Monitoring user-based accessibility assessment in urban environments and in public buildings

Abstract

The research features analysis of user-experience based accessibility assessment and progress monitoring of buildings and public spaces; this analysis is used as a tool for facilitating the development of humane, socially sustainable and an inclusive urban environment and architecture. A group of users representing people with different kinds of disabilities, the elderly and families with children was created to assess the quality of physical access to the buildings of different functions and locations across the cities of Vilnius, Lithuania and Singapore, Republic of Singapore. A school, two hospitals, a rehabilitation centre and two offices were selected for access monitoring in Vilnius City, while a hotel, a café and two metro stations with public squares were chosen for access assessment in Singapore (Fig. 11). The article draws a comparative analysis on accessibility of the selected buildings in Vilnius City and in Singapore where the same pre-tested method was applied to assess accessibility in 2000 – 2017. The results show a definite improvement of access quality over time and identify the critical aspects of urban spaces and buildings. The segment of plot planning represents the lowest quality of access for all assessed building types as compared to the building segment and the external–internal element segments. The paper also draws conclusions that access improvement is a continuous process of implementing advanced urban policy instruments, and city planners can contribute to it by constantly analysing and presenting to public the monitoring data about the progress in accessibility of buildings and urban spaces. Comparing the assessment results between Vilnius City and Singapore – cities that are located in different global regions and in different socio-economic environments – provides a practical tool for benchmarking, monitoring and prioritising this process.