Tactile Maps for a Legible Bristol

AWARDING BODY: AHRC National Productivity Investment Fund: Creative Economy Engagement Fellowship
AWARDED TO: PETER MCCALLION
PROJECT PARTNERS: BRISTOL LEGIBLE CITY, CITYID, ROYAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND

This fellowship addressed several core themes of the government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper, combining a focus on sectoral needs in the health, tourism and heritage industries with enquiry into the uses of digital technologies. The project aimed to scope and research appropriate methods of tactile map making and maps for the visually impaired that could improve their navigation around the city of Bristol. This included computer-based modelling and CNC rapid prototyping technology to create a tactile taxonomy for map prototypes that would be cheaply produced using recycled paper, but robust enough to incorporate Braille dots and raised textured symbols. The project will be of direct use in Bristol but has potential to create a model for other cities and commercialise tactile products and services that can be scaled to museums or other public spaces.