Cycling Routes Research Articles

A Theoretical Perspective for Ammonia Synthesis: Nitric Oxide or Nitrate Electroreduction?

Ammonia is an important raw material for agricultural production, playing a key role in global food production. However, conventional ammonia synthesis resulted in extensive greenhouse gas emissions and huge energy consumption. Recently, researchers have proposed electrocatalytic reverse artificial nitrogen cycle (eRANC) routes to circumvent these issues, which can be driven by electrocatalysis and sustainable electricity. Here, a theoretical and computational perspective on the challenges and opportunities with the comparison with experimental results: electrochemical reduction of nitrate (eNO3RR) and nitrite (eNO2RR), electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide (eNORR) combined with oxidative nitrogen fixation are presented. By comparison, the N2→NO→NH3 route is proposed as the most promising in case the NO solubility can be solved well in reactor design. Its high efficiency of ammonia production is demonstrated. Instead, the eNO3RR can be another choice because it is non-toxic and the solid-liquid interface is usually efficient for electrochemical reactions, while its low selectivity at low overpotentials is an issue. These fundamentals highlight the potential and key factors of eRANC as an efficient and sustainable route for ammonia production.

Collecting population-representative bike-riding GPS data to understand bike-riding activity and patterns using smartphones and Bluetooth beacons

Bike-riding GPS data offers detailed insights and individual-level mobility information which are critical for understanding bike-riding travel behaviour, enhancing transportation safety and equity, and developing models to estimate bike route choice and volumes at high spatio-temporal resolution. Yet, large-scale bicycling-specific GPS data collection studies are infrequent, with many existing studies lacking robust spatial and/or temporal coverage, or have been influenced by sampling biases leading to these data lacking representativeness. Additionally, accurately detecting bike-riding trips from continuously collected raw GPS data without human intervention remains a challenge. This study presents a novel GPS data collection approach by leveraging the combination of a smartphone application with a Bluetooth beacon attached to a participant’s bike. Aided by minimal heuristic post-processing, our method limits data collection to trips taken by bike without the need for participant intervention, carefully optimising between survey participation, privacy challenges, participant workload, and robust bike-riding trip detection. Our method is applied to collect 19,782 bike trips from 673 adults spanning eight months and three seasons in Greater Melbourne, Australia. The collected dataset is shown to represent the underlying adult bike-riding population in terms of demographics (sex, occupation and employment type), temporal and spatial patterns. The average trip length (median = 4.8 km), duration (median = 20.9 min), and frequency of bicycling trips (median = 2.7 trips/week) were greater among men, middle-aged and older adults. The ‘Interested but Concerned’ riders (classified using Geller typology) rode more frequently, while the ‘Strong and Fearless’ and ‘Enthused and Confident’ groups rode greater distances and for longer. Participants rode on roads/streets without bike infrastructure for more than half of their trips by distance, while spending 24% and 17% on off-road paths and bike lanes respectively. This population-representative dataset will be key in the context of urban planning and policymaking.

Exploring the geographical equity-efficiency tradeoff in cycling infrastructure planning

Cycling is affordable, healthy, and sustainable, but access to destinations on low-stress safe cycling routes in most cities is both limited and unevenly distributed. Many cities are expanding cycling networks to improve safety, increase cycling mode share, and increase diversity in access to cycling, however resources remain limited which requires prioritization of infrastructure. When proposed infrastructure locations are optimized to provide the highest average access to opportunities using a utilitarian definition of accessibility, marginalized groups and locations may be further left behind. This occurs since the greatest gains to network connectivity, using a utility definition, come from expansions inside or directly adjacent to the densest network areas. We compare utilitarian and equity-driven planning strategies for cycling network expansion and explore tradeoffs in spatial coverage, equity, and efficiency, using Toronto, Canada as a case study. We find that optimizing accessibility in several small regions instead of city-wide leads to an infrastructure plan that is more spatially dispersed. Further, we show that an optimization model targeting low-access areas produces an infrastructure plan with more regions meeting a minimum threshold of accessibility but with lower average accessibility gains, indicating the presence of an equity-efficiency tradeoff. We also find that infrastructure projects that maximize a region's accessibility to jobs are often located outside that region, challenging political perceptions of "local" infrastructure and benefits. These results inform planning, advocacy, design, and policy, and shed light on spatial and socio-demographic equity tradeoffs in deciding where to add cycling infrastructure.

