HIA for All: Access and Way Finding for Passengers with Vision Impairment

Airports have become more than just a gate that people travel through on their way to their destination. Airports are considered one of the most valuable assets and a vital component in the transportation network of any country. They promote the movement of people, goods and services around the world. As a public space, an airport is a reflection of a country to the world. In addition to its role in transportation, an airport provides numerous other services and amenities to travelers. However, people with special needs, particularly blind travelers, are deprived of their right to autonomously navigate airport spaces because they find it difficult to explore their surroundings on their own without assistive technology and accessible content. Descriptive guides and audio description, which are frequently found in cultural venues and touristic attractions, are considered important audio-visual aids that facilitate the exploration of a space by visually impaired travelers, a service that can be extended to all travelers.

This exploratory research project aims to study accessibility at Hamad International Airport to investigate how blind travelers find their way when navigating space, and how Descriptive Guides and handle-able materials, namely raised maps and 3D replicas might enhance this experience. Given the physical size of HIA, this study will focus on the main Departure Hall, which will serve the purpose of prototyping and testing an Enriched Descriptive Guide, - based on audio description, raised tactile maps and a replica -, that may serve as a first step towards the development of a multisensory communication approach to be extended to other parts of the Hamad International Airport. The results of testing these materials with blind participants reflected their preference of using the Descriptive Guides and handle-able materials together.