Designing Inclusive Participatory Mapping Tools: A User-Centred Design Approach for Capturing Diverse Urban Experiences

About the Project

Project Summary

This project develops a participatory, user-centred mapping tool capturing mobility experiences of underrepresented groups, especially wheelchair users. Integrating narratives, IoT and citizen science data, it informs inclusive urban planning. Co-designed and evaluated with stakeholders, and linked to digital twins, it delivers actionable insights for equitable, sustainable cities through global collaboration.

Project Details

Urban planning is increasingly recognising the importance of incorporating the lived experiences of underrepresented groups, especially in relation to mobility, accessibility and interactions with urban environments. In this PhD you will research and develop a user-centred participatory mapping tool that enables citizens, including wheelchair users, to document and share their mobility experiences. You will investigate and implement the best ways to integrate qualitative narratives, IoT sensor data and citizen science contributions into a single accessible platform, prioritising inclusivity, usability and empowerment, while providing planners with actionable insights for equitable and sustainable urban mobility.

As a PhD researcher, you will co-create, prototype, and evaluate this tool, capturing lived experiences to inform inclusive urban planning. Objectives include investigating mobility challenges faced by diverse user groups, co-designing data-gathering methods combining qualitative and quantitative inputs, developing an interoperable mapping tool linked to systems such as LBSTech’s Birmingham Mobility Digital Twin and potentially VR/AR environments, and evaluating its usability and policy impact.

The novelty lies in integrating user-centred approaches, accessibility, and emerging digital technologies to transform urban mapping. This project prioritises underrepresented groups, particularly wheelchair users, whose experiences are often overlooked. The developed tool will offer richer insights than conventional planning methods by combining experiential data with IoT sensor and citizen science measurements empowering users to shape their environments and promoting more equitable urban development. Gaps in conventional tools should be addressed by capturing urban experiences such as air pollution, biodiversity, and access to green and blue spaces, ensuring a more holistic understanding of urban environments.

The PhD will be conducted in collaboration with LBSTech and Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), offering international research experience. The partnership provides access to high-quality datasets and the AI-enabled Birmingham Digital Twin, enhancing research impact, deepening expertise in digital twins, and supporting globally impactful outputs.

Person Specification

Candidates should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, EITHER:

a] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, in a relevant subject.

OR

b] a First or Upper Second Class award in their undergraduate degree, and a Merit or Distinction in a Masters degree, both in a relevant subject.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Desirable / Essential Skills or Experience

Essential skills/experience

• Demonstrated interest in GIS, participatory mapping, and spatial data.
• Willingness and ability to learn spatial data management principles.
• Experience in data analysis and/or programming (e.g., Python or JavaScript).
• Experience in user-centred design, accessibility, or participatory research methods.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Good research, communication, and organisational skills.

Desirable skills/experience

• Familiarity with GIS tools (e.g., QGIS) or spatial databases (e.g., PostGIS).
• Experience with geospatial libraries (e.g., GeoPandas, GDAL/OGR).
• Knowledge of web mapping frameworks (e.g., Leaflet, Mapbox, OpenLayers).
• Motivation to undertake background research and engage with emerging digital mapping technologies.
• Publication in high-quality journals or conferences

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Contact Information

For enquiries about this project, contact Dr Jisun Kim at j.kim23@aston.ac.uk.

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Key words

Participatory Design, Computer Science, GIS, Participatory Mapping

Funding Notes

This project covers all tuition fees.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus. International students must meet the financial requirements for the visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. Applicants should be confident that they can meet these costs before applying.