About this programme
People with mobility impairments are often not considered by building designers to the extent that they can be literally left behind in emergencies. With elevators usually taken out of operation, people with mobility impairment often have to wait until somebody can help them down the stairs or through unfamiliar routes. The increasingly ageing and mobility-impaired population in combination with housing densification means this situation is becoming increasingly common.
Designers do not have the right tools to easily consider mobility impairment into their processes. Current design packages and simulation tools use flow data for young and able-bodied people gathered over 50 years ago.
This project aims to build new digital tools and design guidance that automatically and accurately includes people with mobility impairments by default. It is led by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury with support from Whakaratonga Iwi | Fire and Emergency New Zealand and BRANZ researchers.
The new digital tools will include a building information modelling-based evacuation model and add-in. These will support the use of new modelling methods to assess different body types, speeds and flows, reflecting the different population mixes of today.
It also includes co-creation research on occupant notification systems like alarms and signage, evacuation elevators and safe areas within a building. This research will use virtual reality experiments to develop design guidance and help people use new ways to escape.
These tools will help designers and authorities to automatically consider mixed-ability populations within design processes. This project aims to ensure that the evacuees feel safe and included in their journey out of the building.
Designers do not have the right tools to easily consider mobility impairment into their processes. Current design packages and simulation tools use flow data for young and able-bodied people gathered over 50 years ago.
This project aims to build new digital tools and design guidance that automatically and accurately includes people with mobility impairments by default. It is led by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury with support from Whakaratonga Iwi | Fire and Emergency New Zealand and BRANZ researchers.
The new digital tools will include a building information modelling-based evacuation model and add-in. These will support the use of new modelling methods to assess different body types, speeds and flows, reflecting the different population mixes of today.
It also includes co-creation research on occupant notification systems like alarms and signage, evacuation elevators and safe areas within a building. This research will use virtual reality experiments to develop design guidance and help people use new ways to escape.
These tools will help designers and authorities to automatically consider mixed-ability populations within design processes. This project aims to ensure that the evacuees feel safe and included in their journey out of the building.