Safety and bicycle route choice – To what extent does accident risk and perceived safety influence bicycle route choice?

Safety is a major issue in bicycle traffic and understanding safety-related factors that influence bicycle route choice is crucial for improving safety and promoting sustainable transportation. However, there is a notable lack of research on the impact of accident risk and perceived safety on cyclists' route choice. This study addresses this gap by investigating whether accident-prone areas or perceived insecure locations affect actual route choice decisions. The contribution explores this relationship by leveraging an extensive dataset comprising approximately 4,000 trips from around 170 participants, alongside additional data on infrastructure, operations, exposure, accidents, and mobility diaries on critical incidents. The findings broadly confirm the results from other studies regarding the influence of route characteristics (e.g., existence of cycling infrastructure, traffic volumes of motorized traffic, or presence of signal-controlled intersections). Moreover, the study reveals that a high accident risk along a route does have a slight negative influence on route choice. Surprisingly, perceived safety does not significantly influence route choice of cyclists.

Cycle route uptake and scenario estimation (CRUSE): an approach for developing strategic cycle network planning tools

This paper describes an approach for developing strategic cycle network planning tools. Based on our experience developing and deploying the Cycle Route Uptake and Scenario Estimation (CRUSE) Tool for Ireland, we outline the underlying methods, including disaggregation of origin–destination data with the open source ‘odjitter’ software, incorporation of additional trip purposes, routing, scenario generation, and development of an intuitive user interface that is tested and used by practitioners. Commissioned by the national infrastructure agency Transport Infrastructure Ireland, CRUSE provides estimates of current and potential future cycling levels under ‘snapshot’ scenarios to inform investment decisions. The publicly available results at https://cruse.bike/ enable planners, engineers, and other stakeholders to make more evidence-based decisions. CRUSE goes beyond previous work by: modeling networks at high spatial resolution; simulating multiple trip purposes (social, shopping, personal utility, recreational, and cycle touring), supplementing official origin–destination datasets on travel for work and education; and providing estimates of ‘quietness’ (a proxy for cyclist comfort and route preference) at the route segment level. Three network types—‘Fastest’, ‘Balanced’, and ‘Quietest’—help plan both arterial and residential cycle networks. Workshops with stakeholders were used to inform the development of the tool. Feedback shows that the tool has a wide range of uses and is already being used in practice to inform urban, inter-urban, and rural cycle network designs. The approach is flexible and open source, allowing the underlying ideas and code to be adapted, supporting more evidence-based and effective cycling policies and interventions internationally.

Informed sampling and recommendation of cycling routes: leveraging crowd-sourced trajectories with weighted-latent Dirichlet allocation

Attractive cycling routes can effectively promote active mobility, thus reducing the twin pressures of the population boom and the greenhouse effect. However, the existing approaches for cycling route recommendation primarily concentrate on identifying the most efficient routes while ignoring the urban spatial context, which is essential to meet the user’s particular preferences. This article proposes a novel method for informed sampling and recommending cycling routes leveraging crowd-sourced trajectories with weighted-latent Dirichlet allocation (WLDA). Precisely, spatial context mapping, incorporating a weighting mechanism into LDA, latent topics mining, and cycling route recommendation based on informed sampling are introduced. We collected 1,016 cycling trajectories around Cologne, Germany, for experimental analysis. The experimental results show that the three latent topics within the trajectories, leisure, city, and green tours, are clearly presented in the line density analysis. The insightful recommendation for unfamiliar cyclists could also be actively sampled upon the WLDA model. These findings suggest that our approach could shift the route recommendation paradigm from GIS analysis to a semantic mining perspective, yielding highly interpretable results and offering novel research avenues for applying machine learning in route planning.

