DisasterRadio-Wildfire for Android, iOS, WebOS and all web-browsers
Fire perimeter maps with guided social networking helps people not be victims. Crowdsourced data is captured for firefighters.
Disaster Radio is a mobile app for civilians who are affected by
natural disasters like wildfires, floods,
earthquakes, hurricanes and broad scale emergencies. The first
release delivers updated wildfire maps to multiple mobile devices/OSs. It turns
on geo-tweets and encourages social networking. Civilians can contribute to the
firefighting effort through tweeting, because consolidated crowd-sourced information
can be data-mined for Incident Command.
Detailed fire maps from Incident Command are quickly delivered to
civilians. The intuitive map fire visualization has pinch zoom and is easy
to use for novices. A twitter #hashtag is established & people are
encouraged to tweet. Social networking geo-tweets are mapped next to updated
wildfire GIS (Geographic Information System perimeters). People can see others
nearby, and even help if public safety is not present For US wildfires the
client app runs autonomously 1st time someone uses it. No moderator needed to
manage the maps or content.
Problems solved and Opportunities:
1) People told to evacuate always
want more information. This encourages people to comply as they see
the advancing fire for themselves and have fewer questions
2) People not in the direct path,
and even far away, care about where the fire is. It may cut off an escape
route, impact a summer home or friends & family are involved
3) People want details about the
incident, relief info, where others are or just to talk. Electricity might be
down, or evacuees are in transit such that a mobile device is the only source
of info
4) People at locations where
public safety is not, can supply crowd-sourced information. Geo-tweets
encourage content for data-mining
5) Affected people do not always
know who else is nearby. People in similar predicaments can band
together to help each other, especially if beyond reach or public safety is overwhelmed
6) Geo-tweets and cell
triangulation will help map people at risk
7) Keeping undesired people
away can be difficult. DisasterRadio is designed to keep people distant who
should not be there Organizing & geo-mapping tweets allows the public to better use that information during emergencies, and the Incident Command (IC) team too. Encouraging people to tweet improves the flow of useful information, and calms them because they are part of two way conversations. The third benefit is that public safety can crowd source helpful information while visualizing nearby risks. Having people's locations mapped will help the command team know where to watch for dangers.
Internet feeds & internet radio will be added. Speech to text, and text to speech is planned for those who don't normally tweet. Contributing financially is possible, and so will donating an extra room to an evacuee, tools, driving/shuttling, or just cookies for the firemen.
Intended Users: * Public Safety * Insurance * People affected by the disaster
* Bystanders * Contributors * Home and business owners
* Press/Media * Curious * Government Officials
Multiple awards at the March 2011 Android Developers Camp and June 2011 Muther Hack-a-thon:
- 1st place, best overall app voted by 400+ developers
- Best Tablet app
- Best Mash-up app
- HP/WebOS Runner-up Cross-platform app
- 2nd place for best use of AppMobi
Won again. Three prizes at June 2011 Muther of all Hack-a-thons
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