New Lab Analyzes Walkways

A laboratory specifically designed to make pedestrian environments safer and easier to use is up and running at University College London. By providing detailed insights into how pedestrians are affected by uneven surfaces and visual distractions, for instance, Pedestrian Accessibility & Movement Environment Laboratory (PAMELA) will generate data that leads to improvements in the design of pavements, footways and concourses, and will enable new ideas and products to be tried out.

PAMELA consists of three key elements, which enable different, realistic combinations of conditions and their impact on people to be studied in a closely controlled scientific environment: First, an 80m2 computer-controlled platform which can be altered to mimic the characteristics of different pedestrian environments, such as surface material, color and texture, gradients, steps and obstacles. Second, a lighting system that can mimic different daytime/night-time light conditions. Third, a sound system that can create realistic ambient noise such as traffic movement, railway announcements etc.