HackBelfast - SafeStep

SafeStep is an accessibility-first walking navigation app built in under 24 hours for HackBelfast, a student hackathon where teams design, build, and present a complete software project within a single day.

The project was created to explore how navigation can be made more inclusive by helping users find routes based not only on speed, but also on accessibility. Rather than simply recommending the fastest path, SafeStep considers features such as dropped kerbs, tactile paving, steps, lighting, surface quality, and crossing information to help users choose the route that best suits their needs.

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Our Project

SafeStep aims to make walking navigation more inclusive for everyone, including:

• Wheelchair users
• Blind and low-vision users
• Older adults
• Parents with prams
• Carers
• Anyone who wants more information about the accessibility of their route

The application combines live mapping with OpenStreetMap accessibility data and Belfast-specific information to provide users with multiple walking routes and explain why one route may be more accessible than another.

Some of the features include:

• Accessibility-aware route planning
• Multiple route options
• Explainable accessibility scoring
• Belfast landmarks and support locations
• Live navigation with optional voice guidance
• Community accessibility information
• Route confidence and accessibility summaries

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Awards

Experience Design & Usability Award
Presented by Options IT

SafeStep was awarded the Experience Design & Usability Award, sponsored by Options IT, in recognition of our focus on creating an intuitive, inclusive, and user-centred experience. The judges recognised our project's emphasis on accessibility, thoughtful interface design, and its potential to improve everyday navigation for a wide range of users.

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Technology

The project was built using:

• React
• Vite
• Leaflet
• OpenStreetMap
• Overpass API
• Nominatim
• OSRM (fallback routing)
• ElevenLabs (optional voice guidance)
• Claude

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Running the Project

Install dependencies:

npm install

Start the development server:

npm run dev

Create a production build:

npm run build

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Team

• Cádhan Nelis (@cadhann)
• Harrison Wright (@harrisonwhwright)
• Owen Ryan (@owenwastaken)
• Emmet Quinn (@emmetq129)
• Dominik Wolski (@gibi26306)