The City of Los Angeles maintains over 11,000 miles of sidewalks. When a sidewalk segment does not settle evenly or has been raised by tree root growth, the sidewalk becomes uneven. This can create pedestrian hazards.  In addition, the City is obligated to ensure that its sidewalks conform to Federal ADA standards, which limit the extent to which a sidewalk may slope.

ABSTRACT / DESCRIPTION: This is the sixth term of a multi-year project. In the last term, a rover has been successfully fabricated. Now, the rover is capable of 1) moving with remote control, 2) measuring crossing slopes and running slopes, 3) collecting  GPS data, and 4) taking photo images. In this term, we will develop a module to measure vertical and horizontal displacement by partnering with the Mechanical Department. In addition, we will continue developing various software by focusing on the following tasks:

• Task 1 – Work with ME Department to implement a module to collect vertical and horizontal displacement.  – The students shall implement a module to collect horizontal/vertical displacement on the sidewalk by equipping the rover with distance-measuring components. Also, the students shall develop a program to identify the severity of vertical and horizontal displacement from the sensor data. 
• Task 2 – Perform field tests and verify calibration of slope measurement on the current data collection process. – The students shall perform extensive field tests to assess the system for field deployment preparation. Also, the students shall work with the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Civil Engineering Department to verify the correct procedure for collecting slope measurements in the current data collection process.
• Task 3 – Integrate the front-end and back-end systems with Ubiquity Magni Rover. – The students shall integrate the existing front-end system providing a graphical user interface and integration with NavigateLA, and the existing back-end system with Uniquity Magni Rover.