RPI StudySafe

Where can an RPI student find a safe, quiet place to study?
StudySafe screen shot

StudySafe is a web application designed for RPI students to navigate campus safely in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. It is built on the R Shiny application framework, written primarily in R, with some UI functionality written in Javascript and HTML. The app informs students on how many people are in a given building on campus and gives recommendations based on past data.

StudySafe began its development in the Summer of 2020 and was released for trial the following November. The summer team created a proof of concept: a working application with displays representing WAP users on campus during various points in time. The goal for the fall team was to incorporate live WAP data, improve the app’s UI, and develop a predictive model.

The StudySafe team has worked closely with RPI CampusSafe, whose goal and methods are similar. Both apps use WAP data to investigate campus activity with the intention of making RPI a safer place. CampusSafe is designed for RPI administrators and more complex analysis. StudySafe, on the other hand, is streamlined for student use.