PathSafe

Opening the app, a user-friendly dashboard can be found showing high threat zones around the user's area.
Clicking the 'add event' button allows a user to report any threats by giving a title, location, and a short description.
As one approaches an unsafe area, PathSafe sends the user an alert allowing them to reroute to their destination through a safer path.
Clicking the 'map' button or accepting a reroute allows a user to see a heat map of high threat areas and input a destination for a reroute.

Inspiration

We were inspired to build this project through concerns about personal safety, especially when travelling. We felt like there was not enough being done to warn and protect people who might unknowingly find themselves in areas with high crime rates and frequent violent incidents.

What it does

When enabled, the app continuously checks the user’s current location to determine if they are in a dangerous or high-risk area. If the user is approaching or is in a high-risk area, the app sends real-time alerts to warn them about it, and even finds safer routes to redirect users to their destination.

How we built it

We used React Native for the majority of the project, an open-source framework that enables developers to deploy an app on both the iOS and Android platforms. We also used Node.js along with Express.js to handle the server-side logic. To implement the functionality for the maps, we used a combination of React Native Maps along with the Google Maps API for directions.

Challenges we ran into

We found that the amount of time we had to build this project was a significant constraint, pressuring us to learn and come up with solutions at a faster rate than we were typically used to. On top of this, we dealt with minor communication issues that prolonged the time spent developing our project.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Creating a server that can successfully communicate with the application on the client side.
Successfully implemented the Google Maps API in our project, creating an easy-to-use and highly functional map view.
Building a product that has the potential to impact real lives, providing users with a sense of security, and ways to avoid danger.

What we learned

We learned that diving into a new technology usually comes with a lot of trial and error. We also learned the importance of designing an application for a user, which we did by making sure it was simple, intuitive, and responsive. We made conscious choices not to frustrate or overwhelm someone who may find value in using our product.

What's next for PathSafe

We want to take this app and expand it to locations outside of just Seattle. We will start with other highly populated cities in the US, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.