DANOVA Innovative transportation services for blind and partially-sighted passengers in Danube Region

PROJECT SUMMARY

In Europe, there are over 30 million blind and partially sighted people who cannot travel independently as more than 96% of the European transport system, especially in the Danube Region, is still not fully accessible to people with visual impairments. Many blind and partially sighted passengers find it extremely difficult, and in some cases even impossible, to use conventional transportation such as airplanes, buses, trains, or public transport. They have to rely on the assistance of a sighted person, whether it is their personal assistant, official staff member, or a random passer-by, which ensures their ability to travel but still presents several constraints when compared to sighted people’s experience. 

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The project's main objective is to improve the accessibility of airports, seaports, train/bus stations to blind and partially sighted people by developing a set of new services and competencies to allow them to have full access to all transportation information, facilities, and services. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The partnership identified three specific objectives and formed three technical work packages (WP) accordingly to achieve this very challenging goal. Based on a transnational and cooperative approach, the project partners will:

1. search for existing solutions and best practice examples that can efficiently be transferred to the Danube region [WPT1],
2. design a new concept of transportation system fully accessible to blind and partially sighted passengers and test innovative solutions and services [WPT2],
3. implement and educate relevant target groups on how to use those solutions and how to adequately support passengers with visual impairment [WPT3].

The consortium of 14 partners from 9 different countries, led by Dubrovnik Airport as Lead Partner, is well-balanced in terms of the involvement of airports, seaports, research institutions, local authorities, and associations representing visually impaired people.
 

RESULTS

The new services for blind and partially sighted passengers and new competencies of people working with passengers will contribute to making the Danube region more innovative and socially responsible.

PROJECT PARTNERS

• LP-ZLD Dubrovnik Airport Ltd (lead partner)
• ENI-MD PP2-TUM Technical University of Moldova
• ERDF PP3-BUD Budapest Airport Zrt.
• ERDF PP4-BKK Centre for Budapest Transport
• ERDF PP5-UM University of Maribor
• ERDF PP6-BATTI Bulgarian Association for Transfer of Technology and Innovation
• ERDF PP7-HSS Croatian Blind Union
• ERDF PP8-BSVO Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted
• ERDF PP9-LUD Dubrovnik Port Authority
• ERDF PP10-MOM Municipality of Maribor
• ERDF PP11-ILZ Airport Žilina
• IPA PP1-ACG JSC Airports of Montenegro
• IPA PP2-POK Port of Kotor
• IPA PP3-MAS Sarajevo International Airport
   

ASSOCIATED PARTNERS

• Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union 
• Fraport Slovenija, d.o.o. 
• Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of Moldova
• DEX Innovation Centre

DURATION (30 months)

Start date         the 1st of July 2020
End date          the 31st of December 2022

BUDGET (Programme Co-financing)

Total Budget          2,192,546.66 EUR
ERDF                      1,739,970.00 EUR
IPA II                          362,130.00 EUR
ENI-MD                       90,446.66 EUR
ENI-UA                                 0.00 EUR