Accessibility and Walkability Analyses in the City of Augsburg

Public Transport Quality Classes (ÖV-Güteklassen):

Anadequate, spatially differentiated measurement and assessment of public transport accessibility is crucial for sustainable mobility planning. However, in practice, appropriate methods are often lacking, for example, in terms of linking the service quality of stops with the quality of stop access. A solution to this problem is the determination of Public Transport Quality Classes, modeled after the Swiss approach. This indicator allows for an integrated assessment of the accessibility and service quality of public transport stops. This transparency highlights which areas within walking distance are served by public transport stops and how frequently they are served.

Walkability Index:

To assess the pedestrian-friendliness of the street network in the Rechts der Wertach neighborhood for various user groups, a Walkability Index was calculated. Data collection was conducted on-site using OpenStreetMap and Mapillary, allowing the data to be reused by anyone in the spirit of the open-data approach. The goal of this analysis was to obtain a detailed picture of pedestrian-friendliness in the city and to identify potential areas for improvement. The Walkability Index helps to identify areas where measures to promote pedestrian traffic can be implemented.

Evaluation:

Theanalyses were created using GOAT and visualized in expressive maps and diagrams. Additionally, the analyses were interpreted, evaluated, and discussed with the City of Augsburg team by experienced urban and transport planners at Plan4Better. Finally, the results were compiled into a report, which now serves as the basis for further planning and implementation of measures to improve accessibility and pedestrian-friendliness in the Rechts der Wertach neighborhood.

Conclusion:

Through the comprehensive assessment of public transport accessibility using PublicTransport Quality Classes and the analysis of pedestrian-friendliness using the Walkability Index, the City of Augsburg has obtained concrete data that serves as a foundation for future measures and improvements. The method tested in the Rechts der Wertach neighborhood can also serve as a pilot for other districtsin the City of Augsburg and beyond. We are pleased to support the City of Augsburg in achieving its mobility goals by 2038 and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens through improved infrastructure.

Methodology and Implementation:

As in many of our other projects, a large amount of data was refined and used for analyses using GOAT. Our approach is characterized by high flexibility and can be adapted to varying data availability.

Data Sources:

• OpenStreetMap: Use of extensive user-generated geodata for the collection and analysis of the street network.
• Official Geospatial Data: Use of official land use data, 3D building data, and digital terrain models.
• Timetable Data: Timetable data in GTFS format was used to analyze the public transport offer.
• Points of Interest: We have access to an extensive POI dataset with destinations for daily needs, public services, and recreational purposes, compiled from a variety of sources.
• Street View Images: Street images were obtained and further collected, particularly via the Mapillary platform, to incorporate a realistic depiction of the on-site situation into the analyses.

Data Collection:

Despite the abundance of data, there were occasional data gaps. Therefore, individual data points were supplemented by on-site surveys. This particularly affected aspects such as street lighting, street crossings, and accessibility. Where possible, the data was directly fed into OpenStreetMap and Mapillary and thus made available to the community.