Responsive+Crosswalks+(midterm)


 * Responsive Crosswalks**
 * Sara Hendren / shendren@gsd.harvard.edu**

In US cities, a pedestrian dies in a traffic incident every 110 minutes; one is injured every 9 minutes. Crosswalk “zebra stripes,” together with traffic-coordinated walk signals, are designed to keep pedestrians safer.

But the on-demand wait time for crossing is inefficient, for both pedestrians and vehicles. And audible signals—aiding people who are blind, developmentally disabled, as well as the elderly and small children—not only create noise pollution: They’re not a truly universal design. This project proposes vibro-tactile “responsive crosswalks,” with sensors and actuators embedded within the painted crosswalk stripes.

One set of pedestrian-detecting sensors is either connected to traffic lights for automated signals, or detects pedestrian presence for non-automated signals. Vibrating notes are actuated in the painted crosswalks themselves when it’s safe to cross. Pedestrians can simply “test the waters” with feet, canes, or other equipment. Vehicles would also register the vibration, getting a warning when they’re dangerously close. Pedestrian-detection sensors also register when pedestrians have already crossed and cancel unnecessary requests, improving traffic flow for both vehicles and pedestrians. The result is a silent, responsive system that improves the experience and safety of crosswalks for all users, regardless of ability.


 * Project Most Representative Images:**





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 * Project Video:**

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 * Relevant Web Addresses: Conceptual/Philosophical**

[|Accessible Design for the Blind] [|Center for Universal Design] [|Institute for Human-Centered Design] [|Living Streets]


 * Relevant Web Addresses: Pedestrian Crossing and Traffic Research**

[|Evaluation of Automated Pedestrian Detection at Signalized Intersections] (Federal Highway Admin study)


 * Relevant Web Addresses: Sources and Suppliers**

[|Hoosier Company : source for pavement sensors] [|Dynatest: pavement engineering equipment] [|Sparkfun: vibration motors]


 * Project Analysis:**

A wide variety of scenarios exist for pedestrian crosswalks at intersections, including the design and implementation of accessible signals for the blind, developmentally disabled, the elderly and small children, among others with atypical needs.

One problem under investigation is user safety: encouraging pedestrians to wait for the walk signals, and discouraging them from walking against the signal, in between moving vehicles. Newer successful models, now in use in Europe and the UK, include pedestrian-detection systems (via infrared, microwave, or video-processing technologies, or the use of pressure-sensitive mats); these auto-detection systems increase the likelihood of a timely walk signal for a waiting pedestrian, and they appear to reduce both "illegal" crossing and conflicts with turning vehicles. These systems aren't perfect (they need refinement to avoid "false calls" by pedestrian passers-by, etc.), but they appear to improve safety in research testing.

Another problem under investigation is that of disabled access, particularly for blind users. Popular audible signals make some intersections accessible to blind pedestrians, but the noises can be confusing (which sound for which direction? too loud or too soft?), and they're noise pollution for sighted pedestrians. Cambridge, Mass., for instance, reports a problem with vandals disabling the audible signals in areas where homes are situated very near to signals.

A universal design solution aspires to create a wide net for access that benefits all users, without the redundancy and extra equipment targeted at a single user group. Combining efficient automated detection systems with an accessible haptic-tactile interface creates a silent, seamless system of street access. Universal design also interrupts the organizing of people by ability in the way infrastructures tend to do: with additional provisions of equipment for targeted users, aligning people along either abled/disabled, independent/dependent lines. Broadening the scope of the question improves the entire situation without extra codes and built structures. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... PDF of Power Point presentation:



[|Link to Power Point Presentation on Scribd]

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