Welcome to TMAP

Tactile Map Automated Production (TMAP):
Using GIS Data to Automatically Generate Raised-Line Street Maps

This project uses free GIS data and off-the-shelf embossing technology to allow blind people
to download and emboss customized tactile street maps of any location in the US.

About The Project
Audio/Tactile TMAP
Obtaining Maps from TMAP
TMAP and GPS
TMAP Publications and Presentations
Sign up for the TMAP News mailing list

About The TMAP Project

Smith-Kettlewell's Tactile Map Automated Production (TMAP) Project was initiated in 2003 by Dr. Joshua A. Miele with the goal of developing the first web-based software tool for rapid production of highly specific, tactile street maps of any location in the USA. Before TMAP, tactile maps were difficult and expensive to obtain or produce, and tactile street maps for any specific town or city were almost unheard of. TMAP brings together existing geographical information system (GIS) resources with currently available computer-controlled embossing technologies to yield a revolutionary tool with significant implications for education, orientation, and mobility of blind and visually impaired travelers.

Audio/Tactile TMAP

One of the most exciting recent innovations in tactile maps is the increasing availability of audio/tactile hardware and software. This technology enables a person to touch a tactile map or graphic and hear specific audio information associated with the location being touched. In 2005, Dr. Miele began a fruitful collaboration with Touch Graphics, Inc. - manufacturers of the Talking Tactile Tablet (TTT) - to have TMAP automatically produce audio-enabled tactile street maps. This work was funded under a Small-Business Innovation Research grant from the Department of Education. TMAP is also able to produce scalable vector graphics (SVG) street maps for use with other audio/tactile technologies such as IVEO from View Plus Technologies, Inc.

Obtaining Maps From TMAP

TMAP users who have their own Braille embossers (Braille printers) can use a web interface to specify the location and size of the desired tactile map. The map file and related key information are generated and downloaded immediately. The tactile map can then be "printed out" on the user's own Braille embosser. Tactile maps can be produced on any graphics-capable Braille embosser, including those manufactured by View Plus, Enabling Technologies, and Index. To register for the TMAP website, or to be added to our mailing list, please fill out the form below.

Users without their own embossers may still be able to obtain maps through an exciting new partnership with the San Francisco Lighthouse. The SF Lighthouse is beginning a program to produce tactile street maps on request and mail the hardcopy maps to the user. For more information on this exciting new service, contact the San Francisco Lighthouse at info@lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at (415) 694-7363.

TMAP and GPS

Although there is currently no direct interaction between the TMAP tactile maps and any accessible GPS devices for the blind, we are excited about the possibilities and anticipate adding a number of new features that will enable blind GPS users to request specialized maps based on routes, points of interest, or destinations they have visited. All of these are now possible due to a collaboration with the Sendero Group - makers of BrailleNote GPS, one of the most popular accessible GPS packages now available.

TMAP Presentations And Publications

Landau, S., Miele, J., & Gilden, D. (2007). TMAPReader and TMAPEnhancer: Annotation and Modification of Audiotactile Streetmaps Using the TTT. Paper presented at the Technology and Persons With Disabilities, Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 2007.
Marston, J., Miele, J., & Smith, E. (2007). Large Print Map Automated Production (LPMAP). Paper presented at the International Cartographic Conference, 2007, Moscow, Russia.
Miele, J. (2007). Automated Creation and Detailed Annotation of Audio/tactile Maps Using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG). Paper presented at the International Cartographic Conference, 2007, Moscow, Russia.
Miele, J. (2007). The Live Scribe Smartpen: A Revolutionary New Platform for Audio/Tactile Graphics. Paper presented at the International Cartographic Conference, 2007, Moscow, Russia.
Miele, J. (2006). Tactile Maps Automated Production (TMAP). Paper presented at the Google Tech Talks, Mountain View, CA.
Miele, J., & Landau, S. (2006). Automated production of audio/tactile maps using TMAP. Paper presented at the CSUN Conference on Technology and Persons With Disabilities, Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 2006.
Miele, J., & Landau, S. (2006). Implementing Audio-Tactile Maps Using SVG. Paper presented at the Speech Tech West, San Francisco, CA, February 2006.
Miele, J. A., Landau, S., & Gilden, D. (2006). Talking TMAP: Automated generation of audio-tactile maps using Smith-Kettlewell's TMAP software (pdf) (txt). British Journal of Visual Impairment, 24(2), 93-100.
Miele, J. and Marston, J. (2005). "Tactile Map Automated Production (TMAP): On-Demand Accessible Street Maps for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers" Proceedings of the Anual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers, Denver, CO, Apr. 2005.
Miele, J. and Marston, J.(2005). "TACTILE MAP AUTOMATED PRODUCTION (TMAP): PROJECT UPDATE AND RESEARCH SUMMARY" Proceedings of the International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities. Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 2005.
Miele, JA. and Gilden, DB.(2004) "TACTILE MAP AUTOMATED PRODUCTION (TMAP): USING GIS DATA TO GENERATE BRAILLE MAPS" Proceedings of the CSUN International Conference on Technology and Persons with Disabilities, Los Angeles, CA, Mar. 2004.

Sign up for the TMAP News Mailing List

If you would like to be considered for the TMAP Beta test list, or if you would like to be kept up-to-date on developments with the TMAP project, please complete the following form. This will enable us to keep in touch as the project moves forward.

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