method to introduce universal accesibility in cities
RE - THINKING THE CITY
· SMART CITIES PROJECTS ·
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ccessibility is a universal right, a matter of fairness and respect to people with disabilities that already have a difficult life. People with disabilities add to the diversity of the community, and that diversity makes everyone’s life richer. United nations human rights defines general principles are: respect and independence, non-discrimination, participation and inclusion in society, accessibility into cities. The term “disability” means an individual has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities of him/her. There are different types of disability: physical disabilities, sensorial disabilities, cognitive disabilities, neurological disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, multiple chemical sensitivity, learning limitations. There are many types of barriers on accessibility for people with disabilities: physical access, access to communication and information, employment, education, community access. Who should safeguard disabilities’s rights? • The court system • Architect and planners • Organizations concerned with disability rights • Organizations that provide public services • Legislators and other public officials • Educators • Developers • People with disabilities themselves • Employers • Enforcing agencies
I. THE PROPOSAL The question is: are cities universally accesible? The answer is clear: NO. Why they are not? Because the solutions are expensive and because it depends on the public investment. In my opinion, in order to introduce accessibility into cities, traditional urban furniture, transport and funding should be reconsidered. In order to solve this, I propose a generic solution that can be applied to any city. This solution is a catalog of low cost, smart and replicable solutions. The catalog is focus on people with any type of physical disability (elderly people, physical impeded, temporally physical disability) and sensorial limitation (blindness and deafness) proposing solution to solve physical, communication and information accessibility. It is thoughi to pay these solutions through sponsoring and crowdfunding. The challenge of the proposal is to: • locate information boards in every corner of the area • put hooters in each traffic light • put blind lines in construction areas • do ramps in all pedestrian cross • install handrails in all street stairs • promote wheelmap.org • install lifts in all buses • introduce car park system The catalog includes a method to determine which is the best solution in each case. This method is based on a decision tree where the user takes the best decision helped by the method. The method is composed by 6 steps.
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¡ SMART CITIES PROJECTS ¡
II. TYPES OF SOLUTIONS 1. Study of the city features For this step is necessary to elaborate a database with A. Solutions based on solve information barriers all streets and follow an agent base model (simulate different scenarios, establish priority areas, study the The solutions are: traffic light hooter, information board best way to make the changes, built the action plan). and blind lines. The solutions are specific for blind and deaf people. 2. Funding The main features are that they are configurable, plaIn order to pay the solution it is necessary to get a ced in urban furniture, composed by recycled materials, manufacturer advertisement or another business ad- made by locals manufacturers and sponsoring return. vertisement. It can also be followed by crowdfunding campaign. B. Solutions based on solve architectonic barriers The solutions are ramps and handrails and to promote 3. Materials collection wheelman.org website. Contact with household waste recycling centre, ma- Ramps and handrails will be made by local business, nufacturer that will provide the materials or a mate- sponsoring return and can be opened to crowdfunding. rial supplier. wheelmap.org is an open complaint platform that promotes accessibility for everyone. 4. Manufacturing The solutions are specific for citizens with physical disaFollow the regulations and be respectful with the ar- bilities. chitectonic and natural environment. C. Solutions based on solving any type of transport diffi5. Location culty Decide which is the best location for the solution. The solutions proposed are bus lifts and car park platThe solution can be built in traffic lights, traffic signs, form. street lights, trash cans or a support provided by ma- Bus lift will be made by local business, sponsoring in renufacturer. turn and opened to crowdfunding. Car park platform is a website and mobile phone applica6. Periodic revision and maintenance tion that promotes car park flexibility and eliminates of Be aware if someone advice for any damage and make fixed car park bays. sure the information is updated.
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· SMART CITIES PROJECTS ·
information board proposed
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· SMART CITIES PROJECTS ·
information board proposed
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