Torch Sensors
Introduction
The frequency and intensity of wildfires are escalating globally, driven by factors such as climate change and human activities. Comprehensive response measures are imperative to mitigating the devastating impact on ecosystems and communities.
Existing fire alarms and smoke detectors are finicky, antiquated, and unfit to serve large plots of land, such as farms, golf courses, and recreational parks.
Torch Sensors is a startup building AI-powered IoT sensors that rapidly detect outdoor fires at an ultra-early stage, before they grow into deadly infernos. The sensors are synced to the Torch app and send immediate alerts to your phone in seconds, whenever a flame is detected.
My Role
Throughout this project, I worked with the Founder & COO, Vasya Tremsin, to design the Torch App and company pitch deck.
Project Highlights:
Immediate Fire Notifications
These alert notifications have a unique, shrill sound, allowing you to easily distinguish emergency alerts from your regular notifications.
Monitor Multiple Properties & Users
Manage all your properties from one account. You can add unlimited users to your account – including loved ones and employees. In case you miss a fire alert notification, others are more likely to see it and take action.
Official State Warnings
Receive federal alerts and red-flag weather warnings – in one app. Instead of frantically refreshing multiple news websites and alert apps – your Torch app can be one place to look at in those crucial minutes.
Opt-in for neighborhood alerts
Know when a fire is detected on a nearby property. You can opt-in to share your data with others in order to see theirs. If a property experiences a fire – alerts will be triggered to other Torch users nearby.
Interactive Sensor Map
Gain real-time sensor data from each device's thermal camera, spectral analysis filters, and gas/smoke sensors.
Problems
- Confusing Data Visualization: Users may struggle to interpret complex data related to fire incidents, reducing their ability to make informed decisions during emergencies.
- Lack of Community Collaboration: Lack of community engagement features may result in isolated responses to fire incidents, reducing the effectiveness of collective efforts in combating wildfires.
- Fragmented Information: When an emergency happens, people are forced to frantically refresh multiple news sites, weather apps, and alert systems. This process takes up precious time and increases stress, hindering a user from taking action.
How can we design a platform that keeps users updated in real-time, and helps them take action during emergencies?
Goals
- Simplify Data: Design clear and concise real-time data visualizations, utilizing maps, charts, and other graphical elements to provide users with easily understandable information about the fire's location, size, and potential impact.
- Get Updates From Your Community: Allow users to share sensor data with others within a community. When a fire is detected, nearby sensors will be alerted, helping the entire community combat the fire before it spreads.
- Integration with Emergency Services: Establish partnerships with relevant emergency services, enable seamless information sharing, and integrate the app with emergency response systems to enhance the overall effectiveness of firefighting efforts.
Impact & Press
For a full press list and article links, please visit www.torchsensors.com/torch-in-media
User Research
To better understand the general population of the United States regarding their concerns and experience with outdoor fires and wildfires, 1,046 people were surveyed. The survey included 56 data points, here are a few:
We then defined 5 user groups, united by their common goal of preventing fire damage.
Design Process
User Flows
To better visualize the journeys of our users, we mapped out User Flows
Sketches
Then, we created created lo-fidelity sketches of our user flows and began creating our designs in Figma.
Concept Testing
We made incremental changes to our designs to improve user experience and maximize accessibility.
Final Designs
Here are the final designs for the Torch app, made responsive for all devices.
Pitch Deck
Here is the final design for Torch Pitch Deck.
Progress
In the "How early is Early Detection" slide, I graphically represented the speed of a Torch sensor in comparison to industry standards. At first, I struggled with the visualization, creating pie charts (Iteration 1) bar charts (Iteration 11). These visualizations are mathematically incorrect (both charts wrongly imply that all the time values, added together, creates a "whole").
I began to brainstorm other ways of displaying the information, creating a line graph (Iteration 13). However, this iteration lack a sense of boldness and strength that is shown in the rest of the company's branding.
In my final iteration, I combined elements of iteration 11 and 13, creating a visual line graph, with the line being mirrored against fire "size". The flame in Torch box is smaller than the flame in gas sensors, cameras, and satellite, illustrating how a Torch Sensor can detect a fire at such a small size in comparison to competitors.
Reflections
Working with Torch provided me with a unique opportunity to design a solution for a global issue, wildfires and climate change. In the critical moments during a fire, it is crucial that users are presented with concise information, clear calls to action, and the ability to easily triangulate the flame location. Any ambiguity or incomprehensibility can hinder the user from taking appropriate action, leading to property damage, injury, and even death.
This project put a spotlight on the vital role that technology plays in mitigating the devastating effects of natural disasters and proved to me that design can save lives.