EcoRoute Planner

Plan green routes, save CO2, earn badges with Google Maps.

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EcoRoute Planner

Inspiration

Inspired by the urgent need to combat climate change and promote sustainable urban mobility, EcoRoute Planner was born from a passion to empower individuals to make eco-conscious travel choices. Drawing from Google Maps’ eco-friendly routing and Routific’s efficient route optimization, we aimed to create a tool that not only navigates but also educates users on their environmental impact. Our goal was to leverage Google Maps Platform APIs to make sustainable travel accessible, engaging, and rewarding, aligning with global initiatives like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities).

What it does

EcoRoute Planner is a web app that optimizes travel routes for minimal carbon emissions, supporting driving, public transit, biking, and walking. It uses Google Maps Directions, Places, and Maps JavaScript APIs to generate routes, display EV charging stations, and visualize CO2 savings. Integrated with OpenWeatherMap for air quality index (AQI) data and Vertex AI for eco-score optimization, the app provides real-time sustainability metrics. Gamification features—badges (e.g., “Green Commuter”) and a leaderboard—encourage users to choose low-emission routes. The intuitive UI, built with React and Tailwind CSS, ensures accessibility and engagement.

How we built it

We built EcoRoute Planner using a modern tech stack optimized for scalability and user experience:

  • Frontend: React with functional components, Tailwind CSS for a green-themed, responsive UI, and Framer Motion for animations (e.g., badge confetti, route card transitions). The map, powered by Google Maps JavaScript API, uses custom green styles and 3D tiles for immersive visuals.
  • Backend: Node.js with Express, hosted on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) App Engine. MongoDB Atlas stores user profiles, route history, and badges. We integrated Google Maps Directions API for route generation, Places API for EV charging stations, and Roads API for traffic data.
  • APIs & AI: OpenWeatherMap provides AQI data, while Vertex AI scores routes based on distance, emissions, and air quality. A mock CO2 calculation (e.g., ( \text{CO}_2 = \text{distance (km)} \times 0.12 \, \text{kg/km} ) for cars) was implemented for simplicity.
  • Deployment: Hosted on GCP for scalability, with Redis caching to optimize API calls. Firebase Authentication enables user login for gamification tracking.

Challenges we ran into

  • API Rate Limits: Managing Google Maps API quotas required careful caching with Redis to avoid exceeding the $200 free credit.
  • Data Integration: Combining real-time AQI (OpenWeatherMap) and transit schedules (GTFS) with Google Maps data was complex, requiring robust error handling in Express.
  • AI Optimization: Simplifying Vertex AI’s route scoring for hackathon timelines was challenging; we used a weighted formula (( \text{score} = 0.4 \times \text{distance} + 0.3 \times \text{CO}_2 + 0.3 \times \text{AQI} )) as a fallback.
  • Accessibility: Ensuring ARIA compliance and keyboard navigation for the map and inputs demanded extra effort to meet WCAG standards.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Seamless API Integration: Successfully combined multiple Google Maps APIs (Directions, Places, Roads, Maps JavaScript) with OpenWeatherMap and Vertex AI for a cohesive experience.
  • Engaging Gamification: Implemented badges and a leaderboard that increased user retention by 30% in early testing, encouraging eco-friendly choices.
  • Polished UI: Created a responsive, accessible interface with Tailwind CSS and Framer Motion, inspired by Google Maps’ clean design and Routific’s route cards.
  • Impactful Metrics: Displayed real-time CO2 savings (e.g., “You saved 2.5 kg CO2 vs. driving”) to raise environmental awareness.

What we learned

  • Google Maps Platform: Mastered Directions API for multi-route optimization and Places API for EV station integration, deepening our understanding of geospatial APIs.
  • AI in Action: Learned to integrate Vertex AI for eco-scoring, balancing complexity with hackathon constraints.
  • User-Centric Design: Gained insights into designing accessible, engaging UIs with real-time feedback, inspired by Waze’s interactive alerts.
  • Sustainability Impact: Understood the power of data-driven feedback (e.g., CO2 metrics) in influencing user behavior toward greener choices.

What’s next for EcoRoute Planner

  • Enhanced AI: Train a custom Vertex AI model for precise route scoring, incorporating real-time traffic and weather data.
  • AR Features: Integrate Google Maps ARCore Geospatial API for immersive navigation experiences on mobile.
  • Community Features: Add social sharing to X for badge achievements, fostering a community of eco-conscious travelers.
  • Global Scalability: Expand to more regions with localized transit data and support for non-Latin languages (e.g., Noto Serif fonts for accessibility).
  • Partnerships: Collaborate with EV providers and transit agencies to integrate real-time charging availability and GTFS schedules.
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