Advanced Localization Techniques on Smart Devices for a Connected, Accessible and Inclusive Society
Engineering for the Information Society and Sustainable Development
Luis Enrique Díez Blanco and Alfonso Bahillo Martínez
DeustoTech (www.deustotech.eu) is a private non-profit institution of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Deusto (in Bilbao, Spain) for applied research in new technologies. Since 2005 DeustoTech mission is to support the ICT activity in business and society through research, the development of technologies, innovation, and knowledge transfer. We focus our activity around TRLs 2-7 and articulate it into four applied fields: Industry, Mobility, Energy, and Society, having a fifth, the Chair of Applied Mathematics, as a transversal activity and support for the previous four. We are characterized for working with data of heterogeneous nature, throughout its life cycle and in compliance with ethical principles and humanists who define the University of Deusto.
The PhD candidate will join DeustoTech but the thesis project is intended to be carried out in co-direction with the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), in Munich (Germany), where the candidate will spend several stays. This Institute works on the conception and analysis of communication and navigation systems involving satellites or designed for applications in aeronautics, transport and security (www.dlr.de/kn).
– Candidates who want to apply for this vacancy should have a first class or good degree at master’s level in Mathematics, Physics, Telecommunications Engineering, Industrial Technology or equivalent.
– Advanced command of English (C1 or equivalent) is desired. Knowledge of Spanish or German is not a requirement.
– To be eligible students must be full-time and physically present at the DeustoTech’s premises, except during the stays at the DLR.
- Information Sciences and Engineering (ENG)
- Mathematics (MAT)
- Physics (PHY)
User location-based information has transversal demand on numerous applications and can be a problem solver of different societal challenges, among which mobility is one of the priorities.
On the one hand, next generation transport solutions such as multi-modal systems or «Mobility as a Service» require accurate and seamless location information for being efficient and safe alternatives. On the other hand, mobility solutions must benefit all citizens: One in six people in the EU has a disability that ranges from mild to severe making around 80 million who are often prevented from taking part fully in society and the economy because of environmental and attitudinal barriers.
Smart devices have increasingly greater technical capabilities that can be used for localization purposes: improved satellite navigation, several RF interfaces and inertial sensors as well as other useful sensors. In addition, they have enough computing power to implement data fusion techniques or cooperative strategies, such as the combination of multiple devices.
This presents exciting challenges for signal processing researchers and open promising opportunities to empower people to interact with and through the world. The proposed research will focus on the design of advanced localization techniques using mass market smart devices, such as smartphones or wearable devices, with the aim of developing location-based services that foster a more connected, accessible and inclusive society.
EXCELLENCE OF THE HOST RESEARCH UNIT
– T. Otim, A. Bahillo, L. E. Diez, P. Lopez, and F. Falcone, “FDTD and Empirical Exploration of Human Body and UWB Radiation Interaction on TOF Ranging,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1119–1123, Apr. 2019. IF=3.448 (Q1). DOI: 10.1109/LAWP.2019.2910378
– Rebernik, N. Goličnik Marušić, B. Bahillo, A. Osaba, E. (2019). “A 4-dimensional Model and Combined Methodological Approach to Inclusive Urban Planning and Design for ALL”, Sustainable Cities and Society Vol. 44, Jan. 2019, Pages 195-214. IF=1.777 (Q2). DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.10.001.
