University of Lincoln RIF Studentships 2014
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Title
Accessibility Design Framework and Key Performance Indicator ‘KPI’ tool for Historic
Cities
Project Reference
RIF2014S-06
Project Summary
The project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School of Architecture
and School of Computer Science at the University of Lincoln that aims to develop a
Key Performance Indicator (KPI) tool for accessible urban spaces within historic
cities.
This PhD research studentship provides an opportunity for a high quality graduate to
participate in significantly advancing the research field and application of inclusive
design and accessibility within historic city centres. The research project will address
the important issue raised by the UN Enable framework of accessibility design and
improving accessibility data and statistics.
This is an interdisciplinary collaborative research project to develop a framework of
accessibility design within historic city centres and to generate an accessibility design
tool for historic city centres as part of this investigation. The project aims to produce
a downloadable App to be used by visitors and users of the identified city.
Applicants for this post should ideally be graduates of a related discipline. A good
knowledge of urban design and accessibility is essential. An understanding of the
interface between people and the environment; people and available technologies
and experimental design skills are desirable. Knowledge of creating heat maps and
GPS geo-tagging is essential.
Project Objectives:
 To carry out a critical investigation into inclusive design of urban spaces
within historic city centres and to understand the parameters of inclusive
design within them.
 To produce a city centre heat map detailing routes taken by able bodied and
disabled people
 To develop KPIs to be used as an assessment tool consisting of factors that
can be objectively detected and surveyed both at urban and at building scale.
 To develop a framework for accessibility within historic cities.
Methodology and Milestones
The research data will be collected within an experimental process that encapsulates
both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Using a mixed-methods research
approach provides the ability to both define and explain the phenomena under
consideration.
The project is divided into the following milestones:
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Comprehensive literature review (start to 3 months)
To examine, discuss and propose solutions for accessibility and inclusiveness
in the built environment. Amplifying the perspective of the disabled with
interviews and with a scrutinized analysis of historic city centres, through
access audits and its relation to its wider context of ‘the city’. The study will
highlight the most pertinent accessibility issues and propose possible
solutions. (3 – 6 months)
The second part of the research project is through the analysis of the historic
city centre of the chosen city and available access audits, the formation of a
digital heat map of the historic centre for less abled bodies. (6-12 months)
Conference Publications (Month 9)
The heat maps will be used for identifying the most commonly used routes by
both abled and disabled. The project aims at developing an app that will use
GPS geo-tagging to identify the 'hottest' city routes. This will also identify if
there are different routes taken by the users of the space and the urban
context. Over-laying these maps onto Google Earth will allow a clear
observation of divergent routes. (12-15 months)
2 journal papers (Month 18)
Developing the Accessibility Framework and accessibility app (18-26 months)
Draw conclusion and final writing up and final thesis (Month 26- 36)
Supervisory Team
1. Dr. Amira Elnokaly, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader MSc Sustainable
Architectural Design, School of Architecture. http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/aelnokaly
2. Prof Nigel Allinson, Distinguished Professor of Image Engineering, School of
Computer Science. http://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/nallinson
Informal Enquiries
For a more detailed description of the studentship project please email Dr Amira
Elnokaly aelnokaly@lincoln.ac.uk or Prof. Nigel Allinson nallinson@lincoln.ac.uk
Eligibility
Candidates must satisfy the College’s minimum doctoral entry criteria for
studentships of a Masters degree or equivalent. A minimum IELTS (Academic) score
of 7 (or equivalent) is essential for candidates for whom English is not their first
language. Funded Studentships are open to both UK/EU students unless otherwise
specified. Candidates must demonstrate outstanding qualities and be motivated to
complete a PhD in 3.5 years.
How to Apply
Please send a covering letter outlining your interest and proposed approach (up to 1
page A4) with an accompanying CV (including names of 2 academic referees) to
lengland@ lincoln.ac.uk by close of day on 18th April 2014. Candidates will be
notified w/c 5th May of the outcome of the process and if invited to interview, these
are anticipated to take place w/c 26h May.