HighAR Ground: Flood Simulation Mapping

Overview

HighAR Ground is an innovative AR platform developed during the Reality Virtually Hackathon at the MIT Media Lab, where it won Best Use of ESRI, Best Use of AR in the Public Realm, and Best in Social Good. The platform addresses the lack of public preparedness for natural disasters by providing a dual-application system: a mobile app for civilians and a Hololens app for emergency personnel. The mobile app sends real-time alerts, provides navigation to safe locations, and includes an SOS feature to notify emergency services. The Hololens app visualizes disaster zones using ESRI maps, displays SOS beacons with a triage system, and helps emergency personnel coordinate response efforts. HighAR Ground aims to bridge the gap between public awareness and emergency response, ultimately saving lives during disasters.

Challenge

A significant portion of the population lacks preparedness for natural disasters, and existing warning systems often fail to prompt timely action. The challenge was to create a user-friendly, dual-application AR platform that could educate the public, improve disaster response coordination, and provide real-time guidance during emergencies.

Outcomes

• Won Best Use of ESRI, Best Use of AR in the Public Realm, and Best in Social Good at the Reality Virtually Hackathon
• Mobile app provides real-time alerts, navigation, and SOS functionality for civilians
• Hololens app visualizes disaster zones and SOS beacons for emergency personnel
• Improved public awareness and preparedness for natural disasters
• Enhanced coordination and efficiency for emergency response teams