– L. E. Díez, A. Bahillo, J. Otegui, and T. Otim, “Suitability Analysis of Wrist-Worn Sensors for Implementing Pedestrian Dead Reckoning Systems,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 5098–5114, May 2018. I=2.617 (Q1). DOI: 10.1109/JSEN.2018.2830809
– Bahillo, L. E. Díez, and A. Arambarri, “BLUE Care: A Cooperative Location Network for Handicapped Persons,” Procedia Engineering, vol. 178, pp. 67–75, Jan. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.064
– Bahillo, T. Aguilera, F. J. Álvarez, and A. Perallos, “WAY: Seamless Positioning Using a Smart Device,” Wireless Pers Commun, vol. 94, no. 4, pp. 2949–2967, Jun. 2017. IF=1.2 (Q4). DOI: 10.1007/s11277-016-3759-x
-“LBS4All: LBS enablers for enhancing mobility of people with disabilities relying on Galileo, hybrid intelligence and collaborative space augmentation”, H2020 project proposal under preparation for the call “EGNSS applications fostering digitisation”
-“Underground Built Heritage as catalyser for Community Valorisation”, European COST Action CA18110, 48 months (Apr. 2019 – Apr. 2023)
-“STING: Trains Positioning by Fusing Data coming from Heterogeneous Technologies”, Funded by CAF I+D, 36 months (Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2019)
-“BLUE: Enabling Ubiquitous Location-Based services”, Basque Department of Education Grant (ref. PI_2016_0010), 24 months (Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2018)
-“ESPHIA: Enabling Seamless Positioning for Helping Inhabitants Anywhere”, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (TIN2014-56042-JIN), 36 months (Oct. 2015 – Oct. 2018)
-“CYBERPARKS: Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness”, European COST Action TU1306, 48 months (Apr. 2014 – Apr. 2018)
-“LORIS: Localization Cooperative Systems for People and Objects in Diverse Environments”. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (TIN2012-38080-C04-03), 36 months (Jan. 2013 – Dec. 2015)
-“LEMUR: Continuous localization in extensive environments using ultrasound and radiofrequency”, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (TIN2009-14114-C04-02), 36 months (Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2012) INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION
The proposed research plan seeks to cover three areas of knowledge in a bottom-up strategy, one of them closer to basic research and the other two to applied research:
– Advanced localization techniques on smart devices: The main motivation behind this knowledge area is based on the current need for a better accuracy and availability of localization information using mass-market devices such as smartphones or wearable devices. This basic research objective seeks dynamic positioning systems which autonomously adapts to the availability of external signals depending on the environment.
– Smart transport systems: State-of-the-art transport solutions such as autonomous cars or multimodal systems require context information to function effectively and safely. Therefore, one of the applied objectives of this research project is to study the use of the new localization techniques in advanced transport solutions, analysing the performance requirements they impose.
– Accessibility-oriented applications: Accessible transport is key to seek equal opportunities and therefore an inclusive society. Another important objective of the proposed research plan is the use of localization techniques to design services that favour the mobility of people with disabilities.
Yes, the thesis will be co-directed between DeustoTech and DLR, who have shown willingness to co-finance the research project, as sought in the 6i-DIRS project. The contact person at DLR is Dr. Estefanía Muñoz Díaz-Ropero (Estefania.Munoz@dlr.de).
The basic research objective related to the design of advanced localization techniques using smart devices will be led jointly by the two institutions, although part of their fields of expertise are also complementary: beacon-based techniques by DeustoTech and pedestrian inertial navigation by DLR.
In the case of the applied research objectives, DLR will lead the area of smart transport systems and DeustoTech will lead the area of accessibility-oriented applications.
We plan the next mechanisms to successfully implement the interdisciplinarity and international collaboration:
– Refine the plan proposal (objectives, scope and roadmap) agreed among the co-directors and the PhD candidate for the three years period.
– Skype meetings every two weeks to check the progress of the PhD researcher and to establish the next steps to follow.
– Face to face meetings every 24 weeks.
– At least two short-term research stays every year, and one long-term research stay at the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Munich, Germany. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
The research project is clearly aligned with the topics defined by the H2020 programme:
– From a technical point of view, it is aligned with the work programme «Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies», both in the area of «Information and Communication Technologies» and in the area of «Space», as its objective is the design of localization systems in intelligent devices including the use of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo, EGNOS).
– From the application point of view, the objective of developing inclusive and accessible applications, especially for smart transport systems, is clearly aligned with Societal Challenge 1 (Health, demographic change and wellbeing) and Societal Challenge 4 (Smart, Green and Integrated Transport).
As mentioned before, there are currently several project proposals under preparation in calls for the previous programmes.
As mentioned before, the thesis will be co-directed between DeustoTech (Spain) and DLR (Germany). The research groups of both institutions involved in this proposal have been working together on different research activities for several years. This ensures a smooth and effective international collaboration. INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION
The research proposal is aligned with the specialisation line «Urban habitat» within the Basque Country’s RIS3, which encompasses three lines of action:
– social line, which seeks to improve social cohesion, expressly including universal accessibility
– economic line, working towards digitalization and smart cities
– environmental line, which includes actions in the field of mobility
Several stakeholders who may be interested in the results of this research project have now been identified:
– Transport systems manufacturers or operators, who can be interested in innovative transport solutions. There exist active collaborations with companies such as CAF or Euskotren
– Associations of people with different types of disabilities, as they are the main end users of accessibility objective of this research project. In the past, there has been contacts with associations such as “Discapacitados sin fronteras “(Disabled without frontiers) or ONCE (Spanish Blind Association)
– Town councils and other public bodies interested in being able to offer better and more accessible services to citizens. In the past, there has been collaborations with cities such as Bilbao or Zaragoza in Spain, or Maribor in Slovenia
– Different agents in the health field, especially interested in the study of active aging or people with psychiatric problems. There exist active collaborations and contacts with several teams in the field of psychiatry of Sacyl (Public Health Service of Castilla y León, Spain)
No, this research project is envisaged as an international thesis co-directed by two research and development institutions. IMPACT
The choice of mobility, accessibility and inclusiveness as the target applications of this research project will maximise the public benefit because it addresses major societal challenges identified as priorities by different international organizations.
