Location Assessment Provider System Walkability Scoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for assessing walkability and other location characteristics are inefficient and inaccurate, as they rely on subjective opinions or incomplete objective measures, failing to consider appealing destinations and diversity of features.

Innovation Solution

A Location Assessment Provider System (LAPS) generates assessments based on geographic-related features, including concrete and abstract attributes, using a scoring function that evaluates distances and weights contributions from various entities within a specified area, providing a comprehensive and customizable walkability score and other location assessments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If subjective opinions or impressions of pedestrians are used to measure walkability, then the assessment reflects actual pedestrian experience, but the time and cost required to perform surveys increases and statistical significance requires surveying many pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewalkability assessment accuracyVSAvoidtime required to perform surveys

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual model that copies and simulates pedestrian experience by analyzing geographic data, transportation networks, and destination attributes. Instead of surveying actual pedestrians, the system generates a virtual representation of walkability based on objective geographic features, thereby eliminating the time-consuming survey process while maintaining assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of conducting physical surveys with an automated computational system that processes geographic data, calculates distances, and generates walkability scores algorithmically. This substitution eliminates manual surveying efforts while providing consistent, scalable assessments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If objective aspects of transportation network are measured, then the ease of pedestrian travel is assessed, but the presence of appealing destinations is not considered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepedestrian travel ease measurementVSAvoiddestination appeal information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two previously separate measurement approaches into a unified walkability assessment system. It combines the evaluation of transportation network characteristics (sidewalks, crosswalks, road connectivity) with the assessment of destination appeal (parks, schools, stores, restaurants). The system integrates both aspects by calculating a composite walkability score that considers both travel ease and destination attractiveness within a unified geographic framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional assessment system that simultaneously evaluates multiple aspects of walkability: transportation infrastructure quality, destination accessibility, destination appeal, and overall pedestrian experience. This universal system provides a comprehensive walkability score that incorporates diverse factors that were previously measured separately or not at all

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If the number of businesses within a region is tallied, then the density of pedestrian destinations is measured, but results are skewed in favor of high density urban centers and all businesses are treated equally regardless of appeal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebusiness density measurementVSAvoiddestination appeal assessment

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between types of businesses and destinations based on their appeal to pedestrians. Instead of treating all businesses equally, the system categorizes destinations by type (parks, schools, retail, dining, entertainment) and assigns different weights or considerations to each category. This allows the assessment to recognize that a park serves a different pedestrian need than an auto repair shop, thereby providing a more nuanced and accurate measurement of destination appeal that is not skewed purely by density

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8892455B2Systems, techniques, and methods for providing location assessments

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 WALK SCORE MANAGEMENT LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems for providing location assessments are provided. Example embodiments provide a Location Assessment Provider System, which generates and provides assessments of various characteristics of specified locations. In one embodiment, the Location Assessment Provider System receives a specified location, determines a location assessment for the specified location, generates a visual representation of the determined location assessment, and provides the generated visual representation to a client system. Determining a location assessment may be based on geographic-related information about, or associated with, the specified location, such as the presence and location of geographic-related features associated with the specified location. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.