BoroughScan

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  Clean NYC one scan at a time

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  Quickly report waste using a photo

Inspiration

While growing up in Bangladesh, I saw waste everywhere. Streets, sidewalks, and neighborhoods were often filled with trash, and over time, it became something people simply accepted. When I moved to New York City, things felt different. The streets were cleaner, systems were more organized, and it felt like a place where problems could actually be solved. But even here, I still noticed trash in public spaces, and it reminded me that even in developed cities, small problems can be ignored if no one takes action. That realization made me think about how we actually have the tools to change things, and that is why I built Borough Scan.

What it does

Borough Scan is a web app that lets users report waste in their area in seconds by taking a photo, tagging the location and type of waste, and placing it on a shared map. Over time, these reports build a real time view of where waste is concentrated, turning individual observations into collective data instead of isolated reports.

How we built it

I built Borough Scan as a web application using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Users can upload images and automatically attach location data, so each report appears as a marker on a live map. I focused on keeping the experience fast and simple, so anyone can use it without friction.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was combining images, location data, and map markers so everything worked together smoothly in real time. It took a lot of testing and debugging to make sure uploads and coordinates synced correctly. Another challenge was designing the app to stay simple while still being meaningful, so reporting waste feels quick, intuitive, and natural for any user.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

I am proud that I was able to take a problem I observed in real life and turn it into a working web application. What started as something I simply noticed in my surroundings became a tool that people can actually use to report and visualize waste.

What we learned and what is next for Borough Scan

Through this project, I learned how to build a full web application from scratch and connect user input to real time data visualization. I also learned that simple ideas can have real impact when they focus on everyday problems, and that technology can turn small actions into collective change. Next, I want to add features like tracking repeated waste locations, analyzing patterns over time, improving map insights, and potentially integrating with city systems like 311 to help turn reports into real world action.

Built With

• api
• camera
• css
• github
• google
• html
• javascript
• map