In particular, the main stakeholders will benefit from the results of this project in different ways:
– Access to high technology developers specialized in seamless positioning and Location Based Services implementation.
– Gaining knowledge on inclusion aspects in urban areas that will serve to the preparation of studies related to transport, mobility, urban planning and accessibility, etc.
– New business models related to co-operation between public administration and its stakeholders (citizens, companies, associations).
– Opportunity for closely collaborating cities and associations of people with physical disabilities, having the opportunity to boost the accessibility of urban areas to all the citizens. Opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices.
In addition, user location-based information has transversal demand on numerous commercial applications. Revenues of context-aware smartphone apps will hit € 30.6 billion by 2019, up from € 11.7 billion in 2015, so there is also a great commercial opportunity, which can be reflected in the obtaining of patents or creation of spin-off companies. INNOVATION
The main innovative aspect of the research project is the focus of the development of LBS in the field of accessibility and inclusiveness. This implies focusing on a market and type of problems generally forgotten and brings with it the need to work from multidisciplinary strategies, which always is challenging and stimulating. Another important aspect of the offer is the possibility of working on a project that covers a wide spectrum of the life cycle of a product, as the project will include from basic and applied research tasks (TRL 2 to 5) to developing and testing systems that can be used in an operational environment with real services (TRL 7). INCLUSION
The inclusion dimension is at the heart of the proposed research project, as the main practical application sought of the localization techniques will be the improvement of accessibility and mobility for people with disabilities.
The EU has a strong commitment for improving the social and economic situation of people with disabilities. For this, the Commission has defined an Action Plan in the scope of “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe”, where the access and mobility of people with disabilities in urban areas, its facilities and transportation system are a key priority, understanding accessibility as a precondition for participation in society and the economy.
– T. Otim, A. Bahillo, L. E. Diez, P. Lopez, and F. Falcone, “FDTD and Empirical Exploration of Human Body and UWB Radiation Interaction on TOF Ranging,” IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1119–1123, Apr. 2019. IF=3.448 (Q1). DOI: 10.1109/LAWP.2019.2910378
– Rebernik, N. Goličnik Marušić, B. Bahillo, A. Osaba, E. (2019). “A 4-dimensional Model and Combined Methodological Approach to Inclusive Urban Planning and Design for ALL”, Sustainable Cities and Society Vol. 44, Jan. 2019, Pages 195-214. IF=1.777 (Q2). DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2018.10.001.
– L. E. Díez, A. Bahillo, J. Otegui, and T. Otim, “Suitability Analysis of Wrist-Worn Sensors for Implementing Pedestrian Dead Reckoning Systems,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 5098–5114, May 2018. I=2.617 (Q1). DOI: 10.1109/JSEN.2018.2830809
– Bahillo, L. E. Díez, and A. Arambarri, “BLUE Care: A Cooperative Location Network for Handicapped Persons,” Procedia Engineering, vol. 178, pp. 67–75, Jan. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2017.01.064
– Bahillo, T. Aguilera, F. J. Álvarez, and A. Perallos, “WAY: Seamless Positioning Using a Smart Device,” Wireless Pers Commun, vol. 94, no. 4, pp. 2949–2967, Jun. 2017. IF=1.2 (Q4). DOI: 10.1007/s11277-016-3759-x
-“LBS4All: LBS enablers for enhancing mobility of people with disabilities relying on Galileo, hybrid intelligence and collaborative space augmentation”, H2020 project proposal under preparation for the call “EGNSS applications fostering digitisation”
-“Underground Built Heritage as catalyser for Community Valorisation”, European COST Action CA18110, 48 months (Apr. 2019 – Apr. 2023)
-“STING: Trains Positioning by Fusing Data coming from Heterogeneous Technologies”, Funded by CAF I+D, 36 months (Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2019)
-“BLUE: Enabling Ubiquitous Location-Based services”, Basque Department of Education Grant (ref. PI_2016_0010), 24 months (Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2018)
-“ESPHIA: Enabling Seamless Positioning for Helping Inhabitants Anywhere”, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (TIN2014-56042-JIN), 36 months (Oct. 2015 – Oct. 2018)
-“CYBERPARKS: Fostering knowledge about the relationship between Information and Communication Technologies and Public Spaces supported by strategies to improve their use and attractiveness”, European COST Action TU1306, 48 months (Apr. 2014 – Apr. 2018)
-“LORIS: Localization Cooperative Systems for People and Objects in Diverse Environments”. Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (TIN2012-38080-C04-03), 36 months (Jan. 2013 – Dec. 2015)
-“LEMUR: Continuous localization in extensive environments using ultrasound and radiofrequency”, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (TIN2009-14114-C04-02), 36 months (Jan. 2010 – Dec. 2012)
The proposed research plan seeks to cover three areas of knowledge in a bottom-up strategy, one of them closer to basic research and the other two to applied research:
– Advanced localization techniques on smart devices: The main motivation behind this knowledge area is based on the current need for a better accuracy and availability of localization information using mass-market devices such as smartphones or wearable devices. This basic research objective seeks dynamic positioning systems which autonomously adapts to the availability of external signals depending on the environment.
– Smart transport systems: State-of-the-art transport solutions such as autonomous cars or multimodal systems require context information to function effectively and safely. Therefore, one of the applied objectives of this research project is to study the use of the new localization techniques in advanced transport solutions, analysing the performance requirements they impose.
– Accessibility-oriented applications: Accessible transport is key to seek equal opportunities and therefore an inclusive society. Another important objective of the proposed research plan is the use of localization techniques to design services that favour the mobility of people with disabilities.
Yes, the thesis will be co-directed between DeustoTech and DLR, who have shown willingness to co-finance the research project, as sought in the 6i-DIRS project. The contact person at DLR is Dr. Estefanía Muñoz Díaz-Ropero (Estefania.Munoz@dlr.de).
The basic research objective related to the design of advanced localization techniques using smart devices will be led jointly by the two institutions, although part of their fields of expertise are also complementary: beacon-based techniques by DeustoTech and pedestrian inertial navigation by DLR.
In the case of the applied research objectives, DLR will lead the area of smart transport systems and DeustoTech will lead the area of accessibility-oriented applications.
We plan the next mechanisms to successfully implement the interdisciplinarity and international collaboration:
– Refine the plan proposal (objectives, scope and roadmap) agreed among the co-directors and the PhD candidate for the three years period.
– Skype meetings every two weeks to check the progress of the PhD researcher and to establish the next steps to follow.
– Face to face meetings every 24 weeks.
– At least two short-term research stays every year, and one long-term research stay at the Institute of Communications and Navigation of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Munich, Germany.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
The research project is clearly aligned with the topics defined by the H2020 programme:
– From a technical point of view, it is aligned with the work programme «Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies», both in the area of «Information and Communication Technologies» and in the area of «Space», as its objective is the design of localization systems in intelligent devices including the use of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo, EGNOS).
– From the application point of view, the objective of developing inclusive and accessible applications, especially for smart transport systems, is clearly aligned with Societal Challenge 1 (Health, demographic change and wellbeing) and Societal Challenge 4 (Smart, Green and Integrated Transport).
As mentioned before, there are currently several project proposals under preparation in calls for the previous programmes.
As mentioned before, the thesis will be co-directed between DeustoTech (Spain) and DLR (Germany). The research groups of both institutions involved in this proposal have been working together on different research activities for several years. This ensures a smooth and effective international collaboration. INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION
The research proposal is aligned with the specialisation line «Urban habitat» within the Basque Country’s RIS3, which encompasses three lines of action:
– social line, which seeks to improve social cohesion, expressly including universal accessibility
– economic line, working towards digitalization and smart cities
– environmental line, which includes actions in the field of mobility
Several stakeholders who may be interested in the results of this research project have now been identified:
– Transport systems manufacturers or operators, who can be interested in innovative transport solutions. There exist active collaborations with companies such as CAF or Euskotren
– Associations of people with different types of disabilities, as they are the main end users of accessibility objective of this research project. In the past, there has been contacts with associations such as “Discapacitados sin fronteras “(Disabled without frontiers) or ONCE (Spanish Blind Association)
– Town councils and other public bodies interested in being able to offer better and more accessible services to citizens. In the past, there has been collaborations with cities such as Bilbao or Zaragoza in Spain, or Maribor in Slovenia
– Different agents in the health field, especially interested in the study of active aging or people with psychiatric problems. There exist active collaborations and contacts with several teams in the field of psychiatry of Sacyl (Public Health Service of Castilla y León, Spain)
No, this research project is envisaged as an international thesis co-directed by two research and development institutions. IMPACT
The choice of mobility, accessibility and inclusiveness as the target applications of this research project will maximise the public benefit because it addresses major societal challenges identified as priorities by different international organizations.
In particular, the main stakeholders will benefit from the results of this project in different ways:
– Access to high technology developers specialized in seamless positioning and Location Based Services implementation.
– Gaining knowledge on inclusion aspects in urban areas that will serve to the preparation of studies related to transport, mobility, urban planning and accessibility, etc.
– New business models related to co-operation between public administration and its stakeholders (citizens, companies, associations).
– Opportunity for closely collaborating cities and associations of people with physical disabilities, having the opportunity to boost the accessibility of urban areas to all the citizens. Opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices.
In addition, user location-based information has transversal demand on numerous commercial applications. Revenues of context-aware smartphone apps will hit € 30.6 billion by 2019, up from € 11.7 billion in 2015, so there is also a great commercial opportunity, which can be reflected in the obtaining of patents or creation of spin-off companies. INNOVATION
The main innovative aspect of the research project is the focus of the development of LBS in the field of accessibility and inclusiveness. This implies focusing on a market and type of problems generally forgotten and brings with it the need to work from multidisciplinary strategies, which always is challenging and stimulating. Another important aspect of the offer is the possibility of working on a project that covers a wide spectrum of the life cycle of a product, as the project will include from basic and applied research tasks (TRL 2 to 5) to developing and testing systems that can be used in an operational environment with real services (TRL 7). INCLUSION
The inclusion dimension is at the heart of the proposed research project, as the main practical application sought of the localization techniques will be the improvement of accessibility and mobility for people with disabilities.
The EU has a strong commitment for improving the social and economic situation of people with disabilities. For this, the Commission has defined an Action Plan in the scope of “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe”, where the access and mobility of people with disabilities in urban areas, its facilities and transportation system are a key priority, understanding accessibility as a precondition for participation in society and the economy.
The research project is clearly aligned with the topics defined by the H2020 programme:
– From a technical point of view, it is aligned with the work programme «Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies», both in the area of «Information and Communication Technologies» and in the area of «Space», as its objective is the design of localization systems in intelligent devices including the use of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo, EGNOS).
– From the application point of view, the objective of developing inclusive and accessible applications, especially for smart transport systems, is clearly aligned with Societal Challenge 1 (Health, demographic change and wellbeing) and Societal Challenge 4 (Smart, Green and Integrated Transport).
As mentioned before, there are currently several project proposals under preparation in calls for the previous programmes.
As mentioned before, the thesis will be co-directed between DeustoTech (Spain) and DLR (Germany). The research groups of both institutions involved in this proposal have been working together on different research activities for several years. This ensures a smooth and effective international collaboration.
The research proposal is aligned with the specialisation line «Urban habitat» within the Basque Country’s RIS3, which encompasses three lines of action:
– social line, which seeks to improve social cohesion, expressly including universal accessibility
– economic line, working towards digitalization and smart cities
– environmental line, which includes actions in the field of mobility
Several stakeholders who may be interested in the results of this research project have now been identified:
– Transport systems manufacturers or operators, who can be interested in innovative transport solutions. There exist active collaborations with companies such as CAF or Euskotren
– Associations of people with different types of disabilities, as they are the main end users of accessibility objective of this research project. In the past, there has been contacts with associations such as “Discapacitados sin fronteras “(Disabled without frontiers) or ONCE (Spanish Blind Association)
– Town councils and other public bodies interested in being able to offer better and more accessible services to citizens. In the past, there has been collaborations with cities such as Bilbao or Zaragoza in Spain, or Maribor in Slovenia
– Different agents in the health field, especially interested in the study of active aging or people with psychiatric problems. There exist active collaborations and contacts with several teams in the field of psychiatry of Sacyl (Public Health Service of Castilla y León, Spain)
No, this research project is envisaged as an international thesis co-directed by two research and development institutions.
