184｜Practice

Creating installation guidelines for tactile
ground surface indicators (braille blocks) for thevisually impaired
1. Background and goals
Tactile ground surface indicators for the visually impaired, also known as braille blocks, were invented
in Japan in 1965. Since then, braille blocks have been installed not just in Japan but throughout theworld. It is gratifying to see the growing number of installations, but because they have spread without
clear installation guidelines and methods in place, there are currently a number of installations aroundthe world that are dangerous, pose barriers to other pedestrians, or do not serve their intended function.
Another problem is that braille blocks are being manufactured according to the unique rules of various
regions, so there is a lack of design uniformity. There are even cases within Japan where specific areas
are installing blocks according to local rules. This situation has made clear the necessity of establishinginstallation guidelines that can be used both in Japan and overseas for braille blocks to be utilized byvisually impaired persons. The goal of this project is to elucidate problems related to the installation ofbraille blocks currently in use, prior to the establishment of such guidelines.
Braille blocks (formally, tactile ground surface
点字ブロック（正式名称：視覚障害者誘導用ブロック）
indicators for visually impaired persons)

Directional block
Indicates the direction in whichusers can move.
Warning block
Indicates locations where careshould be taken. Examples
include before crosswalks, stairs,
branch points, guidance plates,and obstacles.

London, UK

Brussels, Belgium

Figure 1. A directional block anda warning block
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

San Francisco, USA

Figure 2. Dissimilar braille blocks

Project Leader: Katsumi Tokuda
Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba

Creating installation guidelines for tactile ground surface indicators (braille blocks) for the visually impaired｜185

2. Research content
Evaluation experiments were performed with visually impaired participants who are the intended users
of braille blocks, and areas needing improvement were summarized. Questionnaires and interviews werealso conducted to investigate the impact of braille blocks on other pedestrians (in particular wheelchairusers, the elderly, stroller users, young children, etc.) and to elucidate needed improvements.
2-1. Evaluation experiments with visually impaired participants

Example of an overly narrow warning block(Nagasaki City)
Example where no warning block has
been installed at a crosswalk entrance(Sapporo City)

Example where no warning block is installed at anintersection of directional blocks (Saga City)

Example of erroneous installation
positioning (Nisshin City, Aichi
Prefecture)

Example where no warning block is
installed at an intersection of
directional blocks (Toyama City)

Figure 3. Inappropriate placements of warning blocks

The evaluation experiments with visually impaired participants were conducted in order to investigate
the matters that only users can evaluate, such as the placement of warning blocks before obstructions,the angle of warning blocks placed before changes in the direction of continuous directional blocks,
dangers posed by blocks and rules used in only certain locales, and the necessity of installing directional
blocks that indicate directions in front of intersections. Most experiments were performed using temporary braille block installations on the University of Tsukuba campus, but in some special cases experiments were performed at actual installation sites.
The following results were obtained. (1) Warning blocks should be installed in cases where thedirection of directional blocks will bend with an interior angle of 135° or less. (2) Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism guidelines specifying that warning blocks should be installed 30

186｜Practice

cm in front of potential hazards are appropriate. (3) Some blocks used in accordance with local rules areincapable of providing appropriate warnings. In particular, situations where warning blocks conforming
to JIS standards are mixed with directional blocks conforming to local rules are extremely dangerous,and urgently require improvement.
2-2. Braille blocks as a barrier to wheelchair users and other pedestrians
Interviews and questionnaires were conducted with pedestrians for whom braille blocks may pose a barrier, such as wheelchair users, the elderly, stroller users, and those with small children.
In a survey of wheelchair users, 72% responded that they regard braille blocks as a barrier. In a survey of walking aid users, 85% reported that it is difficult to pass over braille blocks. One respondent
reported trying to avoid braille blocks as much as possible, but in some locations, tiles are so pervasivethat they are impossible to avoid.
Most stroller users (82%) reported the stroller getting caught up on braille blocks. There were also
reports that the vibrations caused by passing over braille blocks are strong enough to wake a sleeping
child. In a survey of guardians of small children, 50% reported cases of children stumbling and tripping
over braille blocks. One respondent reported a case where a two-year-old child tripped on braille blocks,
resulting in a large bump on the child’s head.
The above indicates the necessity of methods for installing braille blocks that do not pose a barrier
to other pedestrians.

3. Conclusions
On the basis of the results presented above, we have created Japanese and international editions of theGuidebook for the Proper Installation of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (Braille Blocks): Common
Installation Errors as a supplement to the installation guidelines from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. We have also held information sessions at approximately 40 domestic
institutions and facilities, as well as 15 overseas institutions.
In the future, we will more widely distribute the guidebook that we created, along with additional
explanations as necessary. We hope to continue working toward further optimization of braille blocks,
both in Japan and abroad.

Creating installation guidelines for tactile ground surface indicators (braille blocks) for the visually impaired｜187

Installation rules for directional blocks• Directional blocks should be installed in locations where there are no potential hazards within
30 cm to the sides or overhead.
• Directional blocks should allow for easy recognition of indicated movement directions.
• Directional blocks should guide users to necessary locations.
• Directional blocks should maintain continuity.
• Warning blocks should not be installed before bends with an interior angle of 135° or more.
• Tiles should be of sufficient surface area to allow tactile recognition through shoe soles.

Installation rules for warning blocks• Warning blocks should be installed in locations sufficient to allow users to stop before obstructions (30 cm in front of obstructions)• Warning blocks should clearly indicate path branches.
• Warning blocks should allow easy recognition of the meaning of the warning.
• Tiles should be of sufficient surface area to allow tactile recognition through shoe soles.

An example of an installation improvement given in the guidebook
Directional blocks must maintain continuity. Manholes are a common reason for interrupting
the continuity of directional blocks. In such situations, directional blocks should also be installed
on top of the manhole.
[An example of an installation improvement]

4. Future outlook
As of April 2014, we have completed field investigations in 101 countries and regions. Braille blockshave been installed in many countries and regions, but we identified many errors in those installations.
We have presented this information through reports and oral presentations at various international conferences. We have also responded to requests for advice regarding braille block installations in several
countries, including Turkey and Israel. In the future, we hope to make whatever efforts we can toward
worldwide unification of installation methods for braille blocks. Our book Tenji burokku [Braille blocks],
which is based on the results of our activities at the IATSS and follow-up research, won the 2013 Mitsui
Sumitomo Insurance Welfare Foundation Award.