Projects Recently Completed or In Progress by Accessible Design For The Blind
Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Accessible Design for the Blind developed this state-of-the-art report on accessible pedestrian signals published by the U.S. Access Board in 1998. Widely referenced by traffic engineers, planners, orientation and mobility specialists and advocates in the disability community, it is the only comprehensive publication available on this topic. An international survey of research, practice and technologies for making pedestrian signal information accessible was conducted. It is currently being updated by Barlow, Bentzen and Tabor under the NCHRP project 3-62.
Completed 1998 - view Accessible Pedestrian Signals report
Revision completed 2003 - view Accessible Pedestian Signals: Synthesis and Guide to Best Practice - Download full report as pdf
NCHRP Research Results Digest 278 summarizes Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Synthesis and Guide to Best Practice.
Detectable Warnings: Synthesis of U.S. and International Practice
This report involved an international and national survey of research, practice and materials for providing under-foot warning to blind pedestrians of the end of the pedestrian way and beginning a vehicular way. It includes case studies on installations of truncated dome detectable warnings in the U.S. ADB was responsible for all phases of writing and publication of this synthesis, the only comprehensive source of information on warning surfaces available in the national and international literature. This project was completed for the Access Board in 2000 and was referenced by the Public Rights of Way Access Advisory Committee (PROWAAC) in making recommendations for detectable warnings at curb ramps.
Completed 2001 - View report Detectable Warnings: Synthesis of U.S. and International Practice
Impact of curb ramps on safety of persons who are blind.
Dr. Bentzen was principal investigator on this project, and J. Barlow was project director. The project documented that pedestrians who are blind often fail to detect the presence of intersecting streets approached via curb ramps, and established the relationship between curb ramp slope and street detection. Ms. Barlow coordinated the data collection by consultants in eight cities throughout the U.S. on the effect of curb ramps on blind travelers and techniques and cues used by the blind participants. This project was also used by the PROWAAC in making recommendations for detectable warnings at curb ramps.
Completed: 1995
Locator Tones for Pedestrian Signals
ADB conducted research to determine the optimal repetition rate for locator tones for accessible pedestrian signals. This research resulted in repetition rate of 1/sec required in the Millennium edition of the MUTCD.
Completed: 1999 - View Locator Tones Report as pdf - View Locator Tones Report as html
Guidelines for Accessible Pedestrian Signals
ADB is a major subcontractor to University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center on National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 3-62. The objectives of this research are: 1) to develop guidelines on the functional requirements and the installation of APS devices; 2) to produce training materials that will facilitate the application of the guidelines. 3) to recommend changes in the manual on uniform Traffic Control Devices.
The guidelines will explain the: functional intent of APS devices, various means of meeting this intent through tones, verbal messages, transmitted messages and/or tactile indicators, circumstances under which APS devices should be installed, and installation, positioning and orientation of APS devices for optimal use by pedestrians who have visual or visual and hearing impairment, as well as pedestrians who use wheelchairs.
In progress, expected completion date: 10/2004
Determining Recommended Language for Speech Messages used by Accessible Pedestrian Signals
New types of pushbutton integrated accessible pedestrian signals are using speech messages to indicate the walk interval information, as well as providing additional information when the pedestrian pushbutton is pushed during the “don’t walk” and “flashing don’t walk” intervals. This research on speech messages for APS was undertaken to develop recommendations based on data from stakeholders to form the basis for the establishment of recommended practice for the structure and content of walk messages and pushbutton messages for directly audible accessible pedestrian signals. Traffic engineers, individuals who are visually impaired or blind, and orientation and mobility specialists were surveyed and recommended messages were developed.
Completed 2/2001 - view Speech Messages Report as pdf - view Speech Messages Report as html
Blind Pedestrians Access to Complex Intersections
The research study titled Blind Pedestrians’ Access to Complex Intersections is being conducted for the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health and involves researchers from Western Michigan University, Vanderbilt University, Boston College, University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, and Johns Hopkins University. Billie Louise Bentzen is Project Director for research on APS through Boston College; Janet Barlow is a consultant to research on APS and detectable warnings through ADB.
This 5-year study began in June 2000 and includes a major task to examine a number of issues related to Accessible Pedestrian Signals. The overall research objectives of this task are to determine the optimal characteristics of push-button locator and WALK signal tones, compare different APS technologies, and to carry out a demonstration project using an optimal APS technology. In addition, the project includes human factors testing of street crossing at unsignalized intersections and signalized intersections without and with APS by Ss who are totally blind and who have low vision, including Ss who have other disabilities in addition to visual impairments.
In progress, expected completion date: June 2005
Wayfinding system for transportation services: Remote infrared audible signage for transit stations, surface transit, and intersections.
