SafetyNet

demo with logo
demo
logo

Inspiration

I was inspired to find a solution for the recent increase in crime in the United States and worldwide. My solution aimed to help keep people informed and connected to incidents within and near their neighborhoods. This app allows users to report local crimes, share updates with their neighbors, and receive push notifications if they are near a reported crime. This app is perfect for enhancing community awareness by providing real-time alerts and a view of crime-sensitive areas.

What it does

This app is a crime-reporting tool with many useful features. Users can report crimes at a certain location by providing a short description and a descriptive emoji. Other users can then choose to like or dislike these reports. Customizable safety zones can be adjusted from a 0-mile to a 10-mile radius around the user's location. When a crime is within a user's set safety zone, they will receive a real-time push notification. Additionally, users can switch to the official San Antonio Police Department crime map with incidents reported by the police department. This app keeps communities informed and enhances safety awareness.

How we built it

This app was engineered with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the front-end user experience and interactive map elements. The Google Maps API is also integrated to display the maps and crime markers. The UI is simple, yet intuitive, allowing users to easily report crimes, set safety zones, and toggle to the SAPD crime map. Firebase was used for real-time database management, storing all the crime reports, user preferences, and other data. We have also implemented a proximity detection system using geolocation APIs and Firebase, which sends users real-time notifications if a crime is reported within their safety zone. SafetyNet is engineered to be effective, simple, and useful.

Challenges we ran into

We ran into a fair bit of challenges during the development of SafetyNet. Geolocation accuracy was one of these things. We had to implement an accurate geolocation service and ensure users received notifications for relevant crimes in their area. Another issue was the user interface. We had to carefully plan the layout, ensuring the map was easy to navigate and other things didn't impede the user's experience. Another issue we faced was integrating the Google Maps API to display crime reports and user locations. There were many more issues, however these were the main ones. Our next challenge is to spread this idea and improve on it.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The biggest accomplishment to be proud of for SafetyNet is that it's working with almost no issues. From now on, all we have to do is get this idea and app more recognition to make it become reality and keep millions safe and in the loop.

What we learned

I learned a lot of things in the process of making SafetyNet. I had rarely used Firebase before, and this project taught me a lot about it. The same goes for geolocation APIs. I had toyed around with the Google Maps API, however, using it in this project made me a whole lot more comfortable with it.

What's next for SafetyNet

When this project gets more recognition, there are a couple of things to improve on for SafetyNet. Firstly, expanding it to more cities, not just San Antonio. Secondly, getting permanent and not developer access to the Google Maps API. Lastly, just cleaning up the app by adding quality-of-life features, such as commenting on reports, spam filtration, and making it a mobile app to increase accessibility.