FireAI - Wildfire Response Assistant

This project is a web application designed to assist in wildfire emergency situations by providing an AI-powered chat interface for different user roles: victims, citizens, responders, and helpers. The application uses a React frontend with a Node.js/Express backend connected to MongoDB for data storage.

Project Overview

FireAI serves as a communication platform during wildfire emergencies, offering tailored assistance based on user roles:

• Victims: Direct communication and assistance for those in immediate danger
• Citizens: General information and safety guidance
• Responders: Enhanced interface with interactive graphics for emergency responders
• Helpers: Resources and guidance for those providing assistance

Quick Start

The easiest way to run the application is using the provided startup scripts:

macOS / Linux

# Make the script executable (first time only)
chmod +x start.sh

# Run the application
./start.sh

Windows

# Simply double-click start.bat file
# Or run from command prompt:
start.bat

The scripts will:

1. Check for and start MongoDB if not running
2. Install backend dependencies and start the backend server
3. Install frontend dependencies and start the frontend server
4. Open browser windows/tabs for both servers

Once running, access the application at http://localhost:3001

Project Structure

• backend/: Node.js/Express backend

  • config/: Configuration files including environment settings
  • index.js: Main entry point for the Express application
  • package.json: Backend dependencies and scripts

• frontend/: React-based frontend application

  • public/: Static assets and HTML entry point
  • src/: Source code for the frontend
    • Components/: React components organized by feature
      • Chat/: Chat interface components including MessageInput and MessageList
      • Home/: Home screen with role selection buttons
      • InteractiveGraphic/: Interactive visual components for responders and helpers
    • App.js: Main application component with routing logic

• presentation/: Project presentation materials

  • initial_presentation.pptx: Project presentation slides

Technologies Used

Backend

• Node.js with Express
• MongoDB for data storage
• Mongoose for database modeling
• Axios for HTTP requests
• dotenv for environment configuration

Frontend

• React (v19.0.0)
• React DOM
• React Scripts
• Testing libraries (Jest, React Testing Library)

Setup and Installation

Backend Setup

1. Navigate to the backend directory:

   cd backend
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Create a .env file in the backend directory with the following variables:

   NODE_ENV=development
   PORT=3000
   MONGO_URL=mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/test
   LOG_LEVEL=debug
   

4. For production, update the environment variables:

   NODE_ENV=production
   MONGO_URL=mongodb+srv://[username]:[password]@[cluster-address]/
   LOG_LEVEL=error
   

5. Start the backend in development mode:

   npm run dev
   

Frontend Setup

1. Navigate to the frontend directory:

   cd frontend
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Start the development server:

   npm start
   

4. The application will be available at http://localhost:3000

Manual Setup and Installation

If you prefer to set up the application manually, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v14 or higher)
• MongoDB installed and running

Backend Setup

1. Navigate to the backend directory:

   cd backend
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Create a .env file in the backend directory with the following variables:

   NODE_ENV=development
   PORT=3000
   MONGO_URL=mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/test
   LOG_LEVEL=debug
   

4. For production, update the environment variables:

   NODE_ENV=production
   MONGO_URL=mongodb+srv://[username]:[password]@[cluster-address]/
   LOG_LEVEL=error
   

5. Start the backend in development mode:

   npm run dev
   

Frontend Setup

1. Navigate to the frontend directory:

   cd frontend
   

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Start the development server:

   PORT=3001 npm start
   

4. The application will be available at http://localhost:3001

Troubleshooting

MongoDB Issues

• macOS: If MongoDB doesn't start, try brew services restart mongodb-community
• Windows: Ensure MongoDB service is running or start it with net start MongoDB

Port Conflicts

• If port 3000 is in use, the backend will fail to start. Check for processes using this port:
  • macOS/Linux: lsof -i :3000
  • Windows: netstat -ano | findstr :3000
• If port 3001 is in use, set a different port for the frontend:
  • PORT=3002 npm start (macOS/Linux)
  • set PORT=3002 && npm start (Windows)

Features in Development

Currently developing the following features based on the todoList:

• Prompt creation and validation
• Response verification based on priority
• User identity management
• Emergency tracking
• Communication with central server
• LLM integration for intelligent responses

License

This project is licensed under the ISC License.