Adaptive personalized routing for vulnerable road users

Abstract

This research presents an adaptive and personalized routing model that enables individuals with mobility impairments to save their route preferences to a mobility assistant platform. The proactive approach based on anticipated user need accommodates vulnerable road users' personalized optimum dynamic routing rather than a reactive approach passively awaiting input. Most currently available trip planners target the general public's use of simpler route options prioritized based on static road characteristics. These static normative approaches are only satisfactory when conditions of intermediate intersections in the network are consistent, a constant rate of change occurs per each change of the segment condition, and the same fixed routes are valid every day regardless of the user preference. In this study, the vulnerable road user mobility problem is modeled by accommodating personalized preferences changing by time, sidewalk segment traversability, and the interaction between sidewalk factors and weather conditions for each segment contributing to a path choice. The developed reinforcement learning solution presents a lower average cost of personalized, accessible, and optimal path choices in various trip scenarios and superior to traditional shortest path algorithms (e.g., Dijkstra) with static and dynamic extensions.

A Study on User-Adaptive Navigation Incorporating Preference of Elderly Pedestrians Using Their Route Evaluation and Walking History

“…This difficulty level merges the psychological burden experienced by wheelchair users, computed via the Analytic Hierarchy Process using user-input data, with the physical burden, based on the data collected for the study, to emulate user route selection within the system. Darko et al (2022) suggested a route search methodology adapted to each user's psychological and physiological states, specifically tailored for individuals with disabilities. The problem is modeled by considering personalized preferences, which change over time, sidewalk segment traversability, and the interaction between sidewalk factors and weather conditions that contribute to path selection.…”

"User-Adaptive Navigation for Elderly Pedestrians Based on Preference Information"

“…The following is a summary of representative studies and their differences from this study. Darko et al proposed a route search method adapted to each user's physical condition for people with disabilities (Darko, 2022). A model based on the hierarchical analysis method is created for each user's preference for sidewalks, depending on the time of day, sidewalk conditions, weather, etc.…”

Inclusive and Safe Mobility Needs of Senior Citizens: Implications for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities

“…Public transportation provided in cities including the first and last mile travel is a key part of urban development, which contributes to sustainable cities and communities. The mobility system in most cities has immense importance for urban dwellers, particularly for vulnerable groups, such as low-income groups, pregnant women, children, physically challenged persons, and senior citizens who have less access to a private vehicle and rely on public transportation [1,2]. Mobility is essential for accessing physical, social, and cultural activities, connecting neighborhood facilities, and engaging in social participation.…”

“…Mobility also supports healthy aging and quality of life as it promotes the physical movement of humans [3]. But without mobility equality and equitability, public transportation services provided to vulnerable road users in society such as senior citizens may be inhibited from participating in social activities [2]. Most senior citizens rely on driving to accomplish their mobility needs.…”

“…Most senior citizens rely on driving to accomplish their mobility needs. But as senior citizens advance in age, they are faced with functional limitations, such as vision impairment, dementia, and cognitive decline, which make driving more challenging [4,5]. The findings from Tournier et al [6] suggested that senior citizens are faced with issues, such as attention deficits, physical frailty, and visual impairment, which negatively impact senior citizens' safety either as pedestrians or when using public transportation.…”