Inspiration
We wanted to make sustainability fun. Traditional eco-apps feel like chores, so we used gamification to turn actions like recycling, biking, and choosing public transit into engaging challenges. Transit felt like a natural next step — rewarding everyday decisions like taking the bus or train instead of driving can make a big collective impact.
What it does
GreenCoin rewards eco-friendly actions with “GreenCoins.” In addition to recycling and biking, GreenCoin now recognizes low‑carbon transit choices (bus, tram, subway, commuter rail). Users can log transit trips, earn points for choosing public transport over solo car trips, get bonuses for multimodal commutes (bike+train), and receive transit-specific badges and leaderboard categories. AI and route-matching verify trips via location traces and optional photo or ticket proofs, while personalized tips help users discover faster or greener transit routes.
How we built it
We built a full-stack app with Django REST Framework (backend) and React Native (frontend). Auth0 manages authentication, Redux Toolkit handles state, and Google Gemini AI powers action verification and recommendations. For transit we integrated GTFS/real-time transit feeds and mapping services to match GPS traces to scheduled routes, used server-side route-matching to verify trips (minimizing on-device processing), and added optional integrations with transit partners for ticket/pass verification and offers. Features include photo checks, location-based route validation, transit pass/photo validation, and real-time leaderboards that include transit categories.
Challenges
Key challenges were fine-tuning AI for accurate verification, designing a fair point system, and keeping performance smooth with real-time updates and offline support. Transit adds extra complexity: reliably matching GPS traces to transit routes in dense urban areas, handling transfers and multimodal journeys, preventing fraud (e.g., replaying saved GPS), and preserving user privacy while using location data.
Accomplishments
We created a smooth, engaging user experience with AI-powered verification, robust gamification (badges, streaks, leaderboards), and a cross-platform app that works offline. Transit features now allow verified public-transport trips to earn points, unlock transit-specific badges, and surface partner discounts for verified riders — increasing everyday impact by making transit a visible, rewarding choice.
What we learned
We learned the importance of precise AI prompts, balanced gamification, offline functionality, and constant user feedback. For transit specifically, we learned that privacy-first route matching, graceful handling of GPS noise, and clear verification affordances (optional ticket/photo uploads) are essential to maintain trust and accuracy.
What’s next
We’ll expand reward partners and transit agency integrations, add social features (challenges, team play) around commuting, introduce carbon-tracking and per-trip impact reports, and explore NFC/tap-to-verify and fitness-tracker integrations for stronger proof-of-use. We’ll also pilot dynamic transit incentives (time-of-day bonuses, route-specific rewards) with partner agencies to drive modal shift at scale.
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