SnapSolve (iOS) — AI-powered civic issue reporting

SnapSolve is a SwiftUI iOS app that helps users snap a photo of an infrastructure issue (e.g., potholes, graffiti, broken streetlights), automatically enrich it with location context, and generate a structured report + recommended authority contact using an AI-backed backend.

This repo includes:

• iOS app (SnapSolve/): SwiftUI, Camera + Map, Firebase Auth (Email/Password + Google).
• Backend (Backend/): Node.js/Express API with MongoDB persistence, Firebase Admin auth middleware, reverse geocoding, and email dispatch.

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Demo (what it does)

• Snap: capture an image in-app, optionally including GPS coordinates
• Analyze: backend returns a JSON result:
  • issue description
  • recommended department/authority
  • contact email (when available)
• Submit: confirm and submit a “ticket” (protected via Firebase ID token)
• Track: view My Tickets (per-user)
• Explore: view reports on a map

Tip: Add screenshots/GIFs for extra polish:

• docs/screenshots/01-camera.png
• docs/screenshots/02-analysis.png
• docs/screenshots/03-my-tickets.png
• docs/screenshots/04-map.png

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Tech stack

iOS

• SwiftUI (UI + navigation)
• AVFoundation (camera capture)
• MapKit (map + annotations)
• Firebase Auth (email/password + Google Sign-In)

Backend

• Node.js + Express
• MongoDB + Mongoose (ticket/report storage)
• Firebase Admin (verify Firebase ID tokens)
• Google Maps Geocoding API (reverse geocode lat/lng → address metadata)
• Gemini (image + prompt → structured JSON analysis)
• Nodemailer (Gmail) (send report email)

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Architecture (high-level)

1. iOS captures image + (optional) location
2. iOS calls POST /api/analyze with base64 image + coordinates
3. Backend reverse-geocodes coordinates and sends image+metadata to Gemini
4. Backend returns { description, recommendation, email }
5. User confirms submission → iOS calls POST /api/tickets with Firebase ID token
6. Backend stores report in MongoDB and sends an email

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API overview

Base path is mounted under /api in Backend/app.js.

• POST /api/analyze

  • body: { imageBase64, latitude?, longitude? }
  • returns: { description, recommendation, email? }

• POST /api/tickets (protected)

  • header: Authorization: Bearer <Firebase ID Token>
  • body: { problem_description, recommendation, timestamp, email, latitude, longitude, imageBase64 }
  • returns: saved report document

• GET /api/tickets/my (protected)

  • header: Authorization: Bearer <Firebase ID Token>
  • returns: list of reports created by the current user

• GET /api/tickets/all (public)

  • returns: list of all reports

• GET /api/tickets/locations (public)

  • returns: { id, latitude, longitude }[]

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Getting started (local development)

Prerequisites

• Xcode (iOS build/run)
• Node.js (backend)
• MongoDB (local or hosted)
• API keys:
  • Google Maps Geocoding API key
  • Gemini API key
• Email sending (optional for local): Gmail user + app password
• Firebase:
  • iOS Firebase config (GoogleService-Info.plist)
  • Firebase Admin service account (for backend token verification)

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Backend: run locally

From Backend/:

1. Install dependencies

cd Backend
npm install

2. Create .env from the template

cp env.example .env

3. Provide Firebase Admin credentials (choose one)

• Option A (recommended): env var

  • Set FIREBASE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_JSON in .env to the full service account JSON (as a single line).

• Option B: local file (not committed)

  • Place your Firebase service account at Backend/serviceAccountKey.json (this path is gitignored).
  • Use Backend/serviceAccountKey.example.json as a template.

4. Start the API

npm run dev

By default, the backend listens on http://localhost:4000.

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iOS: run locally

1. Open SnapSolve.xcodeproj in Xcode
2. Ensure Firebase is configured:
   • SnapSolve/GoogleService-Info.plist should match your Firebase project
   • enable Email/Password and Google Sign-In in Firebase Auth
3. Point the app to your backend:
   • update baseURL in SnapSolve/BackendService.swift to http://localhost:4000 (or your deployed URL)
4. Build & run on a simulator or device

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Folder structure

• SnapSolve/: iOS SwiftUI app
• Backend/: Node/Express API + MongoDB models

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