The Accessibility project

Not just directions, demand access. The GMaps Accessibility Project reveals real-time, street-level accessibility using Google Maps. Navigate safely, confidently, and inclusively.

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The Accessibility Project – Google Maps Platform Awards Submission

🔗 Project URL

Live demo: https://maps-accessibility-project.vercel.app

Inspiration

While digital maps have made travel more convenient, they rarely account for accessibility. For individuals using wheelchairs, crutches, or facing temporary mobility challenges, a "shortest route" can often become a dead end, blocked by stairs, curbs, or narrow walkways. Street view can of course help a wheelchair user avoid a location but why, why should this person be denied access to a location which any other abled person can?

The Accessibility Project was inspired by this gap — with a vision to create a smarter, more inclusive navigation layer. Originally conceptualized as a hardware solution using a Raspberry Pi and camera on a walking stick, it has evolved into a scalable, browser-based experience that overlays accessibility data on Google Maps.

What it does

The app provides real-time accessibility insights directly on an interactive map interface. Here's how it works:

  • When the user opens the app, they see a draggable map centered on South and North San Francisco.
  • Within seconds, the map populates accessibility data using color-coded markers:
    • 🟢 Green – High accessibility
    • 🟡 Yellow – Medium accessibility
    • 🔴 Red – Low accessibility
  • Clicking on a marker fetches a live Street View image of that location and performs visual analysis for ramps, sidewalks, and entrances.
  • Users can also drag Pegman onto the map for real-time inspection of accessibility features at street level.

How we built it

The Accessibility Project uses the following Google Maps Platform APIs:

  • Maps JavaScript API – for rendering the interactive map
  • Street View API – for fetching real-time street-level imagery
  • Custom Markers and Overlays – for representing accessibility levels

The app comprises of a NextJs (react + typescript) + Firestore stack deployed on vercel.

The visual data is programmatically analyzed based on street-level images, and accessibility scoring is applied using predefined heuristics and patterns (e.g., presence of curb ramps, step-free entrances, and clear walkways).

Challenges we ran into

  • Street View Limitations: Not all areas have high-resolution or recent Street View imagery, which impacted data accuracy.
  • Determining criteria for accessibility: Trying to develop a universal criteria for cities like San Francisco and Mumbai is a challenge.
  • Computational Constraints: Processing image-based data client-side required balancing performance and analysis depth.
  • Transitioning from Hardware to Web: The original idea involved a physical stick with a camera. Redefining that into a purely digital experience required a full architectural rethink.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Selected as a Regional Finalist in the e-Yantra Ideas Competition, ranking in the top projects among 1,300+ entries.
  • Successfully transitioned a hardware-first accessibility tool into a scalable, browser-based software platform.
  • Designed a no-login, no-install experience that is intuitive and accessible by anyone with a browser.

What we learned

  • Accessibility is not just a hardware challenge — much can be solved through better data visibility and software.
  • Google Maps Platform offers powerful tools that, when layered intelligently, can solve real-world equity and mobility problems.
  • Building lightweight tools with a focused goal can sometimes reach more users than bulky, complex systems.

What's next for The Accessibility Project

  • City Expansion: Add more cities with diverse topography and accessibility challenges.
  • Route Recommendation: Provide fully accessible route planning — not just data points — based on user profiles.
  • Accessibility Heatmaps: Allow urban planners to visualize accessibility deserts and target improvements.

Built with Google Maps. Driven by inclusion.

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