Robots to Map Tyler Sidewalks for Accessibility Review

The city of Tyler is deploying sidewalk-mapping robots this summer as part of an accessibility assessment designed to document pedestrian infrastructure conditions across public rights of way and trails.

Beginning June 10, Daxbot will work with Kimley-Horn to collect accessibility data that will support the city’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. The assessment will cover about 94.5 miles of sidewalks and trails, associated curb ramps, 122 signalized intersections and 59 transit stops.

The city said the field assessment will document existing pedestrian facilities and identify barriers to access in the public right of way. The robots will collect information related to pedestrian infrastructure and will not store personal information.

The project follows a similar deployment in Midland, where robots began collecting sidewalk and pedestrian accessibility data in April across about 45 miles of priority corridors downtown and near the airport. That work also involved Kimley-Horn and Daxbot, and was intended to document sidewalk conditions, public right-of-way assets and barriers to accessibility.

In Tyler, Daxbot will deploy six to eight robots at a time during daylight hours seven days a week. Fieldwork will move systematically through the city, with a local support team available as needed. The field collection phase is expected to take about four weeks.

“This effort will give us a clearer, more comprehensive picture of conditions across Tyler’s pedestrian network and will help inform future planning and prioritization,” said ADA Coordinator Michael Howell. “This methodology lets the project team cover more ground in less time. It also makes responsible use of project resources.”

The city said the robotic field collection method is expected to create a more detailed, consistent record of pedestrian infrastructure conditions while reducing time and costs compared with traditional means.