Accessibility is a crucial factor in shaping people’s everyday lives. Despite walking being one of the most common modes of transportation in urban areas, many people face challenges in moving around safely and easily due to inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. Sidewalks, which serve as primary pathways for pedestrians, are often poorly mapped. This issue is prevalent not only in authoritative government data but also in open-source platforms like OpenStreetMap (OSM).
Within the OSM ecosystem, valuable tools exist for mapping pedestrian networks, including sidewalks. Mapping sidewalks as separate geometries enhances the accuracy of routing, path lengths, and topological connections, which are essential for accessibility. Accurate mapping enables users to better navigate cities, especially those with mobility challenges. However, despite the availability of these tools, sidewalks remain significantly underrepresented in OSM. This gap in mapping is partially due to a lack of awareness or hesitancy within the OSM community, where road mapping often takes priority over pedestrian networks.
One promising solution is the use of street-level imagery, such as that provided by Mapillary, to assist in the mapping of sidewalks. By using imagery, contributors can extract essential details about sidewalks, such as surface material, width, and condition, without physically being on-site. This can significantly improve the quality and quantity of sidewalk data in OSM, making pedestrian networks more comprehensive and accessible.
The Sidewalk Mapping Workshop at State of the Map LATAM 2024 aims to address these issues by introducing participants to the fundamental concepts of accessibility and sidewalk mapping. The workshop is divided into three sections. First, participants will be introduced to the basic concepts of accessibility and the importance of mapping pedestrian infrastructure, with a focus on sidewalks. This segment will cover the challenges faced by pedestrians in cities with incomplete or poorly maintained sidewalks and highlight the benefits of accurate mapping for accessibility.
The second section of the workshop will focus on how to represent sidewalk networks on OSM. Participants will learn how to map sidewalks as separate geometries, ensuring that they are connected to the broader pedestrian infrastructure. This hands-on section will also explore how to map additional features like crosswalks and ramps, which are essential for creating an inclusive urban environment.
Finally, the third section will guide participants through the process of using OSM tags for mapping accessibility features. Tags such as surface=, smoothness=, width=, and incline= will be covered, giving participants the tools they need to accurately represent the state of sidewalks in their communities.
By educating participants on the value of mapping sidewalks and providing practical tools, the workshop aims to empower contributors to improve the pedestrian infrastructure in OSM. Ultimately, this will lead to more accessible, inclusive cities for all.