“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps
In the smart city, information and communications technologies (ICTs) are proposed as solutions to urban challenges, including sustainability concerns. While sustainability commonly refers to economic and environmental dimensions, the concept also contains a social component. Our study asked how sma...
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doaj-0313b31c3e2b49cdaa088a9884b210592020-11-25T02:01:50ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512018-05-01224510.3390/urbansci2020045urbansci2020045“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility AppsMahtot Gebresselassie0Thomas W. Sanchez1Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA 24061, USAVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA 24061, USAIn the smart city, information and communications technologies (ICTs) are proposed as solutions to urban challenges, including sustainability concerns. While sustainability commonly refers to economic and environmental dimensions, the concept also contains a social component. Our study asked how smartphone applications (apps) address social-sustainability challenges in urban transport, if at all. We focused on transport disadvantages experienced due to low income, physical disability, and language barriers. A review of 60 apps showed that transport apps respond to these equity and inclusion issues in two ways: (a) by employing a universal design in general-use apps, including cost-conscious features, and providing language options; and (b) by specifically developing smartphone apps for persons with disabilities. The article discusses the study by positioning it in the literature of smart cities as well as socially sustainable transport.http://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/2/2/45smart transport toolssmart and sustainablesocial-sustainability |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mahtot Gebresselassie Thomas W. Sanchez |
spellingShingle |
Mahtot Gebresselassie Thomas W. Sanchez “Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps Urban Science smart transport tools smart and sustainable social-sustainability |
author_facet |
Mahtot Gebresselassie Thomas W. Sanchez |
author_sort |
Mahtot Gebresselassie |
title |
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps |
title_short |
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps |
title_full |
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps |
title_fullStr |
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps |
title_full_unstemmed |
“Smart” Tools for Socially Sustainable Transport: A Review of Mobility Apps |
title_sort |
“smart” tools for socially sustainable transport: a review of mobility apps |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Urban Science |
issn |
2413-8851 |
publishDate |
2018-05-01 |
description |
In the smart city, information and communications technologies (ICTs) are proposed as solutions to urban challenges, including sustainability concerns. While sustainability commonly refers to economic and environmental dimensions, the concept also contains a social component. Our study asked how smartphone applications (apps) address social-sustainability challenges in urban transport, if at all. We focused on transport disadvantages experienced due to low income, physical disability, and language barriers. A review of 60 apps showed that transport apps respond to these equity and inclusion issues in two ways: (a) by employing a universal design in general-use apps, including cost-conscious features, and providing language options; and (b) by specifically developing smartphone apps for persons with disabilities. The article discusses the study by positioning it in the literature of smart cities as well as socially sustainable transport. |
topic |
smart transport tools smart and sustainable social-sustainability |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/2/2/45 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mahtotgebresselassie smarttoolsforsociallysustainabletransportareviewofmobilityapps AT thomaswsanchez smarttoolsforsociallysustainabletransportareviewofmobilityapps |
_version_ |
1724955487876677632 |