Footpath.ai recently received an innovation and ideas grant from the City of Sydney, enabling them to map the entire footpath network in the City of Sydney local area.
The company mapped more than 750km of pedestrian infrastructure using innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, computer vision and street-level imagery. The result is a rich, detailed dataset that supports better planning, inclusive design and practical solutions.
Meead Saberi, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW, said the grant has helped them to demonstrate its technology in real-world settings.
“The grant has allowed us to build what is likely the most detailed pedestrian infrastructure network map and data source in the world – capable of reshaping how cities plan and manage walking infrastructure.”
This comprehensive dataset will help the public sector better understand our urban environment and how people interact with it. By providing greater visibility of pedestrian infrastructure and our built environment – such as footpaths, crossings, trees and benches – it offers a more human-centric and holistic picture of our city and how we move through it daily.
These insights will help identify areas for improvement and guide future planning. For example, the data can highlight footpaths that are too narrow for strollers or wheelchairs, or areas lacking green spaces or benches for pedestrians to rest and cool down during warmer months.
While mapping technology itself is not new, traditional maps are often car-centric rather than human-focused. This level of detail allows us to plan better, with people at the centre. If we rely solely on outdated mapping methods, we risk missing opportunities to fully understand our environment and its impact on people’s daily lives.
This is especially important for urban development and city planning, as it helps create more inclusive, sustainable, heat-resilient and cleaner cities, leading to healthier and more connected communities.
Footpath.ai is part of UNSW’s Founders Program.
Learn more about our innovation and ideas grants. Applications are open until 4pm, Tuesday 12 August, 2025.
Published 28 July 2025
