SustainADrive

• 

  app_logo

Inspiration

Gas prices have been on the rise, and it's becoming increasingly important for us to consider more eco-friendly commuting options. Often, we overlook the various alternatives available to us when it comes to getting around. Opting for public transportation like buses, choosing to walk instead of using up gas for a short trip, or even finding a carpool buddy can go a long way in not only saving money but also reducing our environmental impact.

What it does

The app will take into consideration the user's travel routines and commutes. Users have the option to share their location data and over time will receive feedback and suggestions to reduce their carbon footprint. Users can enter their travel information such as which vehicle they use most, including make, model, etc; or what mode of transportation, such as transit or walking. Using this information, the app will calculate their carbon footprint and display it. Comparing their routes with similar route options with a smaller carbon footprint. The user also will be prompted if there are habits they can engage in such as turning their engine off when idling or carpooling with another use following a similar path.

How we built it

We utilized SwiftUI to create the app and used the MapKit built into Xcode to develop the mapping functionality. In addition, we created a user profile where users can set their desired carbon footprint goal and which mode of transportation is most used by the user. We utilized the storyboard to visualize the information and implemented the swift code for the screen. In addition, we began setting up APIs which would access bus information and

Challenges we ran into

Navigating through the intricacies of Swift presented a significant challenge for our team. With limited prior experience, we encountered hurdles in efficiently utilizing MapKit to incorporate annotations and accurately capture user-searched locations.

One issue was that for the buses page, we had a hard time trying to use the MapKit library to include annotations and capture the exact locations of what the user searches for.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

As novices, our journey with Swift exceeded our initial expectations. Opting for a language unfamiliar to us was a deliberate choice, anticipating the difficulty. Nevertheless, we persevered, resulting in an application we hold in high regard. We leaned heavily on the 40-hour Swift tools guide provided to us, systematically progressing step-by-step.

What we learned

Building a meaningful project from scratch is not as easy as imagined. Since the entire team was using Swift to build an iOS application for the first time, there’re some meaningful first-time experiences to share.

What we learned is to believe in ourselves, stay calm and patient, knowing that problems can be solved gradually. Experience has shown that it was not impossible to turn our ideas into reality in a short period of time using unfamiliar languages and software.

We also learned the importance of seeking help. There is no shame in reaching out to mentors and teammates when encountering bugs. What matters is learning how to solve problems, so that in the future, we can tackle similar issues independently.

Most importantly, we learned how to collaborate better. Caring for each other, trusting each other, and facing challenges together along the way.

What's next for SustainADrive

At first, we had a lot of goals for SustainADrive and were innovative with our ideas. However, a 24-hour hackathon is not enough time to finish everything. Next, we hope to expand more on this project by finishing up the carpool page where it would connect them to another person around them that is headed to the same destination.

Built With

• github
• swift