IMPACT
The choice of mobility, accessibility and inclusiveness as the target applications of this research project will maximise the public benefit because it addresses major societal challenges identified as priorities by different international organizations.
In particular, the main stakeholders will benefit from the results of this project in different ways:
– Access to high technology developers specialized in seamless positioning and Location Based Services implementation.
– Gaining knowledge on inclusion aspects in urban areas that will serve to the preparation of studies related to transport, mobility, urban planning and accessibility, etc.
– New business models related to co-operation between public administration and its stakeholders (citizens, companies, associations).
– Opportunity for closely collaborating cities and associations of people with physical disabilities, having the opportunity to boost the accessibility of urban areas to all the citizens. Opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices.
In addition, user location-based information has transversal demand on numerous commercial applications. Revenues of context-aware smartphone apps will hit € 30.6 billion by 2019, up from € 11.7 billion in 2015, so there is also a great commercial opportunity, which can be reflected in the obtaining of patents or creation of spin-off companies. INNOVATION
The main innovative aspect of the research project is the focus of the development of LBS in the field of accessibility and inclusiveness. This implies focusing on a market and type of problems generally forgotten and brings with it the need to work from multidisciplinary strategies, which always is challenging and stimulating. Another important aspect of the offer is the possibility of working on a project that covers a wide spectrum of the life cycle of a product, as the project will include from basic and applied research tasks (TRL 2 to 5) to developing and testing systems that can be used in an operational environment with real services (TRL 7). INCLUSION
The inclusion dimension is at the heart of the proposed research project, as the main practical application sought of the localization techniques will be the improvement of accessibility and mobility for people with disabilities.
The EU has a strong commitment for improving the social and economic situation of people with disabilities. For this, the Commission has defined an Action Plan in the scope of “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe”, where the access and mobility of people with disabilities in urban areas, its facilities and transportation system are a key priority, understanding accessibility as a precondition for participation in society and the economy.
The choice of mobility, accessibility and inclusiveness as the target applications of this research project will maximise the public benefit because it addresses major societal challenges identified as priorities by different international organizations.
In particular, the main stakeholders will benefit from the results of this project in different ways:
– Access to high technology developers specialized in seamless positioning and Location Based Services implementation.
– Gaining knowledge on inclusion aspects in urban areas that will serve to the preparation of studies related to transport, mobility, urban planning and accessibility, etc.
– New business models related to co-operation between public administration and its stakeholders (citizens, companies, associations).
– Opportunity for closely collaborating cities and associations of people with physical disabilities, having the opportunity to boost the accessibility of urban areas to all the citizens. Opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices.
In addition, user location-based information has transversal demand on numerous commercial applications. Revenues of context-aware smartphone apps will hit € 30.6 billion by 2019, up from € 11.7 billion in 2015, so there is also a great commercial opportunity, which can be reflected in the obtaining of patents or creation of spin-off companies.
The main innovative aspect of the research project is the focus of the development of LBS in the field of accessibility and inclusiveness. This implies focusing on a market and type of problems generally forgotten and brings with it the need to work from multidisciplinary strategies, which always is challenging and stimulating. Another important aspect of the offer is the possibility of working on a project that covers a wide spectrum of the life cycle of a product, as the project will include from basic and applied research tasks (TRL 2 to 5) to developing and testing systems that can be used in an operational environment with real services (TRL 7).
INCLUSION
The inclusion dimension is at the heart of the proposed research project, as the main practical application sought of the localization techniques will be the improvement of accessibility and mobility for people with disabilities.
The EU has a strong commitment for improving the social and economic situation of people with disabilities. For this, the Commission has defined an Action Plan in the scope of “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe”, where the access and mobility of people with disabilities in urban areas, its facilities and transportation system are a key priority, understanding accessibility as a precondition for participation in society and the economy.
The inclusion dimension is at the heart of the proposed research project, as the main practical application sought of the localization techniques will be the improvement of accessibility and mobility for people with disabilities.
The EU has a strong commitment for improving the social and economic situation of people with disabilities. For this, the Commission has defined an Action Plan in the scope of “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe”, where the access and mobility of people with disabilities in urban areas, its facilities and transportation system are a key priority, understanding accessibility as a precondition for participation in society and the economy.