Southern California City Using Robots to Make Sidewalks More Accessible

The city of Irvine, California is deploying robots to assess its sidewalk and trail network and identify accessibility issues, reports Hanna Kang in The Orange County Register.

According to Kang, “Since late August, the city has been deploying the sensor-equipped robots, developed by Oregon-based Daxbot, to scan for cracks, slopes and other barriers. Their measurements will feed into Irvine’s ADA self-evaluation program, a review officials say will help shape future upgrades.”

The automated process is up to five times faster than traditional data collection methods. “The robots are scanning for a variety of details that affect accessibility. That includes level changes that could be tripping hazards, slopes, pathway widths, low clearances, and obstructions. For curb ramps, they measure slope, length, width, landing space and whether detectable warning surfaces are in place.”

The program costs roughly $600,000, which city officials say is more cost-effective than a traditional inspection.