Americans with Disabilities Act Truncated Domes

Truncated domes (AKA detectable warnings, tactile paving, detectable warning surfaces) are ground surface indicators designed to assist and warn pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired.

Truncated domes feature a unique pattern of cones that are easily detected by a cane or foot, alerting the visually impaired to the presence of a street or sudden drop-off.

Truncated domes were first developed by the Japanese in the mid 1960’s and expanded to Australia and the UK. The United States adopted the technology in the early 1990s, followed soon by Canada.