BronxSafe Chat

Initial View
Help Guide
Report Hazard via Form
Asking Questions
Hazard Reporting
Submission of Hazard Report with all details.
Recent Reports.
View of recent reports.
Uploading of photo via photo uploader with real-time location.
Response from chatbot.

🚨 Inspiration

The Bronx, home to 1.4 million residents, faces growing challenges around real-time hazard reporting, safety alerts, and emergency help access. Many residents aren’t sure where to report, what actions to take, or whom to contact in times of crisis. From traffic incidents to unsafe public areas, there’s a lack of a unified, AI-powered platform for rapid, local response.

This inspired us to create BronxSafe Chat — an AI-powered public safety assistant that brings fast, reliable civic support to your fingertips through natural conversations.

Originally designed for Indianapolis, BronxSafe Chat is a customized adaptation of the proven IndySafe Chat prototype — built to address similar safety needs in urban American communities, especially neighborhoods like the Bronx.

🤖 What It Does

BronxSafe Chat is an AI-powered emergency chatbot that helps users:

Report hazards instantly via text, voice, and image upload.
Submit quick hazard reports without needing to chat.
Receive live safety alerts based on your location and issue type.
Get AI-powered guidance via natural language chat using Gemini through Genkit.
Access emergency contacts and get tailored response steps.
View hazard maps with live location markers via Geoapify.
Upload incident photos with real-time location data.
Find nearby hospitals, shelters, or police using the Places API.
Use voice input for hands-free emergency access.
Stay informed with a feed of live community alerts and reports.
Turn conversations into real-time safety actions in seconds.

"Our mission?"

"Make civic safety accessible — one message at a time."

🛠️ How We Built It

We engineered BronxSafe Chat using a flexible, scalable tech stack for city-wide use:

Frontend: Next.js (App Router) + React + TypeScript
Styling: Tailwind CSS + ShadCN UI
AI Orchestration: Genkit + Google Gemini models
Database: Firebase Firestore
Maps & Location: Geoapify (Static Maps, Geocoding, Places API)
Voice Input: Web Speech API
Image Uploads: Custom file upload + Firestore integration
Deployment: Vercel for frontend + backend integration

⚔️ Challenges We Ran Into

Combining voice, text, and image inputs efficiently.
Managing real-time database syncs under time constraints.
Making voice input smooth and accessible.
Mapping reports in real-time using Geoapify.
Ensuring secure, fast file uploads.
Designing a multimodal UI that's intuitive.
Preventing Genkit backend flow disruptions during testing.

✅ Accomplishments We're Proud Of

Adapted a working Indianapolis prototype for the Bronx in less than a day.
Enabled inclusive features like voice reporting and image-based incident logging.
Integrated real-time maps and AI-powered help flows.
Deployed a fully working civic-tech tool with real-world scalability.
Designed a platform that supports hyperlocal urban safety at scale.