UrbanQuest

Overview Requirements Resources Rules Prizes/Awards Judges Judging criteria Updates

OVERVIEW

About UrbanQuest

UrbanQuest, the second hackathon in the SmartCity Innovation Challenge series, invites innovators to tackle a critical aspect of urban living: safety. This hackathon challenges participants to design and develop a Community Safety Alert System—a mobile app that empowers neighborhoods to stay informed and secure.

In today’s rapidly evolving urban landscapes, ensuring the safety of our communities is more important than ever. UrbanQuest gives participants the chance to create a tool that can make real-time alerts for emergencies like fires, accidents, or suspicious activities more accessible.

Here’s what you can create:

A system that sends instant notifications for emergencies in specific locations.
A "safe zone" tracker for families to monitor loved ones during emergencies.
Features that integrate easily with existing safety IoT sensors or public safety data.

Why Participate?

This challenge is beginner-friendly and can be approached with minimal coding experience.
Students can use no-code or low-code platforms to build functional prototypes quickly.
Your solution could have a real-world impact, making urban communities safer and more connected.

The Vision:

UrbanQuest is more than a hackathon; it’s an opportunity to take your coding skills and transform them into a tool that enhances lives. Whether you’re new to development or a seasoned coder, this challenge lets you push your limits while contributing to the well-being of neighborhoods across India.

Are you ready to code for a safer tomorrow? Join us in this exciting journey!

REQUIREMENTS

Challenge Description

Participants will design and develop a Community Safety Alert System, a mobile app that empowers neighborhoods to stay informed and connected during emergencies. This challenge is tailored to be beginner-friendly and impactful, focusing on solutions that can be implemented without extensive coding knowledge.

In the absence of public safety APIs in India, this challenge emphasizes community-driven and user-centric solutions that leverage creativity and accessible technology.

What to Build

Participants are tasked with creating a mobile app with the following features:

Core Functionalities

Community-Generated Alerts:

Allow users to report emergencies like fires, accidents, or suspicious activities through the app.
Alerts should include key details such as the type of emergency, location, and severity.

Geolocation Tracking:

Use Google Maps APIs or similar location-based services to display incidents on a map.
Highlight reported incidents as "danger zones" for easy visibility.

Safe Zone Tracker:

Provide families or groups with a feature to share their real-time location.
Allow users to define and monitor "safe zones" for their loved ones.

Optional Enhancements

Participants can add extra features for bonus points, such as:

Offline or peer-to-peer (P2P) communication for emergencies without network access.
Trusted contact integration to notify family members during emergencies.
Push notifications to alert users about new incidents in their vicinity.
Multi-language support for accessibility.

What to Submit

Participants must submit the following to complete their entry:

Functional Prototype

A working version of the mobile app (APK file, web link, or GitHub repository).
Ensure the app includes at least two core functionalities (e.g., community-generated alerts and geolocation tracking).

Documentation

A Project Overview Document (PDF) containing:
Problem statement.
Solution overview (features and functionalities).
Tools and technologies used.
Challenges faced and how they were addressed.
Include screenshots or diagrams if applicable.

Demo Video

A 3-5 minute video showcasing:
The problem your app addresses.
A walkthrough of the app, highlighting its features and functionalities.
How it improves community safety.
The video should be uploaded to a platform like YouTube or Google Drive, with a shareable link provided.

Resources

Here are some useful resources participants can explore to help them build their projects for the UrbanQuest.

1. APIs and Tools for Development

Google Maps API:

Use for geolocation and mapping features.

Alternatives: OpenStreetMap or Mapbox

Firebase:

For backend services, real-time database, and authentication.

Twilio:

For SMS and push notifications to alert users in emergencies.

Leaflet.js:

Lightweight JavaScript library for interactive maps.

Documentation

2. No-Code/Low-Code Platforms (Beginner-Friendly Options)

Adalo:

Build mobile apps without writing code.

Glide:

Turn Google Sheets into simple apps.

Thunkable:

Drag-and-drop platform for building cross-platform apps.

3. Tutorials and Guides

Beginner’s Guide to Android Development:

Android Basics Documentation

How to Use Google Maps in Apps:

Google Maps API Beginner Tutorial

Building Emergency Alert Systems:

Twilio's Alert System Guide

How to Build a Simple Geolocation App:

Geolocation Tutorial by FreeCodeCamp

4. Open-Source Libraries for Features

Geolocation and Maps:

Geopy (Python)

Mapbox GL JS

Real-Time Communication:

Socket.IO for real-time data transfer.

