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CometPark: Solving the UTD Parking Problem

Finding a parking spot at UTD can be almost impossible during peak hours and special events. After experiencing the difficulties faced by students firsthand, we realized the need for a better system for this growing problem. CometPark was developed to address these issues by providing a way to guide students to save time while parking at this commuter-heavy school.

About CometPark

CometPark is a web application designed to monitor and analyze the busyness of parking lots at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). With the help of its users, it provides real-time data to form a community of people saving each other’s time. Users can view current availability for parking lots that may be impossible to find a spot in. For commuters as a whole, CometPark offers tools to plan ahead of time where and when to park on campus.

Development Process

The development of CometPark was accomplished within a 24-hour timeframe using a full-stack approach:

Frontend: Built with Remix to ensure a responsive and user-friendly interface.
Backend: Utilized Pinata for efficient storage and handling of API requests, replacing the need for S3 or MongoDB.

Challenges and Achievements

As our first competitive coding environment, this hackathon presented unique challenges:

Time Constraints: Finishing the project within 24 hours required precise planning and execution.
Inexperience: Being our first hackathon, we faced difficulties in adapting to a competitive environment while collaborating effectively.

Despite these challenges, we achieved several milestones:

Real-Time Database: Created a database and supporting code that allowed real-time updates with concurrent data additions.
Predictive Analytics: Developed an algorithm to turn collected ratings and timestamps into an accurate, current-time rating for parking lot busyness.
User-Friendly Design: Delivered a UI/UX that is simple, scalable, and easy to navigate. Posting ratings and uploading images is streamlined for users.
Teamwork: We supported one another, working tirelessly for 24 hours with no sleep breaks, resulting in an app that improves the lives of UTD students.

Learning Outcomes

This project provided valuable experience in:

Full-stack development, integrating real-time technologies like Pinata with modern frontend frameworks like Remix.
Designing scalable database schemas and implementing predictive analytics models.
Programming in TypeScript for the first time.
Agile project management, effective communication, and problem-solving under time constraints.

Future Developments

Future plans for CometPark include:

Mobile Responsiveness: Enhancing the platform’s accessibility across various devices.
Machine Learning: Incorporating algorithms to improve predictive analytics accuracy.
Additional Features: Adding reservation systems, payment processing, and user notifications.
Collaboration: Partnering with UTD administration and local businesses to refine data sources and expand functionality.