Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications

ICCSA 2020: Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2020 pp 316–331Cite as

Universal Design-Based Framework to Assess Usability and Inclusion of Buildings

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 12253))

Abstract

Universal Design (UD) offers different sets of principles that can be used as reference in design practice to meet the needs of the vast majority of a population. However, there is a lack of an accountable approach to measure and analyze the built environment through UD performance.

This study aims to develop an evaluation framework to assess UD in public buildings to determine, in addition to accessibility requirements, the usability and inclusion of projects for different users.

Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was adopted as research methodology to systematically and scientifically develop the framework, which was structured based on knowledge derived from: an in-depth literature review on UD evaluation and workshops with stakeholders and experts. The selection and comparison of a pool of criteria is described including the cognitive mapping technique for translating information gathered by workshops.

A hierarchical framework was created, consisting of three main categories of UD (i.e. physical-spatial quality, sensorial-cognitive quality, and social quality), eight criteria (i.e. usability, functionality, safety/security, wayfinding, understanding, environmental factors, well-being, and social inclusion), and 21 indicators. The proposed framework can be considered as an innovative approach in the field of accessible design evaluation since it explores the relation among a multiplicity of aspects, including human performance and social factors, to evaluate the quality of UD buildings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Mace, R.: Universal Design. Barrier-Free Environments for Everyone. Designers West, Los Angeles (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Goldsmith, S.: Designing for the Disabled: The New Paradigm. Architectural Press, Oxford (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Froyen, H., Verdonck, E., De Meester, D., Heylighen, A.: Mapping and documenting conflicts between Users and Built Environments. In: Proceedings of Include, Include 2009. Helen Hamlyn Centre, London (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  4. European Institute for Design and Disability (EIDD): Stockholm Declaration (2004). http://dfaeurope.eu/what-is-dfa/dfa-documents/the-eidd-stockholm-declaration-2004/

  5. Watchorn, V., et al.: An integrated literature review of the current discourse around universal design in the built environment – is occupation the missing link? Disabil. Rehabili. 17, 1–12 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Buti, L.B.: Ask the Right Question. A Rational Approach to Design for All in Italy. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96346-4

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Steinfeld, E., Maisel, J.L.: Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments. Wiley, Hoboken (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Capolongo, S.: Social aspects and well-being for improving healing processes’ effectiveness. Ann Ist Super Sanità 52(1), 11–14 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ielegems, E., Herssens, J., Vanrie, J.: A V-model for more. An inclusive design model supporting interaction between designer and user. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED, vol. 9 (DS 80-09), pp. 259–268 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mosca, E.I., Herssens, J., Rebecchi, A., Capolongo, S.: Inspiring architects in the application of design for all: knowledge transfer methods and tools. J. Access. Des. All 9(1), 1–24 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Buffoli, M., Bellini, E., Bellagarda, A., Di Noia, M., Nickolova, M., Capolongo, S.: Listening to people to cure people: the LpCp – tool, an instrument to evaluate hospital humanization. Ann Ig. 26(5), 447–455 (2014). https://doi.org/10.7416/ai.2014.2004

  12. Afacan, Y., Erbug, C.: An interdisciplinary heuristic evaluation method for universal building design. Appl. Ergon. 40, 731–744 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bottero, M.C., et al.: A multidisciplinary sustainability evaluation system for operative and in-design hospitals. In: Capolongo, S., Bottero, M.C., Buffoli, M., Lettieri, E. (eds.) Improving Sustainability During Hospital Design and Operation: A Multidisciplinary Evaluation Tool. GET, pp. 31–114. Springer, Cham (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14036-0_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Preiser, W.F.E.: The evolution of post-occupancy evaluation: toward building performance and universal design evaluation. In: Preiser, W.F.E., Ostroff, E. (eds.) Learning from Our Buildings: A State-of-the-Practice Summary of Post-Occupancy Evaluation. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Brambilla, A., Rebecchi, A., Capolongo, S.: Evidence based hospital design. A literature review of the recent publications about the EBD impact of built environment on hospital occupants’ and organizational outcomes. Ann. Ig 31, 165–180 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Preiser, W.F.E.: Toward universal design performance assessments. In: Preiser, W.F.E. (ed.) Universal Design Handbook. Mcgraw-Hill, New York (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  17. USGBC (2009) LEED for new construction and major renovations. USGBC, Washington. https://www.usgbc.org/drupal/legacy/usgbc/docs/Archive/General/Docs1095.pdf

