GISC Prepares Maps to Assist Those Using Wheelchairs to Get Around the Campus with the Massive Construction Projects that are Just Beginning

Jennifer Lawrence of Capital Projects contacted the GISC to help respond to concerns that substantial upcoming construction on campus will make traversing the campus difficult for everyone, but particularly for those using wheelchairs. This project is still in progress and will be up and running soon. The GISC and Capital Projects has been working with the Campus Committee for the Removal of Architectural Barriers to develop a program to disseminate information about pathways that will be closed due to construction and what alternative routes are available. The GISC has been collecting data about the maximum slope of all campus pathways, the surface material (as some are more slippery than others, especially when wet) and surface condition. The GISC has developed a network of these pathways with the data associated so maps can be produced and posted at campus entries and so that a webpage can be developed which will indicate which pathways will be open on any given day, as the construction projects begin and finish. Eventually the website will allow a visitor to enter information about where they will enter the campus, where they will go (either one or multiple locations), and the type of pathway, in terms of slope and surface type or surface condition, they can traverse. A map will be returned with a proposed best route for them for that day. Stay tuned for more information about this website in the next issue.

GISC staff that have worked on this project: Dana Benson, Anders Flodmark, Wei Luo, Katherine Mortimer