Application Concept for Natural Disaster Management
Design Concept
My Role & Deliverables
- Research
- Interaction Design
- Visual Design
Tools Used
- Photoshop
- Adobe XD
- MS Office
To come up with an app/platform that can connect people in a disaster situation with people who can provide help.
While one cannot do much to alter a natural calamity, humanity usually wins over any disaster. People go out of the way to help each other, organizations take up rescue and rebuilding work, doctors provide free help, so on and so forth. In situations like this, on one side there are several people who face life-threatening challenges like shortage of food, medical emergencies, hygiene issues; on the other side there are groups of volunteers ready to help the people in need. In the wake of Chennai floods disaster of 2015, we want to come up with a way to connect the needy with a volunteer for any natural disaster emergencies in future.
Design Process
While each project demands its own unique tweaks, I rely on this framework to guide me towards the best solution for the problem at hand.
Research
- Competitor Analysis
- User Interviews
- Personas
- Sitemaps
Design
- Wireframe
- Prototype
- High-Fidelity Mockups
Research
Why Digital Platform?
Digital space is no more just a platform to browse for research or exchanging emails or chatting on social media. It has become a source of information. In recent years, it has become a medium of rapid communication, especially during disasters, be it natural or human created.
With the increased rate of disasters around the world, we are witnessing the imperative role of Digital platforms. It just doesn’t spread awareness among people; it is a vital tool aiding government and rescue teams to get into action with a much exact location, know ground reality, fetching information and so on.
It has come to aid at every stage of disaster management:
01. Rescue Stage
During Uttarakhand disaster, widely used messaging application, WhatsApp was used by stranded people to locate a spot.
02. Rehabilitation
During Chennai floods 2015, social media played a significant role by coming up with ‘Chennai Flooding safety check’ and disseminating information such as boat vehicle availability.
03. Relief
Facebook allows mapping for lack of medicines, food and other things required for relief purpose. This helps NGO and public-spirited individual to supply the materials needed at the relief site.
The indispensable role played by digital tools in disaster management -
- Makes the broadcasting of information or ground realities faster and to a broader audience without waiting for news or government agencies
- Enables 2-way interaction between various victims and rescuing team
- Easy tracking of affected people due to advanced features available through social media tools
- Helps to raise relief fund and material by easy collaborations
- Makes relief operations more effective and timely
- Improves the chances of taking preventive measures by alerting authorities during the onset of calamity
- Data collection and updating notifications and alerts become easy
The role of data during natural disasters
According to the United Nations, India is the third worst-affected country by natural disasters since 1995. In 2013, British risk analysis firm Maplecroft, ranked India fifth most vulnerable to natural disasters after Bangladesh, the Philippines, Dominican Republic and Myanmar.
The needs of those affected by a natural disaster are multiple—from medicines, to clothes, to shelter and even monetary aid. And today, thanks to social media and the Internet, it is possible to at least salvage and stem the losses and devastation.
Of 1.3 billion Indians, 450 million are internet users, 432 million are mobile data users — what can be harnessed are the people of India to form a volunteer base. As many as 730 million Indian mobile internet users are predicted by 2020.
A network of volunteers providing real-time, first-hand information on disasters in their local communities is possible and being worked towards. We saw this in action during the recent Mumbai floods, where volunteers took to social media to provide and update data sheets of helpline numbers, number of people stranded, what they needed and how many were rescued. What is required is for volunteers to be mobilised, trained and connected through existing networks of local and credible civil society organisations along with willing individuals from public agencies.
Market Analysis
I did market study to find similar offerings and studied their value proposition and limitations. While most of the apps promise to give on time alerts and information to the user, they do not offer in app collabration or the realtime help to the actual users.
Good
- Detailed information
- Disaster Warning (Global)
- Interactive Map to track
Bad
- Too Content Heavy
- Depends on other social apps for communication.
- Not Intuitive, Complex App UI
User Needs / Requirements
Help
Help others in need
Get Help
Alerts
Realtime alerts and info
on disasters
Simple
Ease of use
Prepare
Preapre and Learn for
future disasters
Persona
Site Map
Design Principles
Design
Wireframes
I started working on the user journey to understand users needs through every stage of the app. After validating decisions my focus was on articulating the information architecture. The second phase was to design a prototype of the app based on the information obtained from the discovery step. I started crafting ideas by hand and then moved to hi-fi wireframes which helped meto have a first approach of the visual path for the application.
Visual Design
Realtime Alert System
All app users will get auto realtime alerts for all kind of disasters, which will also act as a alarm for the user.
In cases like, if the flood or any disaster is happening during the night when people are in sleep. This realtime alert system will wake up the user, showing alert / warning message and option to ask for help. User can mark as safe/fine if help is not needed. This option is enabled for all app users.
Define specific needs
Once user marked himself as victim, App sends the SOS message to the nearby active volunteers. User can set the needs like, Medical Assistance, Food & Water, Shelter or Evacuation.
Track Help
Once user marked as victim/help seeker, app will connect user to nearby active volunteer. User can track help and also can connect with call and message to the volunteer. Volunteer can also call / message and guide the help seeker.
Chat with Volunteer
User can chat with volunteer and get any help needed.
Mark Safe
Once user is reached to safe place, Volunteer can mark victim as safe , App will confirm the status with the user/help seeker. Once user confirms the he is safe, User can share the status with friends and family through the social media.
You are a Superhero!
When user marked himself as Volunteer. App greets user with launch screen.
For every successful mission, every volunteer will get Pay TM points which can redeemed on the commerce websites.
Once user done with the volunteer work, he/she can switch off the volunteer mode.
Help the needy
Once user becomes volunteer, user can view the number of people who needs help on the map.
Volunteers can accept the incoming request from the victim. The requesting victim is highlighted on the map.
One more thing…
What if there is power cut for long, and mobile batteries are running out?
For such situations, I have created one concept where volunteers or govt agencies / rescue teams can provide/distribute mobile covers with inbuilt solar panels. The mobile covers will also consists of the inbuilt GPS, Speakers and SOS button which will send the location details to the rescue teams.
Solar Panel ( 5V 1 A)
In built solar panel cover which will provide continues charging to mobile device.
Flexible Panel
Auto fix, flexible panel can fit any android or iOS phones.
GPS
GPS chip is built inside the panel, in situations where there is no network, this cover can send the live tracking details to the rescue teams.
SOS Button
User can press the SOS button in panic situations which will send the location info to the rescue teams.
Speakers
Built in speakers can be use full in alarms or to receive audio messages