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M. Maringer, D. Wolosiuk, N. Hauck, U. Pont, C. Vogelauer, E. Fürst, F. Buser, A. Mahdavi:
"Toward visual accessibility in the built environment: The ViDeA Project";
Applied Mechanics and Materials (invited), Special Volume: Energy Saving and Environmentally Friendly Technologies - Concepts of Sustainable Buildings (2016), 428; 829 - 835.

In the last decades, the general awareness with regard to the topic of universal design (or
design for all) has been steadily increasing. As a consequence, more attention is being paid to the
requirements of all segments of population (specifically including those with certain perceptual
and/or motoric limitations). Nonetheless, additional efforts toward improving pertinent regulations,
design practices, and relevant technologies are needed. Specifically, the field of visual accessibility
in the built environment has not received the same level of consideration as some other areas of
universal design. Given this background, the present contribution reports on the most recent
progress made in the course of the ongoing ViDeA research project. This research effort aims
primarily at the development of effective means toward supporting the design and implementation
of visually accessible solutions in the built environment. Thereby, a central objective is to enhance
the mobility of people with sight restriction. Visually impaired people primarily orient themselves
based on their residual eyesight. The optimization of lighting solutions represents a highly critical
measure toward creating environmental circumstances in which the remaining eyesight can be
optimally utilised. The main components of the ViDeA project are as follows: An original set of
optometric experiments, the evaluation of a number of use cases and the development of a
computational tool for architects and engineers in order to facilitate the evaluation of visual
accessibility criteria of projects. The deliverables of the ViDeA project are expected to enhance the
quality of visual performance guidelines and augment the capabilities of simulation-based design
optimization tools.

none - see english version

Universal Design, Visual Accessibility, Visual Impairment, Luminance Contrast

Project Head Ardeshir Mahdavi:
VIDEA