WhisperGrid

Stay safe on any hike with WhispherGrid—automatic check-ins, emergency alerts, and a heatmap to help rescuers find you fast.

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WhisperGrid

🌄 Inspiration

Safety. Hiking can be unpredictable, especially when you’re on unfamiliar trails or hiking solo. We wanted to create something that keeps hikers connected, informed, and safe — giving peace of mind to both them and their loved ones.

🛰️ What it does

  • Trail selection: Users can easily select from available hiking trails.
  • Trail stats: Displays average completion time ⏱️, distance 📏, and elevation change ⛰️.
  • Safety check-ins: Users can set how often the app checks in and how long before emergency contacts are alerted if there’s no response.
  • Emergency response: When emergency contacts are notified 🚨, they receive a heatmap showing the hiker’s most likely location — based on their last known position, time since last contact, and the difficulty of different trail sections.

🛠️ How we built it

We used a combination of Google Maps API features to:

  • Gather and display key trail information
  • Create maps, pins, and routes between points
  • Calculate elevation changes
  • Generate the heatmap for emergency responders

We also used the OpenAI API to provide insights about selected hiking trails, making the experience both safe and engaging.

⚡ Challenges we ran into

  • Building an intuitive map UI 🗺️
  • Ensuring reliable hosting
  • Navigating the Google Maps API for the first time

🏆 Accomplishments we’re proud of

  • A smooth, functional prototype that works exactly as envisioned.
  • The heatmap tool — an innovative way to assist emergency contacts and authorities in locating hikers faster.
  • Creating a user-friendly flow where all features work together seamlessly.

📚 What we learned

We discovered just how much the Google Maps API can do — and we’ve only scratched the surface. There’s massive potential for building even more robust tools using its capabilities.

🚀 What’s next for WhisperGrid

  • Live location tracking 📍
  • User accounts (to securely store emergency contact information)
  • Partnerships with park rangers and trail supervisors to integrate directly with rescue services
  • Making the app more robust for offline use in low-signal areas

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