Uso de inteligência coletiva para mapeamento de caminhos acessíveis na cidade

Abstract

The new information and communication technologies (ICTs), aided by the smartphone commoditization, are increasingly present in the life of citizens and are supporting our urban mobility. Car route enhancing apps that help avoid heavy traffic, apps to find the best public transport schedule or the best bus; train line, apps dedicated to cyclists, helping them to find bike paths and rental points, are examples of software developed to support mobility in the city. In the vast majority, they are supported by the collective intelligence (CI) of their users. But how many of these technologies are designed to assist in the urban mobility of physically or visually impaired citizens, whose most basic need is to be able to move around the sidewalks of our cities? Encouraged by the need to rescue full citizenship of these citizens, the research presented in this dissertation aims to assess the use of CI as a way to feed a mapping system of accessible routes in the city for the daily journeys of people with special needs. The required features were identified on the basis of two systematic literature reviews, and the implemented artifact was validated with potential users through an online survey. The computational artifact was developed using IC techniques to provide the constant update of related accessibility information to the city map. The app is able to suggest the best route based on the information made available by its users and supporters. The app was tested by a group of disabled users regarding its effectiveness, in order to correct problems and plan for future developments. At last, a balance was made of the generation of collective intelligence by the application, also with the intention of planning future improvements.