€3.8 million for AI research on accessibility in Dutch cities

As society ages and the effects of climate change intensify, urban accessibility is increasingly under pressure. The BEAT project, funded by NWO and led by Hamed Alavi (UvA), unites municipalities, researchers and societal partners to develop a radically new approach to inclusive cities. Artificial intelligence plays a central role in this process.

AI is used to map and analyse everyday mobility barriers such as wrongly parked bicycles, construction projects and broken elevators. These insights help design policies and urban layouts that better reflect the needs of citizens. Through Living Labs in Dutch municipalities, residents are actively involved in identifying issues and co-creating solutions.

The project aims to deliver tools that help people navigate mobility obstacles, instruments for city planners to assess accessibility based on real-life experiences, and policy recommendations for fairer and more inclusive urban environments. Partners include the University of Amsterdam, University of Groningen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, TU Delft, UMC Utrecht and Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

Read the full article on the University of Amsterdam website.