FlowState

Inspiration

Indoor air quality directly affects health, focus, and safety, yet it’s largely invisible. We were inspired to make airflow, CO₂ buildup, heat, and airborne risk understandable so people can make better ventilation decisions in real spaces.

What it does

FlowState provides a simulation of the behavior of indoor air within a room. Users are able to recreate spaces, position windows, fans, and occupants, and immediately observe changes in airflow, CO₂ levels, heat distribution, and virus concentration through interactive heatmaps and airflow vectors. It also advises on the best placement for fans to minimize stagnant air.

How we built it

We constructed FlowState with a web-based stack. The frontend employs HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, featuring a canvas-based visualization for real-time interaction. Node.js is used by the backend to execute a grid simulation inspired by physics, as well as an optimization algorithm. We integrated the Open-Meteo Air Quality API to add actual outdoor environmental data.

Challenges we ran into

It was difficult to strike a balance between realism and performance, given the high computational costs of full fluid dynamics. It was also necessary to make it clear that the simulation serves as an educational model rather than a medical prediction. Another significant challenge was overseeing real-time interactions among several movable objects.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We take pride in developing an interactive, user-friendly simulation that makes unseen environmental influences visible. A significant accomplishment was the successful integration of physics-based modeling, optimization logic, and real-world data into a refined and user-friendly experience.

What we learned

We discovered how to convert physical concepts such as diffusion, airflow, and stagnation into code, create purposeful data visualizations, and integrate external APIs in a responsible manner. We also acquired experience in striking a balance between technical precision and user-friendliness

What's next for FlowState

Future enhancements will encompass more sophisticated airflow modeling, compatibility with actual building layouts, greater precision through the use of extra sensors or datasets, and functionalities designed specifically for classrooms and public areas.