About the Leisure Walking Systems Working Group

Advancing research in shared and interoperable representations of place

Our Mission

The Leisure Walking Systems Working Group (LWSWG) is a collaborative research initiative focused on understanding and addressing the challenges in developing shared and interoperable representations of place within leisure walking systems. Our work brings together academic research with industry expertise to create practical solutions for walking system development.

Through our research, we aim to improve how walking applications understand and represent the experiential, cultural, and social dimensions of place, moving beyond purely geometric spatial data to create more meaningful and personalised walking experiences.

Research Focus

Our research encompasses several key areas:

  • Place Representation: Understanding how to capture and represent the experiential qualities of places in walking systems
  • Data Integration: Developing methods for harmonising diverse spatial datasets from multiple organisations
  • Recommendation Systems: Creating algorithms that can provide meaningful walking route and destination recommendations
  • User Experience Design: Designing interfaces that support safe, accessible, and enjoyable walking experiences
  • Technical Architecture: Building scalable systems that can support complex place-based walking applications

Academic-Industry Collaboration

The LWSWG operates through a unique model of academic-industry collaboration. This approach ensures that our research addresses real-world challenges faced by walking system developers while maintaining rigorous academic standards.

Our collaborative model enables:

  • Evidence-based system development informed by academic research
  • Practical implementation guidance grounded in industry experience
  • Knowledge sharing between academic and industry partners
  • Development of standards and best practices for the walking systems community

Working Group Activities

The LWSWG conducts regular meetings and workshops to share research findings, discuss implementation challenges, and develop collaborative solutions.

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Documentation & Resources

Our comprehensive documentation provides technical guidance, best practices, and implementation strategies for walking system development.

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Impact & Outputs

Learn about our project deliverables, technical reports, and demonstrator systems that showcase our research outcomes.

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