Browsing by Author "Van Hoof, Joost"

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A Roadmap for the Design of a Public-participation Geographic-Information System to Support Urban Ageing
(AGH University Press, 2025) Aslanoğlu, Rengin; Chrobak, Grzegorz; Van Hoof, Joost; Perek-Białas, Jolanta M.; Ivan, Loredana; Tavy , Zsuzsu K.C.T; Maj, Milena; Kazak, Jan K.
Geospatial technologies have the potential to transform the lives of older adults by providing them with necessary tools to navigate their local communities, access services, connect with others, and access valuable information. However, the usability and accessibility of such technologies often fall short of the needs of older adults. Many existing geospatial tools are not designed with the needs and preferences of older adults in mind; this can lead to usability challenges and limit their usage. This paper explores a participatory approach in developing an inclusive geodata-collection tool that is specifically tailored to older users’ needs. The paper also highlights the importance of incorporating user-centered design principles, participatory design methods, and accessibility guidelines throughout the entire geodata-tool-development process. It also emphasizes the need for ongoing user engagement and feedback in order to ensure that the tool remains relevant and usable in the evolving digital landscape. This participatory approach has resulted in a tool that is easy to use and accessible for older adults; it is available in various languages, thus ensuring that the elderly can actively participate in the prototype’s creation and contribute to the collection of the geospatial information that reflects their lived experiences and needs.
Shaping age-friendly cities and communities: A geospatial approach to the assessment of four cities in Europa
(Elsevier, 2025) Swiąder, Małgorzata; Aslanoglu, Rengin; Chrobak, Grzegorz; Ivan, Loredana; Perek-Białas, Jolanta M.; Dikken, Jeroen; Van Hoof, Joost; Kazak, Jan K.
"Public involvement in decision-making processes has become increasingly important in contemporary urban planning. The social valorisation of living spaces is vital for enhancing urban spaces and improving citizens' quality of life. This is particularly relevant to vulnerable groups such as older people, a demographic projected to grow significantly. Ensuring that urban environments are inclusive and accessible for older people is a pressing concern. This research addresses this challenge by investigating the spatial distribution of urban spaces in four European cities – Kraków, Wrocław (Poland), The Hague (the Netherlands), and Bucharest (Romania) – to evaluate their age-friendliness. Using hotspot analysis, the study identifies areas characterised as “places” (age-friendly) and “anti-places” (age-unfriendly) based on older people's perceptions of public spaces. Data were collected using KoBo Toolbox, an open-source geodata collection tool, followed by geocoding, integration, hotspot analysis with Getis-Ord Gi*, and the delimitation of “places” and “anti-places”. The findings show that Kraków's city centre as largely age-friendly, whereas the centres of Wrocław and The Hague's were viewed as anti-places, highlighting areas in need of improvement. In Bucharest, places were primarily located on the city's outskirts, with some overlap between age-friendly and age-unfriendly zones in the east. The study also explored the influence of various urban domains, such as outdoor spaces and transportation, on overall perceptions of age-friendliness. Across all cities, outdoor spaces emerged as a key area for improvement. This research offers critical insights for policymakers, identifying areas requiring intervention to foster more inclusive urban environments for older people and to inform future age-friendly urban development."