ALIGN ATL

Functionality & Mechanism

ALIGN ATL is a pedestrian navigation system that generates routes optimized for individual user needs in Atlanta. The interface facilitates the selection of up to five essential and unlimited secondary parameters, including sidewalk availability, audible crossing signals, street lighting, and crime rates. The system then calculates a route that minimizes conflicts based on these inputs. Turn-by-turn navigation is provided, which includes notifications of potential obstacles and access to street-level imagery for route preview and verification.

Evidence & Research Context

• The associated research describes the system as a tool to mitigate mobility challenges posed by outdoor environmental barriers, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
• The platform leverages real-time or near real-time geospatial data to generate routes that are intelligently tailored to an individual's specified needs and abilities.
• A primary design objective is the creation of a user behavior repository to inform urban policy and assist city planners in prioritizing community mobility improvement projects.

Intended Use & Scope

This system is intended for the general public, especially older adults and individuals with mobility or visual impairments, as an advanced pedestrian route planning tool. It also functions as a data collection platform for urban planning research. The application provides navigational workarounds for existing infrastructure barriers but does not replace the need for physical accessibility improvements. Users should always exercise independent judgment regarding personal safety.