We have chosen SDG target 11.5, reducing the number of deaths and the number of people affected along with decreasing direct economic losses related to problems caused by disasters, while protecting the poor and vulnerable.
Through Con-X and it’s applications - the Con-X website, app, and wristbands - we addressed the need for a broader solution that provides the locations of infectious hotspots, information and live notifications. The wristband and app function similarly, trying to help people who don’t have access to the internet while the app primarily focuses on those who do have access to technology. The app is able to access the website, overviewing local hotspots and notifies when the user is in proximity to a hotspot area based on the combined wristband and reliable internet-based data (including the CDC). The wristband, on the other hand, stores information that was manually entered. Furthermore, the wristband also transmits a frequency that can be picked up via radar in order to find survivors of natural disasters. This also identifies potential candidates for testing. The app notifies the user in the event of a natural disaster. Lastly, the website integrates data from wristbands and cellular devices working as a centralized database for all of the information.
Con-X tackles this challenge by making it easier for medical workers to know specific medical information and helps identify potential COVID-19 patients easily. It also helps warn first responders about local victims in the event of a natural disaster.
As we were discussing and brainstorming what challenge we wanted to tackle, our team chose Sustainable Cities and Communities because we recognized a need for a product that can impact people all over the world in a positive way both during and after COVID-19 has run its course. During many of our meeting calls, we brought up many different ideas, along with many previous projects and experiences we could use as reference points.
To begin working, we assigned different parts of the project to different members, and broke off into two sub-division teams, the researchers and the developers. The researchers were in charge of working on the presentation, researching for the overall project, finding information for the website, and answering the project questions. On the other hand, the development group worked together to build a prototype, develop the app, and make the website. Although the endeavor was relatively difficult, we kept diligently communicating and developed our project into a cohesive solution for the challenge.
As we were still in the brainstorming stage, we stressed that our product would help many people, regardless if they did or did not have access to the internet, as well as, if they lived in a more developed or less developed country. We wanted to approach this project with a mindset that was primarily focused on the plausibility of our solution, and how efficient it would be overall. We continued communicating and when we came to an understanding of what exactly we were making, and how we were going to produce it, we assigned parts for everyone to work on, then separated and got started.
Over the course of 48 hours, we had many successes and failures. One of the main obstacles we ran into was miscommunication and timing issues. We had team members scattered across three different time zones which made it difficult to communicate with each other. In order to overcome these complications, we maintained open and constant communication. To address both of these problems, we were honest with each other about our situations concerning the time arrangements, and took the time to talk through our miscommunications as a team.
Overall, we have a talented group of individuals, which made it more manageable to tackle this challenge. As part of Project Dionysus, we have created the best project possible under unique circumstances, and we all agree that we have enjoyed working and participating in this new experience together.
Space agency data was used to determine the types of natural disasters that can occur in the targeted areas of Con-X. It was found that in South Africa, the civilians can be exposed to flooding, drought, wildfires and earthquakes. In New York City, NASA data shows prevalence of flooding, hurricanes, tropical storms and blizzards. This is important to our topic because knowing which disasters can be experienced by the target populations will help us to design wristbands that work more effectively in those environments. This could potentially include specific programming or protection from weather-related events that may help increase the functionality of the wristband. Helping identify the disasters will also help to create a better system for contact tracing that is beneficial in identifying COVID-19 patients.
The resources used to develop this project encompassed multiple applications, including CAD modeling software and Java-based programming in Android Studio. AutoDesk Inventor was used in order to highlight the details of what the model entails and its aesthetics. For website development, we utilized coding languages including JavaScript, CSS, PHP, and HTML. Through all of this, we illustrated our skills, knowledge, and teamwork in order to create a cohesive product.
https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/everyone-included-covid-19.html
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/
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https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page
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