Campus Hero App

Inspiration

At Villanova University, the recent tragic sexual assault and the alarming rise in sexual violations prompted us to create a solution that enhances campus safety. We aim to empower students with the tools necessary to protect themselves and foster a more supportive environment.

What it does

The Campus Hero App is designed to keep on-campus students safe anytime, anywhere. It leverages AI to provide real-time notifications, mental health support, incident reporting, and navigation assistance. With features like emergency alerts, a campus map, and a safety walk map, it ensures students stay informed and secure.

How we built it

We integrated the Campus Hero system with a mobile app and a central dashboard for Public Safety using AWS services. The tech stack includes:

Backend: Python/Flask,
Frontend: Swift Mobile, ReactJS
AI Technologies: LLM Integration (Claude 3 Hakku, Open Router - Llama 3), OpenCV
AWS Services: Amazon Elastic Container Services, Amazon Elastic Container Registry, Amazon Kinesis, AWS Bedrock

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was ensuring real-time monitoring and response capabilities for campus security. Integrating various technologies and ensuring seamless communication between the mobile app and the alert systems also required significant effort.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of developing a comprehensive safety alert system that combines various features into one cohesive app. The integration of mental health support and incident reporting empowers students to take action in emergencies, promoting a safer campus environment.

What we learned

We learned the importance of collaboration among different technology stacks and the value of user-centered design in developing applications for community safety. Understanding the needs of students and campus security was crucial in shaping our app's functionalities.

What's next for Campus Hero App

Moving forward, we plan to enhance the app's features by incorporating user feedback, expanding the mental health chatbot capabilities, and developing additional safety resources. We also aim to increase awareness of the app within the Villanova community to ensure all students have access to its benefits.