Mapdano : A traveler's companion in undeveloped countries

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

NGOUADJEU LEKANE Rodin Berthelot

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

Yes

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Prototype a DApp for mapping Cameroon's points of interest using Google Maps, Cardano for NFT rewards, DID for identity, governance for community input, and iterative development based on feedback.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

We will use Google Maps tools (SDK, API, Android, GPS, ..etc) to geolocate places and points of interest. These free tools are readily available and will not hinder the project's progress

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Our proposed solution is intended to integrate with Google Maps in the future. Due to dependencies on Google, we are cautious and do not plan to make the project open source.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

how we perceive the problem we are solving?

Despite the lack of conventional addressing system in many countries in Africa, local communities have their own ubiquitous language to identified places. Generally they used the points of interest such as schools, health centers, crossroads, or past events to find their way around. These names which for the population play the role of addresses are only known locally (limited to a given neighborhood for example). 

This project is about bringing these names to the global level so that they are used by the whole community for specific needs.

How it work?

The Mapdano application aims to simplify navigation by displaying nearby points of interest such as mechanic shops, pharmacies, markets, and even unique identifiers for potholes. Users can also suggest new points of interest. For example, a traveler in need of a mechanic will find the nearest garage, while a curious explorer can learn detailed history about a place. Delivery drivers can locate destinations and optimize their routes using the app. Finally, drivers can be alerted of eventual potholes. 

Positioned as a complement to Google Maps, Mapdano will collect and provide valuable information to enhance Google Maps' data quality and user experience in local areas. This collaborative approach can improve navigation, safety, and efficiency for users in various scenarios.

Approach used in the solution

The Mapdano application will offer useful notifications to users in three simple steps:

1. Nearby Points of Interest Alerts: Users will receive an alert when close to confirmed points of interest in the app.
2. Arrival Notification: Upon reaching the point of interest, another notification will be sent to the user.
3. Exit Notification: A final notification is sent when the user leaves the area.

Additionally, users can query the application to locate specific points of interest, enabling easy access to information on desired locations.

Data management 

All points of interest will be initially stored off chain and made searchable. Te application will accept the most common data format such texts, images (photos), videos and audio recordings. 

Most importantly, the application will be able to function offline. User will have to download data for specific point of interests when planing their trip or any other trajet in areas with not Internet. Users willing to suggest new point of interest will be able to do it offline as well. Once reconnected to Internet, the local data aggregated on their devices will synchronize with the application data. 

Data Validation and Quality (Generation of DID,and NFTs)

To guarantee the credibility of the information recorded in the platform, a data validation strategy will be implemented.

This strategy mainly relies on the fact that we will use the DID to identify each user. Second, the data entered by the user can be rated by the community through a voting mechanism (which will be the base for the governance component), so that the highest-rated users provide much more credible and verified information than those with lower ratings: Essentially, we will have in place a reputation system that will be based off a user past history and activity in the system.Naturally those that will have contributed to validated and confirmed POIs will gain positive credit toward their reputation. The reverse will be true as well.  

When information about a point of interest has reached consensus (has been used at least a certain number of times with satisfaction and has met other criteria that will be defined during our research), an NFT (with GPS coordinates) is created for that point. The NFT will continue to gather information during the POI lifespan. 

The resulting database can be used by various companies such as Google, delivery companies, transport companies, etc.

Tokenomics considerations. 

Generated NFTs will be sold on the market place to raise funds for supporting all the parties involved. More specifically: 

A portion of the benefits will be used for maintaining the application. 

Part of the proceeding will be used to design and implement missing and useful POIs such as Potable water point in rural Area, Fixing potholes on road ... etc. Users will be able to suggest these missing points. 

Lastly, portion of the NFT sales will be use to incentive user with the users with higher reputation. 

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Many projects geared toward Africa are being developed on Cardano. To the common man, most of theses Dapps do not make sense or at least have a direct impact on their day to day life .There is a need to suggest solutions that will effectively solve their local problems.

Mapdano makes it possible to identify places with the concept of NFTs which will be created on the Cardano platform. The solution will positively impact the Cardano community in more than one way:

1- It will solve a concret problem on the ground

We anticipate lots of people from local communities using the app hence joining the Cardano network. This will definitely bring awareness abot Cardano , but also widen its locally community

2- Widen the Oversea Cardano community

Generated NFTs will attract a wider cardano community especially those willing to support social initiatives. Anyone will be able to buy NFTs.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

We are connected to the Wada network through a connection at the Cameroon Hub, DIT who introduced us to this platform.

