Victoria Fast, University of Calgary; Shiloh Deitz, Saint Louis University; Achilleas Psyllidis, TU Delft; Blake Walker, FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg
To build truly inclusive cities and societies, we must leverage cutting-edge spatial data science methodologies to uncover and address hidden accessibility barriers. This special session at SDSS 2024 explores innovative spatial data-driven techniques and mapping projects reshaping our understanding of urban accessibility.
The session will feature the Mapping Our Cities for All (MOCA) project, which tackles urban inaccessibility by crowdsourcing building accessibility information through participatory mapping and the lived experiences of people with disabilities. In partnership with AccessNow, we will examine how MOCA data reveals insights into building accessibility and uses spatial methods such as machine learning, geocoding, and double geocoding to predict industry codes (NAICS) for businesses.
In addition, the session will cover broader and more inclusive understandings of factors that support human health and well-being, encompassing mental, social, spiritual, cultural, and physical dimensions. It will address barriers to accessing health-supporting natural and cultural landscapes, particularly in the context of climate change, and highlight the importance of knowledge exchange and co-creation with civic actors and decision-makers.
We will also present tools like the CTwalk Map and its sibling CTstreets, which address accessibility inequities and segregation in urban environments by assessing how various groups can mutually access and utilize urban destinations. These tools incorporate perceived barriers children face in accessing green and play spaces and integrate them into accessibility metrics.
Furthermore, the session will discuss the role of bias in data collection and analysis, such as outlier bias in AI classification systems, and explore the implications of missing data. We will examine strategies for enhancing open data to facilitate better maps for persons with disabilities.
Through this session, we seek to share new approaches to accessibility research and foster the exchange of ideas. Concluding with a Q&A session and discussion, our goal is to push the boundaries of spatial data science to create more equitable and accessible cities and societies. We invite you to join us in this crucial conversation to advance spatial data science that includes diverse and disabled perspectives.
Dr. Victoria Fast and Paul Walter, University of Calgary; Dr. Shiloh Deitz, St. Louis University; Dr. Achilleas Psyllidis and Vasileios Milias, Delft University of Technology; Dr. Blake Walker, FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg