Speaker
Description
This paper presents a territorial analysis framework, the “Clustering Accessibility Needs for Remote and Excluded Populations” (CARE), developed to identify mountain areas facing significant accessibility challenges to basic services. Focusing on the Valle d’Aosta region, the research integrates demographic, socio-economic, and geographic data to analyse and map not only the distribution of vulnerable populations, characterised by ageing demographics, socio-economic disadvantages, and geographical isolation, but also the availability and localisation of basic services, such as schools, healthcare, and social welfare facilities. This dual analytical interpretative approach, based on spatial analysis techniques, provides a comprehensive understanding of service accessibility and spatial disparities.
At the core of the framework is a clustering process that categorises territories based on three key dimensions: mobility generators, mobility demand, and vulnerability. This structured approach identifies areas where dedicated mobility services are most urgently required. Building on the insights from this clustering analysis, specific origins and destinations of critical journeys were determined by considering their significance in connecting vulnerable populations to essential services. Key criteria, such as service scarcity, demographic density, and socio-economic conditions, guided the selection of these priority locations.
In such territorial contexts, demand-responsive transport services (DRTS) are often implemented as adaptive solutions to address mobility needs. The paper further examines existing DRT models, with a particular focus on their applicability in mountain areas. It highlights the importance of incorporating inclusion-related parameters into optimisation algorithms, enhancing their effectiveness in addressing the specific challenges faced by vulnerable populations. By identifying flexible, scalable, and context-sensitive mobility solutions, this research provides insights into how DRT models can be adapted to better serve these contexts.
The proposed framework and findings establish a foundation for planning inclusive and sustainable interventions in mountain areas, ensuring equitable access to basic services for vulnerable populations. This research underscores the necessity of tailoring mobility solutions to specific regional contexts with poor accessibility and low mobility demand, seeking to transform the critical mobility challenges into opportunities for optimized, economically sustainable, and, above all, inclusive modal services.
| Keywords | Accessibility; basic services; vulnerable areas; spatial analysis; demand-responsive-transport; |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