We will consider partnering with DIT Cameroon if we receive funding, as they have the capabilities to deliver the technical portion of this project.

As a computer engineer, specializing in software engineering, currently accumulating professional experience of 12 years and more, and classifying myself as a software architect, I have led during my experiences as project manager, similar projects and more complex projects. I am an expert in Android, Haskell, Java, PHP, web (html5, javascript) and Plutus. I will be accompanied by a solid team which will include developers, IT security experts, system and network experts, software engineering experts as well as mapping experts.

As the project is essentially software, we have the intellectual, human and material resources to carry out the project. The only resource we currently lack to launch the project is financial.

The project implementation program broken down by week, is presented below. We will use the financial resources following this program.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Initial preparation and framing (02 Weeks)

1. Preparation of the administrative aspect of the project
2. Familiarisation meeting between domain expert and engineers
3. Preparation of document giving authorization to provide and collect information
4. Setting up a planning workshop to produce de project schedule
5. Writing of the inception report and validation

A- Milestone outputs

Inception report

B- Acceptance criteria

The inception report must include :

1. The report of the familiarisation meeting
2. Information collection questionnaire
3. Overall project planning for each week

C- Evidence of milestone completion

Inception report

Study and Analysis of the domain (10 Weeks)

1. Identification of different actors involved in the project
2. Advance research and documentation in the geolocalization domain
3. Identification of the needs and services of the actors involved
4. Analysis, Evaluation and synthesis of the data and needs obtained
5. Writing a document presenting the system and the needs expressed (Specification)
6. Organization of an Ad-hoc workshop to validate te specifications.
7. Validation of the specification with the actors involved

A- Milestone outputs

Specification and requirement documents

B- Acceptance criteria

Specification and requirement documents must include three parts:

1. Part 1: Part 1 must present the project owner as well as the motivations from which the project took shape.
2. Part 2: The second part must present the project as a whole. More precisely, it must pose the problem that the solution will solve, present the context in which the problem arises and how the project will provide solutions. It will also present the project's objectives. It must also express Functional as well as Non-Functional Specifications.
3. Part 3: The third part includes the project progress (Planning, teams, tasks and activities) as well as specific deliverables

C- Evidence of milestone completion

Specification and requirement documents

Prototype Application design (14 Weeks)

1. Identification of the appropriate technical features
2. Identifying different components with their functions
3. Modeling business features in for all components
4. Determining appropriate technologies for each component
5. Designing of the global architecture of the platform
6. Writing documents relates to the design system
7. Validation of system design documents

A- Milestone outputs

Design documents (UI/UX design, Technical design)

B- Acceptance criteria

The Design documents must include :

1. Technical analysis report
2. Design report (UI/UX design, Technical design)

C- Evidence of milestone completion

Design documents

Acquisition of hardware and software infrastructure (02 Weeks)

1. Acquisition of hardware and software infrastructure
2. Installation, system configuration and security on the acquired hardware and software

A- Milestone outputs

Infrastructure available (virtually or physically)

B- Acceptance criteria

1. Photo of devices
2. Account to access to the infrastructure on the cloud

C- Evidence of milestone completion

Availability of infrastructure

Application development (26 Weeks)

1. Acquisition of development environment
2. deployment of development environment
3. Development and integration of technical feature
4. Development, integration and test of business features

A- Milestone outputs

Link and access account to the source code on the git hub platform

B- Acceptance criteria

1. Testing features on the test platform

C- Evidence of milestone completion

Functioning prototype including all features and use-cases

Deployment (02 Weeks)

Access link to the online application and on Google play store.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Rodin Berthelot NGOUADJEU LEKANE (Project Lead)

Ntet Manyama Igor (Web and Plutus developer)

Neudjieu Raoul (Web and Plutus developer)

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget breakdown per activity

The budget proposed in our project will be distributed as follows:

Total budget: ₳81000

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

1. The project team's commitment to the success of the project is a significant asset as they are contributing their expertise with lower that average salary for this type of projects. This dedication reduces project expenses, making it cost-effective.
2. The solution will lead to increased transactions on the Cardano platform, with each unidentified point of interest potentially becoming an NFT. These potential numerous small transaction will boost Cardano's network traffic, hence grow the community and bring more visibility to the network overall.