2-many-obstacles

Ease transportation for people with mobility restrictions to get their destination faster and with less overload. For that we utilize OpenStreetMap and OpenRouteService.

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Inspiration

We were inspired by the daily struggles faced by people with disabilities and mobility challenges in navigating urban environments. Simple tasks like crossing a street, finding accessible entrances, or navigating public transportation can become overwhelming obstacles. We noticed that while mapping services have improved, they still lack customization for specific accessibility needs and fail to address the human element—sometimes people just need a helping hand.

What it does

2ManyObstacles is a route planning application specifically designed for people with mobility challenges. It offers:

  • Personalized Route Planning: Using OpenStreetMap and OpenRouteService with customized parameters based on user preferences collected during onboarding (wheelchair accessibility, avoidance of stairs, preference for ramps, etc.).
  • Community Support Network: Users can connect with others in their neighborhood who have opted in to provide assistance with specific challenges (crossing busy intersections, navigating stairs, etc.).
  • Accessibility Mapping: Users contribute to improving map data by marking accessible features they discover during their journeys.

How we built it

We built our solution with NextJS and TypeScript. Most designs were built in Figma.

2ManyObstacles is based on OpenStreetMap and OpenRouteService.

Challenges we ran into

  • Incomplete Accessibility Data: OpenStreetMap doesn't always contain comprehensive accessibility information, requiring us to develop strategies for handling uncertainty in routing.
  • Complex Parameter Optimization: Translating subjective user preferences from our survey into technical routing parameters proved more complex than anticipated.
  • User Experience Complexity: Creating an interface simple enough for users with limited technological familiarity while providing robust customization options was challenging.
  • Testing Limitations: Not being members of the disability community ourselves, we faced limitations in authentic testing, though we consulted with advocacy groups when possible.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • complete implementation of an map embed enriched with user preferences and limitations
  • great team atmosphere during the coding time

What we learned

  • the difficulties of people with wheelchairs or mobility restrictions in their daily doing
  • available solutions to the (and similar) problem exist, but aren't sufficiently spread in communities
  • the awareness among people that face no such challenges is limited

What's next

  • Customizable maximal way length: Add intermediate stops to your route to accomplish routes too long to do in one go.
  • Reactivity on Diversions of the proposed Route: With obstacles along the way, the route should be reactive to diversions users take along proposed routes.
  • Scoping of the Community feature

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