School bikeability – what is it, and why is it important? An overview of key indicators and measurement

ABSTRACT Despite the theoretical recognition of children’s specific needs regarding road safety, there remains a lack of literature focusing on children’s bikeability or bikeability to school. This is rather concerning as many developed countries have witnessed a decline in active travel to school over the past few decades, despite the existence of well-recognized positive benefits of cycling for children. Recognising the significance of school travel, this study addresses this gap. Through an overview of existing literature, it discusses the importance of school bikeability and sheds light on its specific differences from general accessibility and bikeability, and identifies a set of indicators for measuring it. These indicators, categorised into four domains – Cycling Infrastructure, Connectivity and urbanisation, Safety, and Surrounding environment, can be further utilised to assess school bikeability in any given area. The results of such an assessment can be effectively used to guide investments and policies aimed at establishing safe and secure cycling routes to and from schools.

How destination attributes affect mountain bikers’ behavioral intention: The mediating roles of enduring involvement and place attachment

This research investigated the effects of destination attributes, enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction on mountain bikers’ behavioral intentions by incorporating the Mehrabian-Russell model. A survey approach was employed to test this model. Data was collected from 682 mountain bikers in the Taiwan Bike Association and Taiwan Cyclist Federation from March 2022 to July 2022. This was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our results indicate that the destination attributes of tourism attraction and accessibility and amenities and complementary services affect enduring involvement both positively and negatively. While tourism attraction and accessibility positively affect place attachment and satisfaction, amenities and complementary services positively affect place attachment but not satisfaction. Moreover, enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction positively affect behavioral intentions. Enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction had mediating effects on the relationship between tourism attraction and accessibility and behavioral intentions. Enduring involvement also played a mediating role in the relationship between amenities and complementary services and behavioral intentions. We discuss both the theoretical and managerial implications of these findings. Management implicationsThe findings of the current study have the following management implications.•Excellent natural resources and accessibility are essential for positive assessments of cycling routes.•Tourism attraction and accessibility is a strong predictor of enduring involvement, place attachment, and satisfaction.•Professional trail building and ongoing maintenance can mitigate adverse environmental impacts and improve the mountain biking experience.•An oversupply of amenities and services can diminish mountain bikers' sense of accomplishment and the pleasure and relaxation of the activity.

Demographic characteristics of those who cycle commute and the effect access to on- and off-road cycle paths has on cycle commute uptake.

ObjectivesIncreasing cycle commute uptake could be an important approach to improving worker health and reducing carbon emissions, congestion and air pollution. In order to increase cycle commute uptake, we must understand the characteristics of those who already cycle to work and the aspects of physical infrastructure that could promote cycling. MethodsIn this work, we use administrative data pertaining to those in employment aged 16-74 years living and working in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland on the night of the 2011 population census. We calculate distances to the nearest cycle path for each individual from cycle route data from around the time of the census that were made computer readable. We looked at the characteristics of those who cycled to work and how proximity to nearest cycle path differed between groups along with how distance from place of residence and place of work to nearest cycle path influenced cycle commute uptake. ResultsWe show how the propensity to cycle commute differs across population characteristics such as sex, age and the National Statistics Socio-economic classification and how the interaction of these factors affects propensity to cycle commute. We also show the ways in which living and working closer to on- and off-road cycle paths increases the likelihood of cycle commuting. DiscussionThe results of this study can be used to inform the most promising groups to aim cycling interventions at thereby improving health and environmental outcomes.

Built environment and childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity, an escalating global health challenge, is intricately linked to the built environment in which children live, learn, and play. This review and perspective examined the multifaceted relationship between the built environment and childhood obesity, offering insights into potential interventions for prevention. Factors such as urbanization, access to unhealthy food options, sedentary behaviors, and socioeconomic disparities are critical contributors to this complex epidemic. Built environment encompasses the human-modified spaces such as homes, schools, workplaces, and urban areas. These settings can influence children's physical activity levels, dietary habits, and overall health. The built environment can be modified to prevent childhood obesity by enhancing active transportation through the development of safe walking and cycling routes, creating accessible and inviting green spaces and play areas, and promoting healthy food environments by regulating fast-food outlet density. School design is another area for intervention, with a focus on integrating outdoor spaces and facilities that promote physical activity and healthy eating. Community engagement and education in reinforcing healthy behaviors is necessary, alongside the potential of technology and innovation in encouraging physical activity among children. Policy and legislative support are crucial for sustaining these efforts. In conclusion, addressing the built environment in the fight against childhood obesity requires the need for a comprehensive, multipronged approach that leverages the built environment as a tool for promoting healthier lifestyles among children, ultimately paving the way for a healthier, more active future generation.

