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RESQ - Disaster Relief Distribution System

RESQ - Disaster Relief Distribution System

RESQ connects affected individuals with life-saving resources during disasters through real-time shelter location, personalized emergency alerts, and one-click assistance. Designed for all users including vulnerable populations, it addresses critical coordination gaps while dramatically reducing response times from 72+ to under 24 hours.

Timeline

Jan '25 - May '25

Industry

Wellness, Government

Tools

Figma, Notion

My Role

End-to-End Designer

Overview

Solution

Design Process

Research & Learnings

Final Design

Impact

Future Scopes

Checkout Prototype

My Role

I led the research, prototype and usability testing of the entire flow for the disaster relief system.

I led the research, prototype and usability testing of the entire flow for the disaster relief system.

Overview

Problem

How might I create an application which helps users in disaster-prone areas efficiently locate and access emergency resources, ensuring critical aid reaches those who need it most during crisis situations?

Outcome

I designed a comprehensive disaster relief distribution system that connects affected individuals with critical resources.

Understanding the project as a whole

How might I create an application which helps users in disaster-prone areas efficiently locate and access emergency resources, ensuring critical aid reaches those who need it most during crisis situations?

72+ Hours

Current average response time for receiving critical aid

68% of users

report receiving outdated or incorrect resource information

Solution

RESQ, a comprehensive disaster relief distribution system that connects affected individuals with critical resources within 24 hours, featuring personalized emergency assistance, real-time shelter mapping, and AI-powered preparation guides that demonstrably improve disaster response efficiency.

Breaking down the application into 2 phases -

01

Emergency Phase

RESQ provides one-click emergency assistance with intuitive navigation that achieved a 95% completion rate in user testing. Users can quickly locate nearby shelters, request evacuation support, and access critical tools like flashlights and alerts, all designed to function even with limited connectivity.

One click emergency assistance

Emergency Evacuation

Medical Evacuation

Shelter

Tool Kit

Disaster Alerts

Miami, FL - 01233

Hey Nachiket,
We’re here for you.

02

Information Phase

Before emergencies occur, RESQ offers AI-powered personalized disaster guides customized to users' specific living situations, family needs, and local hazards. The preparation tools include interactive checklists, resource planning, and customizable alert systems that achieved significantly higher confidence ratings than existing applications.

Other Location

Miami, Florida

2 Alerts here

64 F

32

AQI

12 mph

Wind

Sunny

Alert Settings

Add New

Home Location

Boston, Massachusetts

2 Alerts here

62 F

26

AQI

12 mph

Wind

Heavy Rain

Alert Settings

Prepare

Alerts

Maps

Settings

Location

Location

EN

Emergency Screen

High Level Business Goals

Increase partner participation

Build a reliable platform that strengthens emergency response networks among government and private stakeholders.

Double aid efficiency

Optimize resource allocation to help twice as many people per aid dollar spent during disaster response efforts.

Boost self-sufficiency by 60%

Empower communities with real-time information and personalized tools to reduce dependency on emergency personnel.

Design Process

RESQ's design process followed a comprehensive human-centered approach, beginning with thorough research and competitor analysis, progressing through detailed ideation of emergency assistance workflows, and concluding with iterative prototyping and usability testing to create an intuitive disaster response system that addresses critical user needs.

Research & Learnings

I have conducted a qualitative research methodology study combining Contextual Inquiry, Journey Mapping and In-Depth Interviews across a diverse group of people consisting of General Public, Elder Users and Non Native English speaker. This helped us to get a wide range of data understanding different scenarios for different people

Measured Tasks

Completion Rate

Navigation Time

Error Frequency

Finding Shelters

Idea 1 - Audio Directions

A shelter selection with google maps like navigation screen with audio navigation capabilities.

100%

Users Rated this workflow as their highest Rated

5/5

Confidence Rating

45 sec

Avg. Navigation Time

95%

Completion Rating

User Pain Points

Users found difficulties making a decision during the shelter selection screen, which let them into a decision paralysis and they had to navigate into each shelter to find out the resources a shelter provided.

