Plastic Free Waters (IYFR - Rotary Club Italy), August 2023

The app Plastic Free Waters enables users to pinpoint abandoned fishing nets and ocean debris, and promptly notify naval authorities. In the absence of internet or signal in the ocean, reports are stored locally until connectivity is reestablished. Subsequently, an AWS Lambda service is activated to coordinate with the nearest naval authority, sending notifications via email. This application is accessible on the Google Play Store and App Store, created using React Native and Expo SDK.

Plastic Free Waters was designed to function effectively even in the challenging conditions of the open ocean, where internet connectivity is often unreliable. The app allows users to store reports locally on their devices when they are out of signal range. Once connectivity is reestablished, these reports are automatically uploaded. An AWS Lambda service is then activated to coordinate with the nearest naval authority, sending notifications via email. The app is accessible on both the Google Play Store and App Store, developed using React Native and Expo SDK for cross-platform compatibility.

One of the significant challenges was ensuring seamless integration with cloud services, particularly AWS Lambda, to manage the data and communication flow. The complexity of setting up a reliable and secure communication channel between the app and the cloud service required thorough testing and optimization. Handling data storage and synchronization efficiently, especially under varying connectivity conditions, was another technical hurdle. I developed robust error-handling mechanisms and data synchronization protocols to ensure that no report was lost or duplicated.

Another challenge was related to communication with the client, as many of them spoke Italian. To address this, I had to create detailed diagrams and documentation in multiple languages. This was crucial for ensuring that all stakeholders, regardless of their language, could understand the app's functionality and development process. Creating multilingual documentation and diagrams helped bridge the communication gap and ensured that everyone involved had a clear understanding of the project's progress and requirements.

The successful deployment of Plastic Free Waters has had a positive impact on marine conservation efforts. Users can now easily report ocean debris and abandoned fishing nets, helping naval authorities respond more quickly to these environmental hazards. The app's ability to function offline and synchronize data once connectivity is restored ensures that users can report debris from even the most remote ocean locations

The integration with AWS Lambda has streamlined the notification process, ensuring that the nearest naval authority is promptly informed, which has improved response times and effectiveness. The app's availability on major app stores has made it accessible to a wide audience, further contributing to its impact.

Link App Store Application