Urban air quality comparison on bike and driving routes: a case study for UK

Air quality in cities is very important in both tackling climate change and promoting healthy sustainable urban living. Understanding the air quality around cities has been a challenge faced by local authorities around the world. With the new net zero targets in place, government and charitable organisations across the UK have been trying hard to both monitor and control air pollutants to influence citizen behavior towards environmentally friendly living. This study looks at urban air quality in two UK cities with the idea of understanding air quality and its relation to the mode of transport, health and well-being. This case study compares the urban air quality as Particulate Matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) and gaseous pollutants (NO 2) on the bike and motor driving routes in Cambridge and Colchester. The study designed experiments and data collection campaigns to understand the factors leading to air quality fluctuations in urban traffic routes. The resulting measurements show that NO 2 concentrations are higher in motor driving routes and in certain locations on the bike routes that are part of (or very close to) the motor route. The PM concentrations are generally higher near parks and open greenspaces but can be argued to be within the recommended limits. Finally, this paper proposes steps to improve the urban infrastructure to tackle emissions and spread awareness among the citizens.

Evaluating the influence of cyclists’ route choices incorporation into travel demand modelling: A case study in greater Helsinki

Cycling is a sustainable transport mode that endorses an active lifestyle. While cycling shows great potential, it is essential for urban planning to consider attributes influencing the choices that cyclists act upon. Cyclists’ route choices have been studied since the Eighties with knowledge being applied in cycling network planning. Yet, the role of cycling as a sustainable transportation mode has been largely absent from travel demand modelling. This paper researches cyclists’ route choice preferences and evaluates the opportunity of incorporating route choice modelling into travel demand modelling to improve the accuracy of cycling route choice. To this end, a route choice framework is developed in which a stated preference survey for data collection is conducted, a multinomial Logit model is applied to the data to identify the factors that significantly influence cyclists’ route choice behaviour. The generated route choice utility models are further integrated into an existing regional travel demand model to evaluate the performance of cyclists’ route choice modelling in the presence of additional factors. Then, the route choice model outputs are validated against two sets of external data. The results show that bike facilities, traffic volume, and trip length are the key factors influencing cyclists’ route choice preferences, and the generated route choice models can be an applicable improvement in incorporating the influences of cyclists’ preferences into travel demand modelling.

Encouraging cycling through the improvement of streetscape perception: A bottom-up investigation into the relationship between street greening and bicycling volume

Enhancing neighborhood greenery quality proves to be an effective tactic in encouraging active travel among residents. From a cyclist's perspective, this study quantitatively evaluates street greening quality and its association with cycling behaviors. Utilizing shared bicycle usage data and SegNet-analyzed Baidu Street Views on Xiamen Island, we quantified comprehensive street greening quality. We then employed Spatial Design Network Analysis and a street greening quality rating scale to assess accessibility and aesthetics. Subsequently, models were developed using OLS, spatial autocorrelation, and Moran's I statistical methods, complemented by a spatial heterogeneity analysis of factors influencing shared bicycle riding behaviors through the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model. Our study reveals that in arterial and commercial districts, the appeal and variety of street greening elements are more crucial than their quantity. These quality indicators exhibit a polycentric, continuous spatial distribution, aligning with the overall street layout. Beyond the visual impact of greenery on cycling behavior, factors like richness, openness, and safety of streets, along with diverse facilities, significantly influence cycling route preferences. In contrast, uniform street elements can disrupt or even discourage cycling. This research, by analyzing the relationship between street greening quality and cycling intensity, offers valuable insights for policymakers in prioritizing the transformation of streets into bike-friendly zones. Additionally, we propose a pragmatic, bottom-up approach to developing bicycle-friendly urban environments, indirectly fostering healthier travel habits among urban residents.