Idea 2 - AR Directions

4/5

Confidence Rating

An Augmented Reality guided directions system which can help users find visual guidance during critical situations

User Pain Points

Most common users would find it challenging to operate an AR-driven navigation system during a state of panic. Also concerns were raised regarding the battery and data usage of this feature which can be difficult to obtain during a disaster.

Idea 3 - AI Powered Chat Bot

2/5

Confidence Rating

An AI-Powered Chat Bot which can help the user find the necessary resources as soon as
possible

User Pain Points

While AI can be beneficial for users who are not native to English language, but there were a lot of errors which can happen during the conversation and the navigation time could be long and frustrating to some people. Similar issues of battery and network stability were raised.

Research Findings

  • Decision paralysis when presented with multiple shelter options without clear differentiation

  • Advanced concepts like AI and AR showed significant challenges for elderly users and non-native English speakers

  • Network dependency emerged as a critical vulnerability during simulated emergencies

  • Should add Shelter contact details in case of any connections required.

Primary Recommendations

  • Enhance shelter selection screen with more detailed information and filtering options

  • Add shelter contact details for alternative communication

  • Develop offline map functionality for network outages

  • Implement multi-language support for non-native English speakers

  • Create low-battery mode to extend critical functionality

Final Design

I have conducted a qualitative research methodology study combining Contextual Inquiry, Journey Mapping and In-Depth Interviews across a diverse group of people consisting of General Public, Elder Users and Non Native English speaker. This helped us to get a wide range of data understanding different scenarios for different people

Finding Nearest Shelter

User Pain Points

Users struggled locating appropriate shelters, often visiting multiple unsuitable locations. Complex maps and outdated information caused frustration, with 68% reporting incorrect resource details.

Solution

Implemented one-click shelter discovery with location-based listings, detailed filtering, and wait time estimates. Added clear visual indicators for available services, resulting in 90% of users connecting with appropriate shelters on first attempt.

Requesting Emergency Aid

User Pain Points

Unclear communication channels with slow response times averaging 72+ hours. Elderly users and non-native English speakers faced difficulties navigating complex assistance processes during emergencies.

Solution

Created streamlined request system with simple forms, real-time dispatch updates showing ETA, and essential emergency tools. Added "I'm Safe" confirmation with follow-up questionnaire to improve resource allocation.

Disaster Preparation Guide

User Pain Points

Generic emergency checklists failed to account for specific household needs. No options to personalize preparation steps based on family composition or home type.

Solution

Developed AI-powered guides based on home type, household composition, and property characteristics. Created interactive task lists with progress tracking for specific disasters, achieving 60% increase in self-sufficiency.

Disaster Alerts System

User Pain Points

Complicated alert systems with limited customization options. Overwhelming notifications during emergencies and no multi-language support.

Solution

Implemented intuitive location-based alerts with toggle controls for different disaster types. Designed multi-channel delivery with personalized alerts for vulnerable individuals, resulting in more accurate emergency information.

Impact

Understanding the project as a whole

How might I create an application which helps users in disaster-prone areas efficiently locate and access emergency resources, ensuring critical aid reaches those who need it most during crisis situations?

95%

Current average response time for receiving critical aid

60%

report receiving outdated or incorrect resource information

Future Scopes

Immediate Actions

  • Create a low battery mode with battery saving functionality during critical situations

  • Develop and test offline functionality to ensure reliability during network disruptions

  • Implement minor interactions to make the application more intuitive

Longer-Term Goals

  • Conduct additional testing with diverse user groups to ensure accessibility

  • Expand language support to accommodate non-native English speakers

  • Develop integration with emergency services systems for seamless coordination

  • Create robust analytics dashboard for relief administrators

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Thank you for your curiosity

Thank you for your curiosity

Connect with me for collaboration, coffee, or fun.

Connect with me for collaboration, coffee, or fun.