scriptr.io, an IoT (Internet of Things) application development platform company, has been instrumental in the recent development of a Smart City IoT application for civic emergency transportation management at the Hack Red Hook hackathon.
scriptr.io’s engine runs the app for HighGround.nyc, a system that helps manage real-time vehicle evacuation during emergency flooding situations. The scriptr.io-based app won “Best in Transportation” and demonstrated that IoT systems can be effectively used to manage a long-standing problem facing flood-prone areas.
“For the neighborhood of Red Hook, there’s no ambiguity to how storm surges will affect residents,” said Jim McMahon, a Red Hook local who thoroughly mapped the flood surges during Hurricane Sandy. “Very little of Red Hook didn’t end up underwater, and so residents look to the city not just an evacuation plan for its people, but one for its vehicles as well. This was our goal.” FEMA’s post-Sandy updated flood risk maps show Red Hook as a large red mass
The scriptr.io team worked with Carolina Salguero of PortSide NewYork, an educational non-profit based on board a historic tanker berthed right across the street from Pioneer Works, where the event was hosted. scriptr.io and PortSide New York quickly came to understand Red Hook’s problem and devise a solution. PortSide New York was integral to the area’s recovery during the aftermath of the storm and had first-hand experience with this problem set.
The process had several steps:
- Designated Emergency Flood Parking areas
- Notification system
- Real-time sensing of parking availability
- Mobile application
The massive project came together in one weekend, only possible due to the pre-existing integrations between scriptr.io and the various Web and IoT services used, and the ability to instantly spin up and debug Javascript Web endpoints in the scriptr.io development environment. Deployment and orchestration between the various parts was quick, easy and seamless.
“We are confident that scriptr.io’s IoT development platform will be used to assist other areas of emergency management, and look forward to future app development to save property and lives,” added Ed Borden, technology evangelist for scriptr.io.
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