A pilot study on mapping wheelability in urban environment.

Background: Urban mobility presents distinct challenges for wheelchair users compared to pedestrians, particularly regarding surface conditions, slopes, and navigational barriers. Existing mapping systems fail to adequately represent wheelchair accessibility in urban environments.

Objective: To develop a comprehensive methodology for mapping and visualizing wheel-accessible areas in urban environments that distinguishes between different wheelchair types and mobility capabilities.

Methods: The study analyzed existing wheelability audits and visualization techniques to establish standardized accessibility criteria incorporating structural and functional aspects of urban spaces. The methodology was implemented through case studies in Seoul, South Korea, specifically in Daehak-dong and Mangwon-dong areas. Validation was conducted through comprehensive field evaluations and in-depth interviews with four wheelchair users representing different mobility capabilities and wheelchair types.

Results: The framework successfully categorized urban spaces into three main accessibility levels: wheelable, unsafely wheelable, and not wheelable, with subdivisions reflecting manual and electric wheelchair user capabilities. Significant discrepancies were revealed between conventional maps and actual wheelchair-accessible routes, particularly in areas with varying terrain and complex urban infrastructure.

Conclusions: The study demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between manual and electric wheelchair accessibility and considering temporal factors such as surface deterioration and weather conditions. The methodology provides a systematic framework for understanding and visualizing urban accessibility, serving as a foundation for comprehensive accessibility mapping systems that better serve wheelchair users' mobility needs in urban environments.