  18. BRE Global Ltd. (2018) Breeam UK New Construction. Non-domestic Buildings (United Kingdom), BRE, Watford (2018). https://tools.breeam.com/filelibrary/Consultations/SD5078_DRAFTUK_nondom_NC_2018-manual.pdf

  19. Mosca, E.I., Herssens, J., Rebecchi, A., Strickfaden, M., Capolongo, S.: Evaluating a proposed Design for All (DfA) manual for architecture. Adv. Intell. Syst. Comput. 776, 54–64 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG): Multicriteria Analysis: a manual London (2009). http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/12761/1/Multi-criteria_Analysis.pdf

  21. Roy, B.: Multicriteria Methodology for Decision Aiding, vol. 12. Springer, Cham (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mosca, E.I., Capolongo, S.: Towards a universal design evaluation for assessing the performance of the built environment. In: Transforming our World Through Design, Diversity and Education, vol. 256, pp. 771–779 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Dente, B.: Understanding Policy Decisions. SAST, pp. 1–27. Springer, Cham (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02520-9_1

    Book  Google Scholar 

  24. Eden, C.: Analyzing cognitive maps to help structure issues or problems. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 159(3), 673–686 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ferretti, V.: From stakeholders analysis to cognitive mapping and Multi Attribute Value Theory: an integrated approach for policy support. Eur. J. Oper. Res. 253, 524–541 (2016)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  26. Mendoza, G.A., Prabhu, R.: Evaluating multi-stakeholder perceptions of project impacts: a participatory value-based multi-criteria approach. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol. 16(3), 177–190 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Iwarsson, S.: The Housing Enabler: an objective tool for assessing accessibility. Br. J. Occup. Ther. 62(11), 491–497 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sanford, J.A.: Assessing universal design in physical environment. In: Mpofu, E.T.O. (ed.) Rehabilitation and Health Assessment: Applying ICF Guidelines. Springer, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Connell, B.R., et al.: The Principles of Universal Design, CUD. NC State University, Raleigh (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lawton, M.P.: Designing by degree: assessing and incorporating individual accessibility needs. In: Preiser, W.F.E., Ostroff, E. (eds.) Universal Design Handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Sanford, J.A.: Universal Design as a Rehabilitation Strategy: Design for the Age. Springer, Cham (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  32. ISO/ICE: GUIDE 71:14(E) Guide for addressing accessibility in standards (2014). https://www.iec.ch/webstore/freepubs/isoiecguide71%7Bed2.0%7Den.pdf

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors of this paper want to show their great gratitude to all the participants to the workshops and people who supported the organization. In particular, the associations that made it possible to conduct this study are: Lega per i Diritti delle Persone con Disabilità (LEDHA) Milano, Unione Italiana Lotta alla Distrofia Muscolare (UILDM) Milano, Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti (ANS) Milano, Solidarietà in Rete (SIR), Associazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (AISM) Milano and Design for All Italia. The study is part of the doctoral research of E.M. at the Department of Architecture, Built environment and Construction engineering of Politecnico di Milano.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Politecnico di Milano, Ponzio Street 31, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Erica Isa Mosca & Stefano Capolongo

Authors
  1. Erica Isa Mosca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefano Capolongo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erica Isa Mosca .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Osvaldo Gervasi

  2. University of Basilicata, Potenza, Potenza, Italy

    Beniamino Murgante

  3. Chair- Center of ICT/ICE, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

    Sanjay Misra

  4. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Chiara Garau

  5. University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy

    Ivan Blečić

  6. Clayton School of Information Technology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    David Taniar

  7. Department of Information Science, Kyushu Sangyo University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Bernady O. Apduhan

  8. University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

    Ana Maria A. C. Rocha

  9. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Eufemia Tarantino

  10. Polytechnic University of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Carmelo Maria Torre

  11. Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Yeliz Karaca

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Mosca, E.I., Capolongo, S. (2020). Universal Design-Based Framework to Assess Usability and Inclusion of Buildings. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2020. ICCSA 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 12253. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58814-4_22

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58814-4_22

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-58813-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-58814-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation