RefuGeo

RefuGeo is an application that aims to help people manage their resources, promote effective people relocation by providing evacuation recommendations, and provide insights with regards to disaster preparedness and public safety.

The Philippines, being a disaster-prone area, has spent time and resources for disaster preparedness and public safety. While these resources are abundant on a normal basis, there are times during disasters that they sell out from stores and markets. Furthermore, the Philippines has experienced problems during evacuation periods due to inefficient resource allocation and people relocation. On top of everything, people are left searching for resources and evacuation centers in time of disaster due to poor mobile signal, lack of internet connection, and limited access to technology.

With that, RefuGeo aims to resolve the problem of resource procurement, disaster evacuation and navigation, as well as data access in times of calamity.

Featuring a resource checklist that allows users to track if they have the necessary materials in their emergency kits, a dynamic resource locator and navigator, that displays the nearest stores that will help users procure materials - adjusting the pins depending on the user’s necessity, an evacuation guide that allows users to see the nearby evacuation area, together with a suggested evacuation center that considers both the distance, and current occupancy, complete with navigation guides, and a graphic representation on records of evacuation occupancy, resource supplies, and calamity history, RefuGeo aims to be man's best friend in times of calamity.

Developed using Ruby on Rails 5.0, PostgreSQL, Ionic 2.0, Google Maps API - for geolocation and navigation, Chikka Messenger API - for SMS services, Facebook Messenger Bot and Twitter Bot for wider reach via social media, and High Charts - for data representation, RefuGeo aims to be everyone's go-to application from disaster preparation, up to evacuation.

Due to diversity of gadgets and technologies available in the country, RefuGeo's hybrid development made it possible to access the app from different web and mobile operating systems such as iOS, Android, Windows, and other available platforms. Furthermore, RefuGeo acknowledges the fact that during calamities, not all Filipinos have access to the application, or even have mobile internet. That's why we made it possible to access RefuGeo through Facebook Messenger (by messaging the RefuGeo Facebook page), Twitter using the hashtag #Refugeo and via SMS (via Chikka Messenger API) thru number 29290469148. Overall, RefuGeo is accessible as long as one has either a mobile phone and either internet connection or a peso worth of load for SMS. We believe that during a disaster, everyone - whether rich or poor, whether owning an iPhone or a Nokia 3310, deserves a chance at safety and refuge.

In UP CSI, we envision RefuGeo to be the one-stop shop that saves lives and communities not just in Metro Manila, but in the entire archipelago.

Because with RefuGeo, preparedness and safety are on the go.