Inspiration

When me and my friends decided to go on a last-minute camping trip, we couldn’t find a spot to go to with the ideal conditions for stargazing we were looking for, within a reasonable distance. This frustration led us to come up with the idea for Karaván.

What it does

Karaván helps outdoor enthusiasts find the best camping and stargazing spots based on location, weather conditions, and personal preferences. The app uses Google Maps for precise location tracking and integrates real-time weather data from a weather API. It ranks nearby campsites based on proximity and the ideal conditions for activities like camping, hiking, or stargazing. Users can easily discover perfect spots that match their outdoor adventure goals.

How we built it

We built the app using React for the frontend to provide a smooth, dynamic user experience, and Python for the backend to handle logic and API integrations. We incorporated Google Maps API to display camping locations and give real-time proximity information. We also integrated Gemini API for stargazing conditions and a Weather API to fetch weather data for each spot, helping us rank camping locations by proximity and ideal conditions.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was finding the right datasets and APIs that fit our vision for the app. We needed accurate data on camping spots, weather conditions, and stargazing opportunities, and combining them in a seamless way was tricky. We also had to ensure the system could rank spots dynamically and efficiently based on weather, distance, and preferences.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re incredibly proud of everything we've accomplished, especially the AI-built spot finder. The feature that ranks camping spots based on real-time conditions, weather data, and proximity to the user is a huge milestone for us. It helps users make better, data-driven decisions when choosing where to camp and stargaze.

What we learned

We learned how to work effectively as a team under pressure, especially with tight timelines and high stakes. Collaborating on various components, troubleshooting, and integrating APIs gave us hands-on experience in full-stack development. We also improved our problem-solving skills by finding innovative ways to use data and make it actionable.

What's next for Karaván

We plan to expand Karaván by adding more features, such as including hiking and fishing spots, to cater to a wider range of outdoor enthusiasts. The goal is to diversify the app so users can discover various types of outdoor activities and "chill spots" based on their preferences. We’ll also work on making the app even more personalized and user-friendly by incorporating more activity-specific filters.

Our track - Track 2 (City)

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