National Park Information & Air Quality Web App

Project Overview

This project is a web application designed to help users check essential details about U.S. national parks, including real-time air quality and weather forecasts. By integrating data from the National Park Service API and OpenWeather API, the web app provides an intuitive and user-friendly experience for trip planning.

Concept Sketch

My Role

Designed and built a web app integrating the National Park Service API and OpenWeather API to simplify national park trip planning

Anushreya Karir

Lead developer and researcher

Problem Space

Planning a trip to a national park can be cumbersome, requiring users to search multiple sources for park details, weather conditions, and air quality. Wildfires and pollution can significantly impact outdoor activities, making real-time air quality updates crucial. This project simplifies the process by consolidating all necessary information into a single platform.

Design Requirments

To ensure a seamless user experience, this project was guided by key design requirements derived from the original proposal and refined based on implementation insights. The infographic below summarizes these essential requirements, covering functionality, user experience, technical specifications, and future enhancement

Initial sketch & final design

Research Methodology

Primary Data Sources:

  • National Park Service API (provides park details, locations, activities, images, and maps).

  • OpenWeather API (replaced the initially planned AirVisual API to provide a free 5-day weather forecast).

Technology Stack:

  • Frontend: HTML, CSS (Bootstrap for styling and layout).

  • Backend: Python (Flask framework).

  • Data Processing: JSON parsing to extract relevant details.

User Experience Enhancements:

  • Search functionality by park name and state filter.

  • Dynamic carousel-based image slideshow for better visualization.

  • Responsive design using Bootstrap.

Key Findings

The OpenWeather API was a better alternative for free weather data, allowing for a more detailed 5-day forecast.

  1. Users found it challenging to enter specific park codes manually, prompting a shift toward a more flexible search feature.

  2. The styling and UI improvements (via Bootstrap) significantly enhanced the user experience

Proposed Solution & Design

The final product is a web application where users can:

  1. Search for national parks using a name-based or state-based search.

  2. View detailed park information, including activities, directions, and images.

  3. Access a 5-day weather forecast and air quality index for selected parks.

  4. Navigate through park images using an interactive carousel.

Outcome and Impact

Improved usability with a search-friendly interface.

  1. Enhanced planning experience for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

  2. Successfully integrated multiple APIs to provide real-time and relevant information.

  3. Completed two stretch goals: flexible search functionality and state-based filtering.

Reflection and Learnings

Understanding API limitations and adapting to alternative solutions (OpenWeather vs. AirVisual).

  1. The importance of UI/UX improvements in ensuring a seamless user experience.

  2. Learning Bootstrap significantly reduced styling effort and improved page structure.

  3. Time management and prioritization were key in achieving the project’s core goals.

Conclusion

This project successfully bridges the gap between national park exploration and real-time environmental conditions. By integrating multiple data sources into a user-friendly web application, it provides a valuable resource for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. Future iterations could enhance filtering options, add activity-based recommendations, and further refine the user interface.