Acoustic wayfinding

This means that, in practice, individuals who navigate primarily by acoustic wayfinding must also rely on a number of other senses – including touch, smell, and residual sight – to supplement auditory cues.

], architects and acousticians have begun to address the problems faced by people who rely primarily on acoustic wayfinding to navigate urban spaces.

[4] The primary work on the architectural implications of acoustic wayfinding comes from a collaboration between Christopher Downey, an architect who went blind in 2008 and has since worked to improve architectural design for the visually impaired,[5] and Joshua Cushner, who leads the Acoustic consulting practice for engineering design firm Arup in San Francisco.

Their work focuses on how to plan new facilities to include sensible systems of sound markers and architectural spaces which provide orientation through acoustic cues.

On 20 September 2011, the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects organized an acoustic wayfinding discussion and walking tour,[6] led by Chris Downey and Joshua Cushner.