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
Monitor Multiple Properties & Users
Manage all your properties from one account. You can add unlimited users to your account – including loved ones and employees.
Interactive Sensor Map
Gain real-time sensor data from each device's thermal camera, spectral analysis filters, and gas/smoke sensors.
Problems
1) Confusing Data Visualization
Users may struggle to interpret complex data related to fire incidents, reducing their ability to make informed decisions during emergencies.
2) 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.
3) 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.
Guiding Question
How can we design a platform that keeps users updated on fires in real-time, and help them take action during emergencies?
Goals
1) 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.
2) 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.
3) 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 and 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
Mapping out all user interactions, we thought about what a user would need in the event of an emergency, streamlining all interactions relating to safety, in the event of a fire. Furthermore, we needed to make our interface scalable for users with multiple properties (often with different sizes/terrains).
Sketches & Iterations
Working from sketches to hi-fi, we ran into a multitude of design roadblocks - specifically, color. The Torch logo- a dark reddish orange, looks eerily similar to the red in a fire alert notification. We asked ourselves, how can we incorporate Torch's brand colors without distracting from fire alerts?
Final Designs
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.