Sahaara: An app to stay connected during emergencies

India has seen devastating natural calamities rattle the daily lives of the common man. Floods, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides are just few of the many adversities we have faced. While the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has policies (2009) and plans in place, it is usually the common man who come out to help each other.

Communities usually rely on existing media such as phone calls and apps such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram etc. and do not have a platform that addresses multiple problems that specifically arises during natural disasters.

Client

Design Task (Self)

Duration

07 Days

Role

UX Designer

Tools

Figma

Timeline
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7

Research

Ideation

Wireframing

Finale screens & prototype

Process

Assess

Understand

Ideate

Deliver

Test

Team

Since this brief was worked on as part of a design task, it was a self lead project.

The ask

Device a platform for local communities to stay connected in situations of emergencies incorporating features that solve for relevant pain points that arise from user research.

Assess

Peers and the problem

I started off by understanding other solutions currently available. The few solutions I found did not fall under the niche I was solving for. While some of them catered to specific geographic locations, some of them were only sharing warnings and static information, that too of certain types of predictable calamities.

Domestic apps

Cater to only specific locations

Only provide information regarding natural disasters, not for communication

Other apps

Specific to certain countries

Have more features

Is more accommodating

Understand

Values to reflect in the solution

Moving forward, it was necessary to consider 3 main aspects to resolve this problem:

Affordability

The solution must be accessible and affordable to as many people, from any location via most devices. This should also translate across network connectivity if possible.

Reliability

The response or resources received must be useful, immediate and reliable. Users must trust the platform enough to approach it first and seek the best solution available

Ease of Use

The platform must be simple and all information must be prioritized and be accessed easily. There shouldn’t be any room for confusion while using the service.

Key research areas

It was necessary to understand 3 key areas before solving the problem:

Context

Natural disasters in India

What are the different calamities that occur in India?

Which regions in India are prone to what kind of natural disasters?

When do they occur?

How frequently do they occur?

User research

Awareness

What do they know about natural disasters?

How prepared are they?

Do they know basic first aid/CPR?

Skills

Are they well versed to face adversities?

What all skills do they have?

What all skills can be put to use in an adverse situation?

Are they encouraging community skill development?

Experiences

Have they faced natural calamities before?

How did they handle past experiences?

Feelings

How would they react in emergencies?

Are they mentally strong?

Do they have past trauma?

Available technology

Local & affordable

Mobile networks, Satellite phones, HAM radio services, Radio services, GPS, Bluetooth powered mesh networks

Context

Natural disasters in India

Earthquake Prone Zones

Landslide Prone Zones

Flood Prone Zones

Wind & Cyclone Prone Zones

User research

Interviews were conducted via phone calls and insights were drawn from 5 people who had experienced a natural disaster in the past and/or volunteered to provide services and/or donated resources. The purpose was to map out the methods they took, effectiveness of completing a task and ease of achieving goals they wished to.

Sumit, 28

Assam

"Even though we anticipate these every year, it is still taxing on our mental health. We are constantly living in fear that is not a good feeling."

Vinu, 40

Thiruvalla

"A lot of people come forth to help but collecting funds is a problem. Most people are skeptical to donate or simply can’t afford to."

Bindu, 45

Thiruvalla

"The problems don’t persist for more than 2 or 3 days. Property damage and insurance claims are a pain though!"

Prakash, 64

Mumbai

"We are used to the rains and floods. Only very rarely does it get bad. Relief camps are set up and emergency kits are distributed only in rural areas where people need it more."

Arya, 24

Kochi

"Experiencing floods while being away from family would have been an emotionally draining experience if it weren’t for my kind neighbors."

Available technology

GPS

It is a satellite-based navigation system that enables users to determine their precise location on Earth by receiving signals from a network of orbiting satellites, providing accurate positioning information for various applications. It doesn't require mobile network.

Radio services

Radio services involve the transmission of data through electromagnetic waves, allowing for widespread communication via devices such as radios, broadcasting stations, and digital platforms. It enables one-way communication without requiring network connectivity.

