UrbanAid

A cross-platform mobile application to help users quickly find nearby public utilities like water fountains, bathrooms, charging stations, and other critical civic resources.

🌍 Mission

UrbanAid empowers people — travelers, low-income families, the homeless, athletes, parents, and everyday citizens — to find clean, safe, and accessible public resources with minimal friction. The app launches fast, works offline, and operates globally.

⚡ Core Value: Simplicity

• App launches straight into the map screen
• 1-tap search and navigation
• Everything works in 3 taps or fewer

🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend

• React Native (iOS + Android)
• Google Maps SDK integration
• Offline-ready with local caching
• Light & dark mode support

Backend

• FastAPI with async/await
• REST API endpoints
• PostgreSQL database
• Docker containerization

Integrations

• Google Maps SDK
• Apple CoreLocation
• Firebase Auth (optional)
• Geolocation services

🏗️ Project Structure

/mobile-app/          # React Native application
  /src/
    /components/      # Reusable UI components
    /screens/         # Screen components
    /services/        # API and data services
    /utils/           # Helper functions
    /assets/          # Images, fonts, etc.
    /hooks/           # Custom React hooks
  App.tsx
  main.ts

/api/                 # FastAPI backend
  /routes/            # API route handlers
  /models/            # Database models
  /controllers/       # Business logic
  /services/          # External services
  /schemas/           # Pydantic schemas
  /utils/             # Backend utilities
  main.py
  requirements.txt

/docs/                # Documentation
/docker/              # Docker configuration

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+
• Python 3.11+
• React Native CLI
• Google Maps API key
• Docker (optional)

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd UrbanAid

2. Set up the mobile app

   cd mobile-app
   npm install
   npx react-native run-ios    # or run-android

3. Set up the backend

   cd api
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   uvicorn main:app --reload

🧩 Core Features

1. 📍 Utility Discovery

• Water fountains
• Public restrooms
• Benches
• Handwashing stations
• Cooling/Warming shelters
• Free food locations
• Public Wi-Fi
• Phone charging stations
• Transit stops
• Public libraries
• Community clinics

2. 🔎 Search & Filter

• Distance-based filtering
• Open now status
• Wheelchair accessibility
• Trust/verification scores
• Natural language search

3. ➕ Community Contributions

• Add new utility locations
• Rate and review utilities
• Report issues or closures
• Photo uploads

4. 📶 Offline Mode

• Cached location data
• Offline map tiles
• Sync when online

5. 🛡️ Privacy & Safety

• No forced login required
• Location used only in foreground
• Open privacy policy
• Community moderation

🌐 Internationalization

Supported languages:

• English
• Spanish
• French
• Hindi
• Arabic

📱 Platform Support

• iOS: 15.0+
• Android: API Level 23+ (Android 6.0)

🤝 Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development guidelines.

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

🆘 Support

For support, please open an issue on GitHub or contact our team.