Cycle highway effects: Assessing modal choice to cycling in the Netherlands

Cycle highways are regarded as a promising new type of infrastructure because they promote longer-distance cycling between (sub)urban residential areas and work and study centers. This study examines whether the emerging network of regional cycle highways in the Netherlands has contributed to a modal shift from car to bicycle. More specifically, we investigate the effect of these routes on commuting bicycle mode choice. Our main data sources are a national travel survey covering commuting journeys that were made between 2010 and 2021 and a comprehensive dataset we have compiled to document the exact timing and status of all cycle highways in the Netherlands. We employ a difference-in-differences approach with a binary logit model, comparing bicycle mode choice versus the car for trips that benefited from a new cycle highway, before and after the introduction of the new infrastructure, with a control group of trips that were not affected by the construction of a new route. We present results from a novel routing-based approach to measuring exposure to this new cycling facility, which allows us to establish the extent to which the fastest route to work traverses a newly constructed cycle highway. After controlling for relevant covariates, our main results indicate that the introduction of cycle highways has contributed to a shift in commuting behavior toward cycling, with an increase of approximately 10 % in cycling probability post-intervention for trips highly exposed to cycle highways. The results also indicate some heterogeneity in the effects of cycle highways across different groups of individuals. The findings of this study are especially important in the context of the Netherlands (or similar biking countries, such as Denmark). Although these countries have well-established cycling infrastructure, they can still derive benefits from new cycling routes and can support decision-makers in other countries who want to invest in cycling in the near future.

Urban cyclists’ perception of risk using body and environmental monitoring

There is limited information on the influence of environmental and behavioural factors on cyclists’ risk perception. This study gives insights into the factors shaping cyclists’ perception of risk. Twenty-six cyclists were assessed for their psychological distress and previous cycling experience, following which their heart rate was monitored while cycling along a variety of urban routes. The findings are that cycling through commercial areas, one-way routes, and routes with speed limits reduced their perceived risk. However, wider cycling routes and bikeways were associated with an increased heart rate. This study implied that both individual and environmental characteristics significantly influence risk perception. Both the psychological well-being of cyclists and cycling infrastructure should be considered to promote urban cycling. Risk perception serves as an indicator to guide the development of urban cycling facilities, enabling urban planners and policymakers to promote healthier, more sustainable cities through effective promotion of cycling for urban commuting.

Tourist itineraries for Sustainable Mobility: an application in the Salento Area (Italy)

The purpose of this work is to define the design process, implemented through an analytical methodology, of two sustainable mobility tourist routes in a specific area of southern Italy (Salento); methodology applicable to other territorial realities. This design process was developed in the context of the 2014/2020 Interreg V-A Greece-Italy cross-border cooperation strategic project called "AI SMART_Adriatic Ionian Small Port Network". It takes into account the analysis of existing Plans and Programs at different levels (Sustainable Mobility Urban Plans; cycling routes; Territorial Plans, etc.), the analysis of statistical data in the area related to employment and tourism; the interlocution with key stakeholders, the analysis of architectural, landscape and food and wine surpluses. These routes have been defined for the interaction of the port of Otranto with the hinterland territories and with the opposite Ionian coast to promote the sustainable and inclusive transnational tourist fruition of the Apulian territory. The genesis of the two thematic itineraries stems from the need/willingness to valorise some areas of Salento through the connection of significant nodes in terms of landscape, architectural and historical value, which define two routes with Pulsano and Otranto as their vertices. The project brings together the potential of the Salento as an area with a strong tourist value, with the theme of sustainable mobility, suggesting the seasonality of travel of each, to meet the needs of deseasonalization of an area with a high summer and seaside tourism vocation.

Cycling Greenway Planning towards Sustainable Leisure and Recreation: Assessing Network Potential in the Built Environment of Chengdu

In the quest to enhance urban green mobility and promote sustainable leisure activities, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential for cycling greenways within the urban fabric of Chengdu, China. Leveraging the built environment and cycling routes, simulated by dockless bike-sharing (DBS) big data on weekend afternoons, the cycling flow on existing networks reflects the preference for leisure cycling in surroundings, thus indicating the potential for future enhancements to cycling greenway infrastructure. Employing Multi-Scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR), this research captures the spatial heterogeneity in environmental factors influencing leisure cycling behaviors. The findings highlight the significant roles of mixed land use, network diversity, public transit accessibility, human-scale urban design, road network thresholds, and the spatially variable impacts of architectural form in determining cycling greenway potential. This study culminates with the development of an evaluation model, offering a scientific approach for cities to identify and prioritize the expansion of cycling infrastructure. Contributing to urban planning efforts for more livable and sustainable environments, this research underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making in urban green mobility enhancement by accurately identifying and efficiently upgrading infrastructure guided by public preferences.

