Encovia

Connecting and Educating, one pin at a time.

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Inspiration

Growing up between cultures—Leo with roots in Honduras, Ecuador, and China, and Aarush with Indian heritage—we've witnessed firsthand the environmental challenges facing underserved communities. Last summer, Leo visited a small village in Honduras where clean water was scarce and tap water unsafe to drink. Despite his family's access to water, neighbors struggled daily to find safe sources.

This experience crystallized a simple truth: environmental awareness and resource accessibility shouldn't be luxuries. Many communities lack basic information about air quality, clean water sources, and practical ways to protect their health. Encovia was born from our desire to democratize environmental knowledge and empower communities worldwide.

What It Does

Encovia is a community-driven environmental platform that connects people to vital resources and actionable knowledge:

  • Community Resource Mapping: Users create location pins for clean water sources, healthcare facilities, recycling points, food distribution centers, and other essential resources.
  • Real-Time Environmental Data: Hyperlocal AQI, temperature, humidity, and pollution breakdowns help users make informed daily decisions.
  • Daily Environmental Education: Bite-sized science facts and community-action tips foster environmental literacy.
  • Gamified Task System: Daily challenges reward users with points for completing real-world environmental actions.
  • 2-Mile Trust Radius: Users can only add/review resources within 2 miles of their location, maintaining authenticity and reducing spam.

How We Built It

We architected Encovia for scalability and production readiness:

  • Frontend: Expo (React Native) with TypeScript, Lucide icons, and expo-location for precise geolocation.
  • Backend: Express.js server in Docker containers behind Traefik reverse proxy at https://api.encovia.org, using versioned REST API endpoints (/v1/).
  • Database: PostgreSQL storing locations, reviews, auth data, and daily task tracking.
  • APIs: OpenWeatherMap (Air Pollution API + Weather API) for real-time environmental data.
  • Infrastructure: Cloud deployment with HTTPS for secure mobile communication.

Challenges We Ran Into

  • Multi-Platform Complexity: Expo cross-platform development introduced iOS/Android quirks in navigation, location handling, and UI.
  • Data Integrity: Ensuring community accuracy led to the 2-mile radius verification system.
  • Real-Time Data Interpretation: Translating pollution numbers into actionable AQI required understanding EPA breakpoints.
  • First-Time Deployment: Learning Docker, reverse proxies, and SSL from scratch was difficult but formative.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

  • Our first hackathon and our first fully deployed mobile app
  • A solution built for real-world impact, especially for underserved communities
  • Full-stack learning from mobile → backend → database → DevOps
  • Production-ready infrastructure, not just a prototype
  • A community-first trust model that prevents spam while empowering users

What We Learned

We evolved from web developers to full-stack mobile engineers:

  • React Native + Expo (maps, geolocation, mobile UI)
  • Express.js backend and PostgreSQL schema design
  • REST API standards and data modeling
  • DevOps fundamentals (Docker, Traefik, HTTPS)
  • Translating scientific environmental data into useful insights
  • Product and UX thinking for engagement and trust systems

What's Next for Encovia

We are committed to releasing Encovia publicly. Upcoming roadmap:

  • Android Support: Critical for global accessibility.
  • Expanded Resource Categories: Transportation, emergency services, education centers.
  • Social + Community Features: Share actions and encourage positive feedback loops.
  • Multilingual Support: Starting with Spanish and Hindi.
  • Partnerships: NGOs, environmental orgs, local municipalities.
  • Offline Mode: Cache essential resource data for low-connectivity regions.

Encovia represents our belief that technology should serve everyone—especially those who need it most.
We’re just getting started.

Libraries Summary

Category Tools
Framework React Native (Expo ~54), React 19.1
Navigation Expo Router 6.0, React Navigation 7.x
UI Lucide Icons, Expo Vector Icons, React Native SVG, Linear Gradient
Maps React Native Maps 1.20.1, Expo Location 19.0
Animation Reanimated 4.1, Gesture Handler 2.28
HTTP Axios 1.13.2
Storage AsyncStorage 2.2
Fonts Google Fonts (Manrope, Playfair Display)
Database Firebase 12.5.0 (Firestore fallback)

Assets Summary

  • App Icons: icon.png, favicon.png, adaptive icons
  • Splash Screen: splash-icon.png
  • Demo Images: React logos (various sizes)

API Summary

1. OpenWeather API

  • Purpose: Real-time air quality and weather data
  • Endpoints: AQI + pollutant levels, temperature, humidity
  • Docs: https://openweathermap.org/api
  • Pricing: Free tier available

2. Google Places API

3. Custom Encovia Backend API

  • Base URL: https://dev.api.encovia.org/v1
  • Auth: JWT Bearer tokens
  • Services: Auth, Places, Reviews, Daily Content, Tasks/Gamification

4. Google Maps API (Android)

  • Purpose: Interactive maps on Android
  • Integration: React Native Maps

5. Firebase Firestore (Fallback)

  • Purpose: Storage when backend unavailable
  • Collections: User-contributed places

6. AirNow API (Inactive)

Components Not Created During the Hackathon

All core features and architecture were designed and implemented during the hackathon. We used standard open-source libraries and public data sources as listed below. No pre-existing proprietary codebases were used.

External Components / Pre-Existing Assets:

  • Google Maps base tiles (provided publicly by Google Maps API)
  • Public icon packs (Lucide Icons, Expo Vector Icons)
  • Typefaces (Google Fonts: Manrope & Playfair Display)
  • Default Expo & React Native boilerplate structure

Hackathon Theme & Category

  • Theme: Community Empowerment & Environmental Sustainability
  • Category: Mobile App / Social Good / Environmental Impact

App Demo

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