Mobile-S – Age-appropriate neighborhood and urban development

Improving Mobility for Older People in Urban Neighborhoods

Motivation

Older people have specific requirements for participating in urban spaces: Accessible mobility is particularly important for them. Without it, loneliness and reduced quality of life can result. So far, mobility barriers have not been systematically recorded. An efficient approach would be to collect data through sensor-based methods, which could then be used for mobility-sensitive navigation and infrastructure development.

Goals and Approach

The Mobile-S project team not only uses sensor technology to determine the accessibility of pathways for various types of mobility aids (e.g., walkers, wheelchairs), but also documents information and barriers that are typically unavailable in navigation systems—such as temporary obstacles caused by damaged paths or construction sites, as well as seating areas or easily accessible toilets. The team uses this data to develop a senior-friendly navigation aid. At the same time, it makes information about mobility barriers or infrastructural deficiencies available for urban and neighborhood development, with the goal of reducing mobility barriers.

Innovations and Perspectives

For age-appropriate neighborhood and urban development, the Mobile-S project team combines social processes with insights from gerontology, nursing science, technological innovations (sensors, AI), and planning approaches. The target groups include older people with mobility impairments, urban planners, and neighborhood managers.