A Disaster Recovery Application and Reporting Tool for Cities

real-time data

collection

geo-location

integration

responsive mobile

interface

Services

Custom Software Development, Mobile App Development, Software Testing Services

Industries

Business Automation, Technology

Technologies

Apache, HTML5/CSS3, jQuery, MySQL, Native iOS, PhoneGap, PHP5/PHP7, React Native, Spiral Framework

Client Overview

When disaster strikes, cities need real-time, reliable tools to assess damage and coordinate response efforts. Decovery, a disaster recovery app developed for San Francisco Public Works, was designed to streamline post-disaster building inspections, ensuring faster decision-making and more efficient resource allocation in the aftermath of natural disasters like earthquakes.

Spiral Scout worked closely with city officials and emergency response teams to build an application that could replace outdated, paper-based reporting systems with a modern, digital-first approach. The result? A powerful, mobile-friendly platform that municipalities and large enterprises can use to assess damage, prioritize resources, and generate instant reports to guide recovery efforts.

OBJECTIVES

Develop a disaster response mobile app to enable rapid building assessments.
Facilitate real-time data collection to help city officials make informed decisions quickly.
Integrate geo-location technology to assign inspectors to specific locations efficiently.
Design an intuitive admin panel for centralizing and managing all damage reports.
Ensure compliance with city safety regulations and industry best practices.

Challenges

Solutions

Challenges

Slow, Manual Reporting Systems

Traditionally, post-disaster damage assessment relied on paper-based forms and spreadsheets, leading to delays, errors, and miscommunication. Officials needed a faster, digital solution to capture real-time data, ensuring reports were submitted and analyzed on the spot.

Solutions

Real-Time Data Collection

We built a mobile-first, cloud-enabled platform that allowed inspectors to log structural damage, upload images, and submit reports in real time, eliminating the need for paperwork and reducing response times.

Challenges

Coordinating Field Inspections in High-Risk Areas

After a disaster, assigning inspectors to high-priority areas is difficult without a structured system. City officials struggled to manage who goes where and ensure areas weren’t being overlooked.

Solutions

Geo-Location and Responsive Design

We integrated GPS tracking and geo-fencing technology that automatically assigned inspections based on an inspector’s proximity and expertise. This ensured that critical areas were assessed first and that no locations were accidentally skipped.

Challenges

Lack of Real-Time Communication

Inspectors often work in chaotic environments with limited access to Wi-Fi or stable networks, making it difficult to relay urgent information to command centers.

Solutions

Seamless System Integration

We developed an offline mode for Decovery, allowing users to collect data even in low-connectivity areas. Once the device reconnected, all saved reports would sync automatically, ensuring nothing was lost.

OUR DECOVERY strategy

Overview of the critical steps that shaped the Decovery’s success and addressed San Francisco Public Work’s key challenges.

Collaborative Development & Discovery

We partnered closely with the San Francisco Public Works department to understand their exact needs, identify pain points in their current workflow, and define how technology could drive efficiency. Through a series of workshops, interviews, and field testing, we shaped a solution that aligned with the way emergency responders operate in real-world scenarios.

Agile Development & Iterative Testing

We employed an agile development approach, ensuring that city officials and first responders could test early versions of the app and provide feedback. We had regular sprint reviews and demos allowed us to refine the app’s features, improving usability, speed, and accuracy based on real-world testing. Our automated testing framework ensured that the app was stable, bug-free, and scalable, even under heavy data loads.

Deployment & Training for City Officials

A successful launch required more than just great software—we needed to ensure the right people knew how to use it effectively.
We conducted on-site training sessions with city inspectors, equipping them with hands-on experience using Decovery in simulated disaster response scenarios.
Spiral Scout developed a comprehensive user manual and help center, ensuring that officials could quickly onboard new users as the platform scaled to more cities.

Results & Impact

Decovery has set a new standard for digital disaster response tools. The success of this project has sparked discussions about expanding its capabilities, including:
AI-powered damage prediction models to automate risk assessment.
Multi-city implementation to standardize response efforts across different municipalities.
Expanded emergency response tracking, covering wildfires, floods, and other disasters beyond earthquakes.
With Decovery, we’re not just building software—we’re helping cities save lives, protect infrastructure, and respond to disasters faster than ever before.

outcomes

Cut assessment times by 50%, allowing inspectors to process double the number of buildings in the same timeframe.
Increased reporting accuracy by 85%, reducing human error in damage classification.
Enabled real-time, centralized tracking, improving coordination between field teams and decision-makers.
Facilitated faster disaster recovery efforts, leading to a more organized and effective response system.
Scalability: The platform is now being explored for adoption by other municipalities looking for a turnkey disaster response solution.