Urban Accessibility, Public Space & Heritage – Key Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of flashcards summarizing the main technical standards, urban theories and heritage concepts discussed in the lecture notes.

Podotactile Warning Band

Raised tactile strip installed at stairs, ramps, entrances or curb edges to alert visually-impaired pedestrians to level changes or obstacles, required by NTE INEN 2854.

NTE INEN 2854

Ecuadorian Technical Standard that sets design rules for physical accessibility in public urban space.

Bollard

Short vertical post placed at sidewalk edges to block vehicular entry into pedestrian zones.

Commodified City Effect

Globalization trend in which profitable parts of Latin-American cities are sold to global networks while the rest is abandoned (Borja & Castells).

Urban Fracture

Segregation into socially distinct zones that prevents residents from seeing and imagining one another as neighbors (Remedi).

Real Public Space

Truly open, accessible area for communal social interaction, contrasted with controlled pseudo-public consumer zones (Segovia).

Barrio-mundo / Casa-mundo

Current urban tendency to satisfy most needs inside private space, reducing dependence on public space.

NEC-HS-AU

Section of the Ecuadorian Building Code that regulates Universal Accessibility in buildings and urban infrastructure.

Manual Fire-Alarm Call Point Height

Device must be mounted 900 – 1200 mm above finished floor (NEC-HS-AU).

Wheelchair Turning Circle

Minimum clear diameter of 1500 mm required in corridors, halls and sidewalks for a 180° turn.

Accessible Stair Dimensions

Tread length ≥ 280 mm and riser height ≤ 180 mm according to NEC-HS-AU.

Accessible Control Heights

Switches & push buttons: 800–1200 mm; outlets & telecom: 400–1200 mm above floor (NEC-HS-AU).

Accessible Parking Ratio

At least one reserved space for every 25 parking slots or fraction thereof.

Sidewalk Cross-Slope Limit

Maximum transversal gradient of 2 % for sidewalks (NTE INEN 2855).

Interior Headroom Clearance

Minimum 2100 mm height free of obstacles in interior circulation spaces (NTE INEN 2309).

Existing-Building Ramp Limit

Maximum slope 12 % with a maximum individual run of 3 m where space is constrained (NEC-HS-AU).

Tactile Band at Driveway Crossing

Warning strip 250 mm wide placed along the full length of the curb-cut where a driveway interrupts the sidewalk.

Neighborhood Park (Jacobs)

Everyday local park acting like a collective backyard, revealing general principles of urban park behavior.

Physical & Intellectual Accessibility (Heritage)

Condition identified by Guglielmino as fundamental for effective heritage–society linkage.

Direct Heritage Mediation

Interaction occurring through heritage institutions such as museums, archives or historic centers (Guglielmino).

Indirect Heritage Mediation

Diffusion of heritage via education, mass media, cultural promotion or tourism programmes (Guglielmino).

Clear Width for Two Wheelchairs

At least 1800 mm unobstructed width required in crossings or sidewalks to allow simultaneous passage.

Identity-Public Space-Democracy

Interrelated, ongoing and dynamic projects expressed both individually and collectively (Vicherat Mattar).

Space as Power Expression

Concept that urban space embodies both power and resistance (Segovia).

Medium Tree Shade Area

A tree with a 6 m-diameter canopy provides roughly 28 m² of shade.

Bollard Spacing at Crosswalks

Posts should be set approximately 1200 mm apart to block cars yet permit wheelchair passage.

Orientation Device Height Limit

Way-finding signs or objects for localization must not exceed 2000 mm height (NTE INEN 2854).

Accessible Elevator Features

Must include audible information and Braille-labeled controls (NEC-HS-AU).

Zebra Crosswalk Requirement

Unsignalized pedestrian crossings must use contrasting zebra lines for visibility (NEC-HS-AU).

Sustainable Decision Criteria

Applying sustainability principles to minimize environmental, economic and social impacts when choosing solutions.

Urban Fragmentation (Carrión)

Breaking of the urban fabric into continuous constellations, causing loss of shared city space.

Social Capital

Network of trust-based relationships that fosters cooperation and reduces social fragmentation.

Generators of Urban Diversity

Mixed uses, small blocks, varied building ages/forms and sufficient density (Jacobs).

Eyes on the Street

Natural surveillance provided by residents and shopkeepers that enhances street safety (Jacobs).

Safety Strip (Franja de Seguridad)

Buffer zone between pedestrian path and traffic that can also hold emergency or utility elements.

Circular Economy

Economic model that produces goods and services while reducing resource use and waste, closing product life-cycles.

Pedestrian-Priority Street Speed

Maximum vehicle speed of 30 km/h on local streets where pedestrians have priority (Manual de Calles).

Urban Street Furniture Criteria

Benches, lights and other elements should be provided when a sidewalk has steady pedestrian flow and enough width.

Minimum Accessible Sidewalk Width

1200 mm clear of obstacles to allow comfortable passage of a wheelchair user.

Public Space as Citizenship Stage

Area enabling interaction, recognition and collective appropriation that nurtures democratic practice (MIDUVI).

Quality Metrics for Public Space

Evaluated through accessibility, safety, comfort and opportunities for social interaction.

Social Function of Public Space

To promote encounter, social cohesion and sense of belonging among inhabitants.

Vulnerable Park Condition

An urban park becomes unsafe when surrounding areas lack mixed uses and constant human activity (Jacobs).

Tactile Paving Types

Guidance bands show a safe path; warning bands signal hazards or threshold changes for visually-impaired users.