ShadeDevils

• GIF

Inspiration

Arizona heat makes walking across campus tough. We wanted a way to help students stay cool, safe, and hydrated while getting around.

What it does

ShadeDevils finds walking routes that prioritize shade, highlight water stops, and point out campus safety features. It updates in real time as the sun moves so students always know the best path.

How we built it

We used Python, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Leaflet, Google Maps API, SunCalc, Turf.js, and OpenStreetMap. We combined routing data with a shadow simulator to calculate shade coverage, then scored and displayed routes directly on the map.

Challenges we ran into

Getting shadows, time updates, and Google Maps directions to sync was tricky. Performance was another challenge since maps, shade, and routes had to load quickly without breaking the UI.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We turned a big idea into a working demo in under 24 hours. Seeing the shaded routes appear live on the map felt like a win. We are also proud of making the UI simple and useful.

What we learned

We learned how to integrate multiple APIs, handle geospatial data, and troubleshoot under time pressure. More importantly, we learned how to build fast, test often, and adapt when things break.

What's next for ShadeDevils

We want to add real campus data for water fountains and safety stations, improve shade accuracy with higher resolution building models, and expand the app beyond ASU to other hot weather campuses.

Built With

• css
• google-maps
• html
• javascript
• leaflet.js
• python
• suncalc
• turf