ConnectATL

Inspiration

Internet access is essential for education, employment, and everyday life, yet affordable broadband remains difficult to navigate for many low-income Atlanta households. We created ConnectATL to simplify that process.

What It Does

ConnectATL helps users check preliminary eligibility for affordable internet programs, explore broadband providers and speeds through an interactive map, and receive step-by-step application guidance. A Gemini-powered AI assistant answers questions in English and Spanish.

How We Built It

We built the frontend using React, Vite, and Bootstrap, the backend with Java Spring Boot, and the database with PostgreSQL. We integrated Gemini AI, React Leaflet, and FCC-derived broadband data.

Development Process

We followed an iterative software development process, beginning with identifying the problem and defining the core user experience. We prioritized the eligibility questionnaire and personalized recommendations as the minimum viable product (MVP), then developed the backend APIs and PostgreSQL database to support them.

Next, we integrated broadband mapping and Gemini-powered assistance to improve accessibility and functionality. Throughout development, we tested individual features, refined the interface, and resolved integration issues. Finally, we deployed the frontend on Vercel, backend on Render, and database on Neon, then conducted end-to-end testing of the live application.

Challenges

Our main challenges were integrating multiple technologies, simplifying complex eligibility requirements, and accurately presenting broadband coverage data. We also worked through deployment and cloud database configuration issues.

What We Learned

We learned how to integrate AI, geographic data, and full-stack development while designing technology that makes essential services more accessible. The project reinforced the importance of prioritizing core functionality, iterative testing, and building around a clear user need.