coding for community – team jersey boys

Coding for Community Team Project Proposal

Team: “Jersey Boys”

SeamlessGov | seamlessgov.com | 855.77.SEAMLESS


Jersey City

Municipal Need Statement:

The City would like to better manage stormwater to reduce flooding and combined sewer overflow (CSO) events within the city, while raising community awareness of stormwater issues and the stormwater management system.


What is a Combined Sewer Overflow?

During every precipitation event, water falls onto impervious surfaces such as sidewalks, parking lots,

and roads.

Water flows over impervious surfaces into

our sewer system, rather than into the

ground.

What most people don’t know is that this rainwater combines in the sewer

with waste from toilets, showers, and other

drains.

During almost every single rainstorm this rain/sewage mixture overflows into

our surrounding rivers.


Combined Sewer Overflow


The Problem

Active citizen engagement can increase the impact of green infrastructure. If citizens preserve water during peak rain loads, work to maintain infrastructure in their neighborhoods, and communicate local infrastructure problems, Jersey City can more easily identify areas for improvement.

Jersey City is faced with aging water infrastructure and is under a consent decree from the EPA to reduce combined sewer outfalls into local waterways.

Green Infrastructure changes impermeable surfaces into green spaces that absorb water, allow it to infiltrate into the ground, and prevent it from entering the sewer system.

Citizens around urban environments need to understand potential changes in landscape and how these changes will improve their city.

Jersey City needs to educate citizens about how Green Infrastructure can improve their environments so that it can not only get community buy-in to spend money as well as get their participation.

jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com

The Solution

Education Action

Where education meets action

An educational website where citizens can learn about water resource projects & take action to get involved.


Our SolutionJcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com helps citizens get involved to engage with Jersey City’s water initiatives. The site educates citizens about the problem and directs them to take action by:●Adopting a Catch basin●Reporting areas of flooding●Participating in a notification

system to use less water during rainstorms

http://jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com/



CSO NotificationDuring rain events, every gallon counts. When a citizen signs up for the CSO notification system, they will receive texts and emails that direct them how and when to save water.

By limiting water use at these times, each and every citizen will contribute to lessening the pollution created by CSOs.

http://jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com/notifications


Adopt a Catch BasinCatch basins are a vital part of Jersey City's water infrastructure. By enabling citizens to adopt a catch basin, Jersey City will not only engage them on a higher level, but also enable a sense of citizen ownership.

This process is enabled by the SeamlessGov form solution and backend processing system.

Citizens who adopt a basin will:●Prevent flooding by keeping drains free of

detritus●Prevent pollutants from entering sewers

and rivers●Help the city maintain its infrastructure,

especially during fall months when rain increases and falling leaves block drains

http://jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com/adopt-a-catch-basin


Report Local FloodingLocal flooding is a problem throughout Jersey City. By enabling citizens to report flooding locations and upload pictures, Jersey City can better manage what streets are in need of repairs.

Residents can fill out a SeamlessGov online form and City management can use the SeamlessGov processing system to track repairs on SeamlessMaps and tag the status of flooding construction projects.

http://jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com/flood-mapping


EducationA key facet of engaging the community in this work is education.

Jersey City wants to ensure the entire community understands how the city’s stormwater system operates, what green infrastructure is, and what individuals can to help improve stormwater management throughout the city.

Education should involve a path to action. Energizing constituents will instill a sense of urgency and ownership over the infrastructure throughout the city.


Impact Goals

Catch Basins Cleaned and Preserved

Floods Reported per Month

Gallons Saved per Peak Storm Event

500

20

80,000

We have created these impact goals that will stem directly from citizen participation in the website action items.

On top of this, we aim to address the intangible goal of citizen education and involvement surrounding water resources. This relationship is something that Jersey City has been struggling to foster for many years.

Adopt a Catch Basin

Rreport a Flood

CSO Notifications


OriginalitySince Superstorm Sandy, many resources have been provided and studies have been conducted around stormwater management in Jersey City. These are informative and educational but they do not translate into direct community action.

Some of these resources include:●Static CSO and Sewer Maps●Glossary of Green Infrastructure Terminology

jcmakeitgreen provides language that is accessible to anyone, not just environmental professionals. Unlike other resources that are scattered in multiple locations, this tool provides an all-in-one guide for residents to learn and get involved.

The SeamlessGov suit of tools is a powerful product to facilitate all citizen interactions and processing.


ScalabilityThis tool is specifically designed for communities with combined sewer systems. The image outlines the 21 CSO Communities in New Jersey who could benefit this site.

The website, SeamlessGov reporting tools, and SeamlessGov backend processing and mapping could be rolled out to any community with the click of a button. The entire system has been designed to be infinitely scalable.

This site can also serve as a template for all CSO communities looking for innovative ways to engage the community in stormwater management technologies.


UsabilityIn its current state, jcmakeitgreen.seamlessbeta.com is fully functional and ready to take inputs from residents.

It can accomplish the tasks outlined in the flowchart to the left.

The Jersey City Innovation team will undergo training next week for continued maintenance and launch it to the Jersey City community.


Municipality management

Citizen Browsing Adopt a Catch Basin Apply

Sign up for a CSO Notification

Report a Flood Location

Manage Local Floods Send CSO Alerts Manage Adopted

Catch Basins


Hyperlinks


Video of Flood Management Tool

Link to CSO Goal Estimate


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1R4X253snXo8mJFSz3l8mdjhP5CiXWHk7J9Yfgi_SZoI

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J0EDUoPX0BUEnMsApLYzLvSrM0Zdc6SbrPx7hbVhF_w/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you!

coding for community – team jersey boys

Technology