Reign Mobile Application for Hotspot Detection

Abstract

Reign mobile hotspot detection system is a cross platform mobile application developed to help warn its users of hostile areas (i.e., areas prone to accident, flooding, kidnapping, civil unrest, etc.). It also has functionalities that allow users to report hazardous areas through a preconfigured e-mail, which includes the users current location and a description of the hazard being reported. The goal of this project is to explore the use of mobile computing, by means of mobile apps, to address some of the social and developmental challenges being experienced in Nigeria. Thus, we could adapt technology to improve social conditions as well as, possibly, save lives. The motivation for this project is the ubiquity of mobile computing, particularly when we consider that Nigeria with a population of over 140 million people is currently estimated to have a mobile broadband Internet penetration equivalent of about 30%. These users mostly connect through mobile devices with at least 100million unique mobile communication lines registered. The app was developed with HTML5 and JAVA programming languages, uses GPS coordinates to map locations and a push server to send alerts to registered users. Currently, the Android version of the app has been developed and is being tested. During the development and testing, we interacted with security and paramilitary institutions  like the Police, Federal Road Safety Service (FRSC) and the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) in order to ascertain areas that are prone to hazards. Preliminary tests in Lagos and Abuja confirm the functionality and usefulness of the app.

Keywords: Mobile computing, hotspot detection, security hazards, crime detection and prevention, alerts.