Handicap Accessibility at Allegheny College

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Handicap Accessibility at Allegheny College

• Nick Fischietto
• Evan Sheppard
• May 2, 2006

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Objectives

• To understand the general accessibility of the
  campus to disabled persons
• To visualize the routing difficulties a
  handicapped person would face
• To identify areas where improvements in
  accessibility need to be made

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Procedure

• Creation of a digital sidewalk network from an
  aerial photograph of the Allegheny College
  Campus, sidewalks not on the image were later
  added
• GPS locations were recorded for all staircases on
  campus sidewalks and their locations were added
  to the network

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Procedure

• Polygons representing campus buildings were added
  to the network
• Handicap accessible entrances were located for
  campus buildings, those not accessible were
  treated the same as a staircase
• A model was created using the GIS that would
  allow the user to determine handicap accessible
  routes (similar to MapQuest)

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Results

• Not all handicap accessible buildings have
  direct, stair-free routes between them
• The addition of ramps in certain locations would
  significantly ease campus travel for those with
  special needs

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Problems with Model

• Aerial photo available is from 1993, so the
  locations of sidewalks and buildings built since
  then needed to be approximated
• Routes through accessible buildings not taken
  into consideration
• In what manner should roads and parking lots be
  added?

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Possible Improvements

• Add slope of the sidewalk and total elevation
  change as considerations when choosing a route
• Include routes through buildings
• Determine what parking lots and roads have low
  enough traffic volumes to be crossable
• Develop a stand-alone software program with this
  model that can be given to students with
  disabilities or who had parents with disabilities

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Extensions of the Model

• Routing delivery of large packages
• Admissions tour routes when a member of the group
  is handicapped
• Apply traffic flow rates to identify what areas
  should be cleared and receive salt first in
  winter?
• Locating new sidewalks
• Best location for alumni parking and alumni events

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Interactive Demonstration

• A demonstration of the routing model at work

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Thank You

• Nick Fischietto
• Evan Sheppard

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