Analyzing the Impact of Montreal’s Réseau Express Vélo (REV) on Surrounding Bike Lanes’ Ridership and the COVID-19 Cycling Recovery

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Montreal implemented pro-cycling measures and enhanced its cycling infrastructure, notably by the introduction of the Réseau Express Vélo (REV), an extensive network of separated high-capacity bike lanes inaugurated in 2020. This paper delves into the pandemic’s impact on Montreal’s cycling network, with specific focus on the Berri/Lajeunesse/Saint-Denis REV route, evaluating its influence on the recovery of adjacent bike lanes and its effectiveness in attracting new cyclists. Using data from sensors installed along Montreal’s bike lanes between 2018 and 2023, our analysis reveals an initial average 28% decline in cycling volumes at the onset of the pandemic. However, from 2021 onwards, disparities began to emerge. While sensors on adjacent parallel bike routes to REV recorded further declines in ridership, those elsewhere in the city showed signs of cycling recovery, suggesting a shift in the cycling patterns towards the REV. Distinguishing between cyclists displaced from other parallel bike lanes and those representing a pent-up demand, our study indicates that the displaced cyclists accounted for 64% of the REV’s ridership at the southernmost sensors and only 7% at the northernmost sensors in 2023. These findings have significant policy implications, as cyclists comprised within the pent-up demand category correspond to those having transitioned from not using bike lanes to utilizing safer cycling infrastructure and account for the net growth in the cycling mode share directly attributable to the REV. Both of these observations are pivotal in fostering a shift away from cars and steering Montreal towards achieving its cycling mode share goal of 15% by 2027.

Sustainable development of forest parks for active recreation: A balance between nature conservation and physical education

The study aims to comprehensively assess the negative impacts of various activities carried out by visitors to natural areas, including forest parks, on ecosystems. The research methodology included an analysis of forest park ecosystems Gotova-Dangel and Logara forest parks, monitoring ecosystem changes, which provided objective data on the impact of human activity. The study developed recommendations aimed at minimising the negative effects of these activities on the environment. The main results of the study demonstrated that walking leads to soil compaction, which in turn hurts water circulation and aeration of soil layers. This phenomenon can also cause damage to rare species of plants and trees that are vulnerable to changes in their natural environment. In addition, cycling causes soil erosion, which leads to the destruction of vegetation, which in turn negatively affects the environmental sustainability of the region. This can create conditions for the degradation of natural ecosystems and a decrease in biodiversity. Camping causes pollution of the area, including dumping garbage and other waste, which leads to a decrease in the number of animals living in forest environments, with serious consequences for the ecological balance and conservation of wildlife. The findings highlight the need to introduce clearly defined trails for pedestrian traffic, create specialised bicycle routes, and develop environmentally responsible camping practices. This will significantly reduce the negative impact on the forest ecosystem. The research is relevant for the conservation of biodiversity as well as for maintaining the ecological balance in forest parks, which is critical for the sustainable development of natural resources and the preservation of the environment for future generations

The Development of a Prototype Solution for Collecting Information on Cycling and Hiking Trail Users

Hiking and cycling have gained popularity as ways of promoting well-being and physical activity. This has not gone unnoticed by Portuguese authorities, who have invested in infrastructure to support these activities and to boost sustainable and nature-based tourism. However, the lack of reliable data on the use of these infrastructures prevents us from recording attendance rates and the most frequent types of users. This information is important for the authorities responsible for managing, maintaining, promoting and using these infrastructures. In this sense, this study builds on a previous study by the same authors which identified computer vision as a suitable technology to identify and count different types of users of cycling and hiking routes. The performance tests carried out led to the conclusion that the YOLOv3-Tiny convolutional neural network has great potential for solving this problem. Based on this result, this paper describes the proposal and implementation of a prototype demonstrator. It is based on a Raspberry Pi 4 platform with YOLOv3-Tiny, which is responsible for detecting and classifying user types. An application available on users’ smartphones implements the concept of opportunistic networks, allowing information to be collected over time, in scenarios where there is no end-to-end connectivity. This aggregated information can then be consulted on an online platform. The prototype was subjected to validation and functional tests and proved to be a viable low-cost solution.