Power App Solutions for the Planet

One of the 5 Pillars of the United Nations SDG’s is the Planet. Any SDG’s related to climate fall under this pillar – SDG’s 6, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

Many Technovation participants have a deep interest in solving climate issues. Many teams decide to work on apps to help solve climate issues, and some of our Technovation alumnae have teamed up to solve climate-related SDGs.

They want to share some of their technical expertise with you as you embark on your own app solutions.

Check out their solutions below!

Click on each app icon to learn more and follow the tutorial.

SDG

App

What you Learn

Language/Platform

Uses AI?

Google Sheets
Maps, Markers

Thunkable

ML model using numerical public dataset
water quality prediction

Python, Streamlit

Yes

data grid
cloud data
video and image selection

Thunkable

detect text in an image
API integration

App Inventor

Yes

IUCN Redlist API integration

App Inventor

IUCN Redlist API
Chatbot integration

App Inventor

Yes

leadership board

Thunkable

remote sensing with satellite imagery
mangrove detection

Google Earth Engine/ Javascript

Yes

Data Viewer Grid
Google Sheets

Thunkable

Teachable Machine image classification
Google Sheets
Maps, Markers

App Inventor

Yes

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER

dropin' by Technovation alumna Laura Mendes

dropin’ is an app that displays protected water areas on a map. Laura’s written Thunkable tutorial shows you how to use Google Sheets and Map/Marker components to display location-based information on a map in your app.

This is a great way to crowdsource shared location-based information in an app!

SDG 6 AI EXAMPLE

This tutorial shows you how you can build a machine learning model with numerical water quality data and then use it to predict the water quality in a lake for a particular month.

Water Quality App

2 Videos

23:50

15:36

SDG 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION

Option A by Technovation alumnae Ana Balteanu and Zhibek Askar

Option A uses cloud data and incorporates images and videos in a data grid using Thunkable. Ana and Zhibek displayed vintage fashion videos in their responsible consumption app. In the video, they show you how to allow app users to select and view videos from a list.

SDG 12 AI EXAMPLE

This tutorial shows you how you can use a combination of APIs that use AI to detect text. A user can check a brand tag before they buy to see how sustainable that brand is.

SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION

WE Heroes by Technovation alumnae Giovanna Romero and Arlen Amezcua Ortiz

WE Heroes incorporates external website data using an Application Programming Interface (API) in MIT App Inventor. Arlen and Giovanna used the IUCN Redlist API to display endangered species information in their app.

SDG 13 AI EXAMPLE

Would you like to add some AI to your WEHeroes app? This tutorial shows you how you can use the IUCN API to get a list of endangered species, then use the App Inventor ChatBot component to make the information from the IUCN website more age-appropriate for younger users.

SDG 14: LIFE BELOW WATER

Microplastic Mayhem by Team CAC

Microplastic Mayhem includes a leaderboard so users can gain points and compete against friends by collecting nurdles (small microplastic particles found near waterways).

SDG 14 AI EXAMPLE

Mangroves are critical coastal ecosystems that provide essential services for both water quality and planetary health. Mangroves act as natural water filters, critical to maintaining marine biodiversity. Mangroves store 3-5 times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Their dense root systems stabilize coastlines and provide natural protection against storm surges, tsunamis, and erosion.

This tutorial shows you how you can track and visualize mangrove growth by coding a web app using Google Earth Code Engine. The app analyzes and creates composites of NASA satellite images to then detect and visualize mangrove growth. You can compare growth between 2 different years and see how areas have changed over time.

SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND

Neki Nature by Avril Montserrat Ruiz Ibarra

Neki Nature by Avril provides information to users about endangered species in Mexico. Learn how to use a Data Viewer Grid and Google Sheets in your Thunkable app to display information but also allows for more versatility to add more data to the app.