An Approach for Assessing Reachability of Wheelchair Users
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Wang, Chun-Ping
Abstract
This research aims to provide an approach for assessing reachability of wheelchair users in indoor environment. In recent years, more and more attentions have been paid by the government on considering the convenience of disability and setting up standards to aid architects in designing barrier-free facilities. But most of the standards are prescriptive-based which use fixed parameters of rules to guide the design of barrier-free facilities. The results from this kind of design do not guarantee the amenity of facility use for disability, e.g. wheelchair users. To address this issue, performance-based standards have been proposed to consider the usability of facilities for disability from the viewpoint of performance of barrier-free facilities.
Taking advantage of performance-based design, this research develops a prototype system called PAW (Program for Assessing Reachability of Wheelchair Users) to support architects in designing barrier-free space by reducing the complexity and difficulty of assessing reachability of the wheelchair users. PAW uses the 3D models of building and wheelchair user as input data, and MicrosoftTM XNA game engine and NVidiaTM PhysX physical engine as tools for simulating the movement of wheelchair users within buildings. Also, PAW provides 3D views to show the assessment results and to help architects discover conflicts or mistakes in building design.
Subjects
reachability assessment
barrier-free space
wheelchair
3D visualization
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-100-R98521609-1.pdf
Size
23.32 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):a378b02ed1e694acdc69bd4500f852ec