Dr. Bentzen directed the human factors research (sponsored by NIDRR, Dr. William Crandall, Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, Principal Investigator) in which the remote infrared audible signage was used to provide information in accessible format to pedestrians who were blind. At four signalized intersections in downtown San Francisco, 20 experienced blind travelers made crossings with and without accessible pedestrian signal information. Crossings in which information was accessible were safer, more accurate and more independent.
Completed 1997 - View report: Remote Infrared Audible Signage
Relevant Work Completed or in Progress by Principals in Accessible Design for the Blind
Engineering Approaches to Low Vision Rehabilitation
Dr. Bentzen is participating on this project, funded by the National Institute of Health, National Eye Institute, through a subcontract to Boston College from Schepens Eye Research Institute, Dr. Eli Peli, principal investigator. Dr. Bentzen is examining the effect of various types of visual field enhancement technologies on the real-world travel of persons with hemianopia or retinitis pigmentosa. The ability to negotiate in the crowded, busy environment of a mall is being evaluated, effects on cognitive mapping are being examined, and the ability of participants to judge gaps in traffic at a complex intersection are being investigated by comparison with judgements of a person having unimpaired vision.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Curriculum Development
Ms. Barlow and Ms. Bentzen are members of the project team for this project funded by Project ACTION to Western Michigan University. This project will develop a series of curriculum modules on Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and conduct two national conferences on the topic. The goal of the project is to provide information to O&M specialists, dog guide instructors, travel instructors, traffic engineers and planners, as well as people with disabilities through the development of training modules. The curriculum will be piloted at two conferences in the Summer of 2003, one on the west coast, and one on the east coast of the U.S. The conferences will include hands-on experience with APS, simulation activities during street crossings, videos of APS crossings, case studies, small group problem-solving sessions, and use of a participant workbook. It is planned that each conference will have equal numbers of mobility practitioners and traffic engineers as well as participation from people with disabilities.
In progress, expected completion date: 12/2003
Addressing Barriers to Blind Pedestrians at Signalized Intersections
This survey was conducted by the Environmental Access Committee of the Orientation and Mobility division of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dr. Bentzen and J. Barlow were major participants in the design and implementation of this survey which documented the problems experienced by pedestrians who are visually impaired at signalized intersections. One thousand orientation and mobility specialists were surveyed regarding the experiences of their clients who are totally blind or who have low vision; results were reported in the ITE Journal and raised awareness about problems of blind pedestrians at intersections.
Completed December 1998 - Published in ITE Journal 70:9 (September 2000), 32-35. - Addressing Barriers to Blind Pedestrians at Signalized Intersections
Field Comparison of Three Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Ms. Barlow is a contract consultant for the Center for the Visually Impaired, Atlanta, on a Veterans Administration Research & Development Center project, “Field Comparison of Three Accessible Pedestrian Signals” (2001-2003). She will assist in development of testing procedures and protocols, work with the traffic engineers in installation of the APS, and recruit subjects. She will also be involved with interpretation of results and reporting.
In progress, expected completion date: 4/2003
Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities (AASHTO Pedestrian Guide)
Ms. Barlow was a member of the Professional Peer Review Panel, through a contract with TYLin Bascor, to provide review and comments on accessibility issues in pedestrian facilities for persons with disabilities.
In Progress
Wayfinding Technologies for People with Visual Impairments: Research and Development of an Integrated Platform.
Ms. Barlow is a consultant to Western Michigan University and University of California, Santa Barbara on this project, which is developing a computer or palm pilot based GIS/GPS system for use by blind pedestrians for wayfinding and orientation. Her responsibilities are mainly in the data collection phase of the project, years 2004 and 2005, when the device will be tested with pedestrians who are blind. The project is funded by National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
In progress, expected completion date 10/2006
Georgia Pedestrian Facilities Design Guidebook
Ms. Barlow is a consultant to OTAK, Inc. in development of Georgia Pedestrian Facilities Design Guidebook for Georgia DOT.
In Progress: expected completion date: March, 2003
Accessible Pedestrian Signals and Traffic Signal Controllers
The Access Board funded a project to develop a technical bulletin on the interface of various types of APS with US equipment and controllers. Ms. Barlow is a consultant on the project to David Noyce, University of Massachusetts Department of Traffic Engineering. The primary objective of this research is to create a highly readable technical report that provides detailed APS product information specifically focused on the interfacing of APS devices and traffic signal controllers. This report provides a detailed description of available APS technologies which provide tone, speech, vibrotactile, directional and/or mapping features for blind pedestrians, a detailed description of traffic signal controllers (and manufacturers) currently used in the U.S. and those that may be expected in the near future, and detailed information on how the APS devices interface with traffic signal controllers. Issues discussed include wiring requirements; power requirements, interaction with conflict monitoring technology, special product installations, pedestrian signal head requirements, and lessons learned from existing installations.
In progress, expected completion date: January 2003
