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MyCoast app

Greece's stunning beaches attract the main interest of tourists and visitors, but the large number of popularity has led to increased commercial activity, often resulting in illegal encroachments. Tourist establishments frequently overstep their legal areas, placing sunbeds and umbrellas beyond permitted zones and occupying public spaces without proper agreements. These activities not only disrupt the visitor experience but also threaten the natural beauty of the coastlines.

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About

Short description

The MyCoast app was introduced to address these challenges by providing a mobile app for users to report beach violations in real-time. With over 1,900 complaints logged since its launch, the app has demonstrated its effectiveness in identifying and documenting various infractions. The app supports the enforcement of stricter regulations introduced in 2024, which limit the placement of sunbeds and umbrellas to designated areas and require businesses to obtain official permits.

Industry

Government application

Services

ArcGIS mapping services

Technologies

JAVA (Backend), Swift &SwiftUI (iOS app), Kotlin & Compose (Android app), App Attestation (Security Measure)​

Project in Details

The MyCoast app was introduced to address these challenges by providing a mobile app for users to report beach violations in real-time. With over 1,900 complaints logged since its launch, the app has demonstrated its effectiveness in identifying and documenting various infractions. The app supports the enforcement of stricter regulations introduced in 2024, which limit the placement of sunbeds and umbrellas to designated areas and require businesses to obtain official permits.

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The primary stakeholders in this project are the Ministries of Economy & Finance and Digital Governance of Greece. The app also serves local businesses, tourists, and residents who benefit from well-regulated and accessible beaches.

Our Mission

Our role in this project involves the development and deployment of the MyCoast app. We were involved in the analysis of the data collected to provide a secure and user-friendly environment and also in the phase focused on the look & feel of the product.

Challenges

  • User-Friendly Mobile Interface: One of the main challenges was presenting all necessary information and functions on a mobile screen in a user-friendly way. We achieved this by implementing an intuitive interface with clear navigation, clear forms, and easy-to-follow instructions.

  • Data Security: Ensuring the security of user data was another crucial challenge. We implemented secure authentication processes, and strict privacy policies to protect users' personal information and ensure that their data is handled responsibly.

  • Accuracy and Reliability of Reports: Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the reports was also crucial. To overcome this, we implemented a requirement for photographic evidence and GPS tagging. This ensures that the information provided is verifiable and precise.

  • Handling High Volume of Reports: Another challenge was ensuring that the app could handle a high volume of reports without performance issues. We addressed this through a robust backend which ensures that data and applications are accessible from anywhere and fosters collaboration.

Solution

The MyCoast app allows users to report beach violations quickly and easily. Once a violation is reported, the information is reviewed by local authorities to validate the complaint. Validated reports lead to regulatory actions, such as issuing fines or removing illegal structures, or taking other regulatory actions.

Innovation

  • Governance Innovation: Uses innovative technology to empower citizens, enhance regulatory compliance, and preserve natural resources.

  • Collaborative Approach: Engages both the public and authorities in coastal management through a direct reporting channel.

  • Data Handling: Built to manage large amounts of data, ensuring the app can accommodate high volumes of reports from popular beach regions.

  • Security Measures: Employs app attestation techniques to ensure the app runs only on authentic, unmodified devices, preventing tampering and safeguarding user data.

  • Commitment to Security and Reliability: These security and data management measures ensure a secure, reliable platform for reporting and addressing beach violations, protecting Greece’s coastlines.

Impact

Since its launch, the MyCoast app has logged approximately 1,900 beach violations, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem and the app's role in addressing it. The data collected through the app has informed stricter coastal management policies, leading to better-regulated and more enjoyable beach environments.

The Team

  • Backend Dev & Tech Architect: Aris Kalokiris

  • Backend Dev: George Lykoudis

  • iOS Dev & Mobile Dev Leader: John Spiropoulos

  • Android Dev: Stratos Karafotis & Dimitris Charalabidopoulos 

  • QA: Mary Chelmi & Elena Charisiou 

  • DevOps: Costas Mamasoulas, George Nikolaou & Kaliopi Pavlidou

  • Security: Andreas Koidis

  • Project Management: Nikos Gavallas

  • Project Sponsor: Evangelos Argyzoudis

  • Account Manager: Stamatis Vlassopoulos

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