Push Notifications:

OneSignal SDK

5. UX/UI Design Tools

Figma:

Design app interfaces collaboratively.

Canva:

Create simple designs and illustrations.

6. Video and Documentation Tools

OBS Studio:

Record demo videos of your app.

Loom:

Screen recording with voice-over.

Notion:

Organize and present your project documentation.

7. Communities and Forums

Stack Overflow:

For programming-related questions and troubleshooting.

Dev.to:

Articles and forums for developers.

Reddit:

Join subreddits like r/programming or r/webdev for advice.

PRIZES/AWARDS

Winner

₹ 50,000.00

Certificate of Achievement.
Special feature on the Fablecon website and social media.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

1st Runner up

₹ 30,000.00

Certificate of Achievement.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

2nd Runner up

₹ 20,000.00

Certificate of Achievement.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

Honorable Mentions

₹ 20,000.00

Certificate of Recognition.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

Best Beginner Team

₹ 10,000.00

For a team with no prior hackathon experience that delivers an outstanding solution.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

Most Innovative Solution:

₹ 10,000.00

For a team that demonstrates exceptional creativity in their approach.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

Best Use of Technology

₹ 10,000.00

For the team that integrates technology most effectively to solve the challenge.
Goodies like t-shirts, stickers, and branded merchandise for all finalists.

JUDGES

Amit Goel

Founder & CEO, Fablecon

JUDGING CRITERIA

Innovation (30%):

Creativity and uniqueness of the idea.

Impact (30%):

Relevance and potential to improve community safety

Functionality (25%)

How well the prototype works

Ease of Use (15%)

User-friendly interface and experience

UPDATES

There are no updates.

RULES

Key Dates

Registration Opens: February 1st, 2025
Prototype Submission Deadline: March 15th, 2025
Judging & Winner Announcement: March 30th, 2025

Technical Requirements

Programming Knowledge: Basic understanding of app development, APIs, or low-code platforms (beginner-friendly challenge).
Tech Stack: Participants can use any programming language or development tools they are comfortable with (e.g., Python, JavaScript, Flutter, etc.).
Prototype Submission:
A functional prototype of the Community Safety Alert System.
The app must include at least one core feature, such as real-time alerts or safe zone tracking.
Optional Enhancements: Integration with open data APIs, location-based services, or IoT sensors for enhanced functionality.

Documentation Requirements

A Project Overview Document (PDF) detailing:
Problem statement.
Your solution and its core features.
Tech stack/tools used.
Implementation challenges and how they were addressed.
A brief Demo Video (3-5 minutes) explaining and showcasing the prototype. (optional)

General Rules

Eligibility:

Open to all individuals, including students, professionals, and independent developers.
Participants can compete individually or in teams of up to 4 members.

Original Work:

All submissions must be original and created during the hackathon period.
Plagiarized or pre-existing projects will be disqualified.

Team Composition:

Teams must register with their final composition before the submission deadline.
Changes to team members after registration are not allowed.

Code of Conduct:

Participants must adhere to the principles of fairness, respect, and professionalism.
Harassment, cheating, or any disruptive behavior will result in immediate disqualification.

Use of Tools and APIs:

Participants are free to use any programming language, framework, or development tool.
Open-source libraries and APIs are allowed, provided proper credits are given.

Development Rules

Development Timeframe:

All coding must be done during the official hackathon period. Pre-existing codebases are not allowed.
Participants may brainstorm ideas prior to the event but cannot begin actual development until the start.

Scope of the Solution:

The solution must align with the theme and challenge objectives.
Extra features are welcome but should not deviate from the primary goal of community safety.

Prototype Functionality:

Submissions must include at least one core functionality (community alerts or geolocation tracking).
Prototypes should be demonstrable and not merely conceptual.

Submission Rules

Deadline Adherence:

Submissions must be completed and uploaded by the specified deadline. Late entries will not be accepted.

Complete Submission:

All required materials (prototype, documentation, and demo video) must be included.
Incomplete submissions will be disqualified.

Presentation Quality:

Documentation and videos should clearly explain the problem, solution, and implementation.
Ensure clarity and professionalism in all submitted materials.

Judging Rules

Evaluation Criteria:

Innovation: Creativity and uniqueness of the idea (30%).
Impact: Relevance and potential to improve community safety (30%).
Functionality: How well the prototype works (25%).
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface and experience (15%).

Judging Process:

Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges with expertise in technology, urban planning, and community safety.
Decisions by the judging panel are final.