The problem
People who lived through the floods lacked clear guidance. In our survey, 62% had received information on how to act, but only 25% considered the available information sufficient.
Alerta Enchentes RS
Real-time flood monitoring app
A free app concept that helps people in flood-prone areas of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, follow river levels and rainfall in real time and reach rescue teams.
Overview
Alerta Enchentes RS brings river levels, rainfall, weather forecasts, risk maps and emergency guidance into one place. It serves two groups: residents of at-risk areas, such as Rolante, and the rescue teams that work with them.
I designed it with Gabriela Munhoz in the Design Project III course of my Design degree, after the floods that hit Rio Grande do Sul in April and May 2024. We took it from research to a high-fidelity prototype.
The goal
Improve flood prevention for communities in at-risk areas, with an accessible, simple and reliable tool that helps people plan ahead and act safely.
Process
- Step 01 Research Starting from the broad theme of the climate crisis, we summarized 24 articles, mapped stakeholders and surveyed 46 people. Affinity diagrams and personas then narrowed the focus to floods.
- Step 02 Reframing A second survey reached 47 people, and 53% had been affected by the 2024 floods, directly or through family. Among those who answered, 26 of 27 wanted early alerts and forecasts, so we shifted our question from raising awareness to improving prevention.
- Step 03 Ideation We mapped the user journey and benchmarked existing flood solutions. We then compared nine ideas against our criteria, ran a SWOT analysis on each, and chose a real-time alert app.
- Step 04 Prototype We created the visual identity, then the data structure and wireflows for both user flows, a style guide and high-fidelity prototypes.
What we delivered
A visual identity, a style guide, high-fidelity prototypes of both user flows, and promotional materials: an Instagram post and story, a banner and a flyer.
Project stage
An academic project taken to high-fidelity prototype, with a proposed model to keep the app free for users through local sponsors.
Wireflow
Final screens
Key decisions
An app, not a physical product
Going digital makes it possible to offer essential information at no cost, which matters in areas with limited resources.
Two flows, one source of truth
Residents follow alerts and ask for help. Rescue teams manage requests, mark risk areas and publish alerts, so the information comes from people responsible for safety.
Simple under pressure
Plain language, a green, yellow and red risk map, and an SOS button that sends the person’s name, phone and address to the rescue team after one confirmation.