WildCan

Inspiration

Our inspiration for WildCan came from witnessing the devastating wildfires currently ravaging California. Seeing the destruction and impact on lives and communities, we were reminded of the similar climate challenges and wildfire risks faced in British Columbia. This stark reality drove us to take action. WildCan is our proactive step toward supporting local communities, ensuring they are informed, prepared, and safe when wildfires threaten.

What it does

WildCan collects real time data about wildfires of all sizes and integrates it into our dynamic data map. Using advanced parameters, the application calculates the potential impact radius of each fire. If a wildfire is detected near a user or within a predefined impact distance, WildCan instantly sends a notification to their phone. This ensures users are always aware of nearby threats and can take action to stay safe. To personalize alerts, we collect user data, such as location and phone numbers, ensuring accurate notifications. Additionally, we’ve included a donate page linking to a wildfire relief fund, so if our application inspires users to help, they can easily contribute to ongoing relief efforts.

How we built it

We built WildCan by integrating several APIs to create a seamless and reliable experience. Using wildfire data APIs, we gathered real-time information about fire locations and sizes. A mapping API enabled us to visualize this data dynamically, while a location API tracked users' positions to determine proximity to active wildfires. An alerting API was used to send instant notifications to users when fires were within our calculated impact radius. To efficiently store and manage wildfire data and user information, we utilized MongoDB databases. It was not easy to integrate everything together but by combining these tools with our advanced parameters, we developed an accessible and user friendly web application to keep Canadians informed and safe.

Challenges we ran into

One of the major challenges we faced was integrating the various APIs and ensuring they all worked seamlessly together. As we neared the final stages of development, we encountered a frustrating issue where our project wasn’t functioning as a whole. While individual components worked as expected, they wouldn’t integrate smoothly, and it was heartbreaking to see our hard work come apart at the final hurdle.

Despite the frustration, we pushed through by dedicating countless hours to debugging. It was a test of patience and persistence, but in the end, our determination paid off. We were able to resolve the issues, and WildCan came together as a fully functioning, integrated project.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Participating in our first major hackathon, especially a 24 hour one, was both a challenge and a milestone for our team. Despite the pressure and the tight timeline, we were able to deliver a fully integrated, functional project that has the potential to significantly impact the safety and well-being of communities.

We’re proud of our ability to persevere, push through moments of exhaustion and uncertainty, and stay focused on our goal. Completing WildCan is not just a technical achievement but a testament to our teamwork, determination, and commitment to making a meaningful difference.

What we learned

Throughout the development of WildCan, we learned how to effectively use MongoDB databases to store and manage critical data. We also gained valuable experience incorporating various APIs, including NASA FIRMS for wildfire data, Mapbox for mapping and visualizing fire locations, Twilio API for sending real time alerts, and geolocation services for tracking users' positions. Integrating these tools and technologies helped us enhance our understanding of data flow, API interactions, and building a robust, scalable application. This experience was key in turning our vision into a functional, impactful project.

What's next for WildCan

Looking ahead, we’re committed to making WildCan a practical tool for real time use, especially during the upcoming summer wildfire season. Our next steps involve reviewing relevant policies and legislation surrounding web applications like ours to ensure compliance and effectiveness. We also plan to seek expertise in handling domain-specific data, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the wildfire information we provide. We aim to refine and optimize the app so that it can truly help people by providing timely wildfire alerts and safety information when they need it most. Our goal is for WildCan to be a vital resource in protecting communities and saving lives during wildfire events.