HAM radio services

HAM radio, or amateur radio allows licensed individuals to communicate globally using designated radio frequencies for non-commercial purposes, fostering technical skills and emergency communication capabilities. But the number of ham radio operators are limited due to licensing requirements.

Mesh networks

It is possible to use bluetooth technology and a peer-to-peer network to create what's called a "mesh network." Users can create local networks within a 200-foot range, and this network can (theoretically) grow depending on how many users are within range.

Satellite phones

Satellite phones use satellites orbiting the Earth to facilitate voice and data communication in areas with limited or no traditional cellular network coverage. It can be used only with specific permission/ NOC from the GOI which restricts the popularity of satellite phones.

Mobile networks

Mobile networks enable communication between mobile devices, using radio signals to connect to cellular towers. Currently, 34% of India’s population uses mobile phone internet. Two in every three users are expected to have a mobile phone by 2023, while one in two users will have a smartphone.

Insights

Corruption and misuse of resources are rampant but these don’t affect volunteers and donors

Local groups have databases of reliable resources and contacts who can lend situation specific help

People come together despite all odds to volunteer and help others but collecting funds for various activities are a major challenge

Slacking on the part of government and local concerned authorities affects the rightful allocation of disaster management funds

People in frequently affected areas are always prepared for adversities. It is the surprise element that causes more shock and damage.

Resources are aplenty; redistribution is managed efficiently by local communities and volunteer groups

Floods, cyclones and earthquakes that occur annually affect small regions only for a period of 2-3 days on an average. Major disasters are still rare in India.

Network connectivity and power outages haven't been a major problem as anticipated

Stakeholders

PRIMARILY IMPACTED

Those who bear the brunt of the disaster and are immediately affected

Survivors

FIRST RESPONDERS

Those who witness and come forth to assess the scenario and help save lives

locals, volunteers, fire fighters, policemen, nurses, doctors

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Those afar, worried and concerned about the safety of their loved ones

family, friends, relatives

OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

Those who assess the situation with gathered data and manage the resources

Government, district collector, ward member, NGOs

User archetype

Geeta, 38

Homemaker, Pune

Goal:

Easy access to help without much complications or many steps

Motivation

Dependancy

Convenience

Urgency

“I am a homemaker and head of family and I want a platform to seek assistance with relocation during floods that occur annually in my area.”

Kunal, 26

Local business owner, Guwahati

Goal:

Better planning for quick resolution of problems and proper utilisation of resources

Motivation

Dependancy

Convenience

Urgency

“I am a regular volunteer and I want a platform that will help me find those who need my assistance and also help me donate to those who need it the most.”

How Might We

Based on the research, few How Might We questions were framed to understand which pain point to solve for,

How Might We

enable communication

for home makers

to seek basic home supplies

How Might We

draw shelter camp information

for volunteers

to provide service as needed

How Might We

solve for connectivity

for stranded victims

in order to send SoS messages?

How Might We

provide relief

for worried kin

to connect with stranded friends and family?

How Might We

bridge the gap and eliminate miscommunication

for organisations

to seek donations?

Understand

How does one seek help? How does one volunteer? How do they donate?

From the data that stems from the research, it was understood that there needs to be two different channels; one for individuals and one for volunteer organizations. 

Individuals must have the option to seek help, donate and/or volunteer.

Organizations needs the additional option to seek donations and volunteers. 

A GPS aided channel incase of network outages.

User flow for individual users
User flow for volunteer organisations
User flow in emergencies

Wireframes

Deliver

View resume

What would I do different?

Features

Add a space to search for missing people

Get much advanced weather alerts, well in advance and very specific to geography

Preparedness coaching and kit preparation tips

Inclusivity

Multilingual interface catering to the diversity of India

Voice input and other methods for accessibility

Scalability & Responsiveness

Give the platform a web based interface as well for better accessibility

Can this be integrated into smartwatches or cheaper wearable devices using the existing technology?

Back to top