Digital tool assessing accessibility of urban infrastructure

AURA is a digital tool that turns subjective accessibility checks into objective maps and scores using 3D scans and automated analysis. Since 2022 it audited 300+ buildings (1.5M m²), guided €12M in upgrades and earned €110k in 2024.

BAU Accesibilidad Universal is a private company from Santiago, Chile, focused on accessible infrastructure planning. Its digital tool AURA (Accessibility Universal Risk Algorithm) uses an algorithm to objectively assess and manage accessibility risks in infrastructure, including transport systems, parks, and buildings, by measuring and benchmarking accessibility barriers. Since 2020, AURA has evaluated over 300 sites and influenced €12 million in investments.

Problems Targeted

Institutions lack tools to measure and manage accessibility gaps, resulting in inefficient planning, poor compliance, and continued exclusion.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

AURA (Accessibility Universal Risk Algorithm) converts subjective evaluations into objective ones to map and evaluate the accessibility of the built environment against national and international standards. The tool collects and processes data on features such as ramps, entrances, wayfinding, seating, signage, surface materials, and toilets, identifying non-compliant features and inefficiencies. By integrating digital twin technology (3D scans), compliance analysis, and functional use data, AURA produces risk heat maps, dashboards, and remote audit capabilities. Stakeholder feedback, including the direct participation of people with disabilities, ensures the tool’s real-world relevance. Automated scoring and benchmarking empower municipalities and infrastructure owners to prioritize upgrades, build new facilities according to Universal Design protocols, and document compliance. Since its launch in 2022, AURA has audited over 300 buildings and 1.5 million square metres of infrastructure, guiding accessibility investments worth over €12 million. Institutions report more efficient investment planning, higher compliance with standards, and swifter implementation of accessibility measures.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

AURA is a for-profit, revenue-driven service, with some support from CORFO, Chile’s innovation and economic development agency. Its business model combines activation fees, annual licenses, and complementary services, generating €110,000 in revenue in 2024. In Colombia, AURA has been applied through its partner DADO Diseño in public transport terminals and social security institutions. In Mexico it has been used in projects at the design stage. (#ZeroCall26)

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