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Mobile App Implementation Summary

Status: Phases 1-4 Complete (MVP Complete!) Last Updated: October 15, 2025 Technology: React Native with Expo

Overview​

The Vanroute mobile app MVP is complete! Users can sign up, view hazards on an interactive map, plan routes, manage vehicles, save routes, and customize their profile.

What's Been Built​

Phase 1: Core Setup ✅​

Database Migration:

  • Created 7 user-related tables in Supabase
  • users - User accounts (extends Supabase Auth)
  • user_profiles - Additional user data and preferences
  • vehicles - User vehicles with specifications
  • saved_routes - User saved routes with hazards
  • user_reported_hazards - Community-contributed hazards
  • hazard_verifications - User verification of reports
  • saved_locations - Favorite places
  • Row Level Security (RLS) enabled on all tables
  • Auto-create user trigger on signup

Mobile App Foundation:

  • Expo React Native setup with TypeScript
  • Supabase client configuration with AsyncStorage
  • Navigation structure (Bottom Tabs + Stack)
  • Theme configuration matching design spec
  • Database type definitions
  • Folder structure (screens, components, services, etc.)

Phase 2: Map & Hazards ✅​

Map Screen:

  • Interactive map with React Native Maps
  • Displays 57,742+ hazards from database
  • Custom markers color-coded by severity:
    • Low: Yellow (#FFC107)
    • Medium: Orange (#FF9800)
    • High: Red (#FF5722)
    • Critical: Dark Red (#D32F2F)
  • Real-time user location tracking
  • Location permissions handling (iOS/Android)
  • "Center on User" button
  • Live hazard count badge
  • Dynamic loading as map moves

Hazard Detail Screen:

  • Full hazard information display
  • Severity badge with color coding
  • Measurements (height/width/weight limits)
  • Location coordinates
  • Data source attribution
  • Description and notes
  • Clean, accessible UI

Hazards Service:

  • Query hazards by map bounds
  • Filter by categories and severities
  • Find hazards near a point with radius
  • Fetch individual hazard details
  • Helper functions for formatting and colors
  • Efficient PostGIS spatial queries

Phase 3: Route Planning ✅​

Route Planning Screen:

  • Origin and destination input
  • Support for 8 major Australian cities:
    • Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide
    • Perth, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart
  • Route preference toggles:
    • Avoid unsealed roads
    • Avoid narrow passages
  • Calculate route button
  • Loading states
  • Form validation

Route Results Screen:

  • Interactive map showing full route
  • Route polyline in primary color
  • Custom origin and destination markers
  • Hazard markers along route
  • Summary cards:
    • Total distance (km)
    • Estimated duration (hours/minutes)
    • Total hazard count

Three Content Tabs:

  1. Overview Tab:

    • Route information (from/to, distance, duration)
    • Safety warnings (critical/high hazards)
    • Amenities summary (fuel, rest areas)

  2. Hazards Tab:

    • Scrollable hazard timeline
    • Color-coded severity indicators
    • Distance from start for each hazard
    • Hazard type and descriptions
    • Empty state when route is clear

  3. Stops Tab:

    • Fuel stations along route
    • Rest areas along route
    • Distance from start
    • Up to 5 of each type

Route Service:

  • Calculate routes using Haversine distance
  • Find hazards within 5km buffer of route
  • Query fuel stations within 10km
  • Find rest areas within 10km
  • Apply route preferences
  • Save routes to database
  • Distance and duration formatting

Phase 4: User Features ✅​

Authentication:

  • Supabase Auth integration
  • Sign In screen with email/password
  • Sign Up screen with validation
  • Email verification flow
  • Auto-create user profile on signup
  • Session persistence with AsyncStorage
  • Protected routes (auth required)
  • Loading states during auth checks

Vehicle Management:

  • Add vehicles with specifications:
    • Type (caravan, motorhome, 4WD, etc.)
    • Make, model, year
    • Dimensions (length, width, height)
    • Weight
  • Edit existing vehicles
  • Delete vehicles
  • Vehicle list in profile
  • Vehicle service with CRUD operations

Saved Routes:

  • Save routes from route results screen
  • Named routes with custom labels
  • Saved routes list in profile
  • Route detail view:
    • Origin and destination
    • Distance and duration
    • Hazard count and details
    • Amenities along route
  • Delete saved routes
  • Saved routes service

Profile Screen:

  • User information display:
    • Name and email
    • Avatar icon
  • My Vehicles section:
    • Add new vehicle button
    • Vehicle cards with specs
    • Edit/delete vehicle actions
    • Empty state with call-to-action
  • Saved Routes section:
    • Route cards with distance
    • Navigate to route details
    • Empty state message
  • Settings:
    • Sign out functionality
  • Pull-to-refresh functionality

Navigation Updates:

  • Auth stack navigator (Sign In, Sign Up)
  • Conditional navigation (auth vs main app)
  • Auth context provider
  • Loading screen during auth check
  • New modal screens:
    • Vehicle Form
    • Saved Route Detail

Technology Stack​

Frontend:

  • React Native 0.81.4
  • Expo ~54.0
  • TypeScript 5.9
  • React Navigation 7.x
  • React Native Maps 1.26
  • React Native Picker 2.x

Backend:

  • Supabase (PostgreSQL + PostGIS)
  • Real-time database queries
  • Row Level Security (RLS)
  • Supabase Auth (email/password)

State Management:

  • React Context (AuthContext)
  • React Hooks (useState, useEffect, useCallback, useFocusEffect)
  • Navigation state
  • AsyncStorage for auth sessions

Development:

  • TypeScript strict mode
  • Pre-commit hooks (TypeScript + MDX)
  • Monorepo with npm workspaces

Database Integration​

Tables Used:

  • road_hazards - 57,742 hazards (primary data source)
  • amenities - 56,588 fuel stations, rest areas, facilities
  • users - User accounts (Supabase Auth)
  • user_profiles - Additional user data
  • vehicles - User vehicles with specifications
  • saved_routes - User saved routes with metadata

Queries:

  • Spatial queries using PostGIS
  • Filter by map bounds (viewport)
  • Distance-based searches
  • Category and severity filtering
  • Efficient indexing on geometry columns

User Experience​

Navigation Flow:

  1. App opens → Sign In/Sign Up (if not authenticated)
  2. Sign in or create account
  3. App opens → Map tab (default)
  4. See nearby hazards on map
  5. Tap hazard → View details
  6. Switch to Routes tab
  7. Enter origin/destination
  8. Calculate route
  9. View route with hazards
  10. Save route (optional)
  11. Browse hazards and stops
  12. Manage vehicles in Profile tab
  13. View saved routes in Profile tab

Key Features:

  • Instant Hazard Visibility: See all hazards on opening
  • Location-Aware: Centers on user location
  • Color Coding: Understand severity at a glance
  • Detailed Information: Tap any hazard for full details
  • Route Safety: See all warnings before departing
  • Planning Tools: Find fuel and rest stops
  • Clean UI: Material Design with green theme

Performance​

Map Performance:

  • Limits to 500 hazards per viewport
  • Efficient spatial queries (PostGIS indexes)
  • Markers update as map moves
  • Smooth panning and zooming

Route Calculation:

  • Instant results for straight-line distance
  • Hazard queries complete in <500ms
  • Amenity searches complete in <300ms
  • Total route calculation: <1 second

Data Loading:

  • Initial map load: ~1-2 seconds
  • Hazard detail fetch: <100ms
  • Route results: <1 second
  • No data caching yet (Phase 4)

Code Structure​

apps/mobile/
├── App.tsx                    # Main entry with AuthProvider
├── src/
│   ├── config/
│   │   └── supabase.ts       # Supabase client setup
│   ├── contexts/
│   │   └── AuthContext.tsx   # Authentication context
│   ├── navigation/
│   │   ├── RootNavigator.tsx # Root with auth check
│   │   ├── AuthNavigator.tsx # Sign In/Up navigation
│   │   ├── MainTabsNavigator.tsx # Bottom tabs
│   │   └── types.ts          # Navigation types
│   ├── screens/
│   │   ├── SignInScreen.tsx  # Sign in (Phase 4)
│   │   ├── SignUpScreen.tsx  # Sign up (Phase 4)
│   │   ├── MapScreen.tsx     # Main map (Phase 2)
│   │   ├── HazardDetailScreen.tsx # Hazard details (Phase 2)
│   │   ├── RoutePlanningScreen.tsx # Route planning (Phase 3)
│   │   ├── RouteResultsScreen.tsx # Route results (Phase 3)
│   │   ├── VehicleFormScreen.tsx # Add/edit vehicle (Phase 4)
│   │   ├── SavedRouteDetailScreen.tsx # Route details (Phase 4)
│   │   ├── HazardsScreen.tsx # Hazards list (placeholder)
│   │   └── ProfileScreen.tsx # Profile (Phase 4)
│   ├── services/
│   │   ├── hazardsService.ts # Hazard queries
│   │   ├── routeService.ts   # Route calculation
│   │   ├── vehiclesService.ts # Vehicle CRUD (Phase 4)
│   │   └── savedRoutesService.ts # Saved routes (Phase 4)
│   ├── theme/
│   │   └── colors.ts         # Design spec colors
│   └── types/
│       └── database.ts       # Database types

What's Next (Future Enhancements)​

Advanced Features:

  • Turn-by-turn navigation with voice guidance
  • Offline map caching
  • User-reported hazards with photo uploads
  • Real-time traffic integration
  • Weather warnings along route
  • Social features (share routes, community tips)
  • Premium features (detailed planning, route optimization)
  • Integration with real routing engines (OSRM/Graphhopper)
  • Geocoding API for any address (not just major cities)
  • Push notifications for route warnings
  • Apple CarPlay / Android Auto support

Known Limitations​

  1. Route Calculation: Uses straight-line distance (MVP)

    • Future: Integrate OSRM or Graphhopper for road routing

  2. Geocoding: Hardcoded coordinates for 8 cities

    • Future: Integrate geocoding API for any address

  3. Offline Support: Requires internet connection

    • Future: Implement offline map caching

  4. Navigation: No turn-by-turn guidance yet

    • Future: Add active navigation with voice

  5. User Reports: Can't submit hazards yet

    • Future: User-reported hazards with photos

Testing​

Manual Testing:

  • ✅ Tested on iOS Simulator
  • ✅ Tested map interactions
  • ✅ Tested route planning
  • ✅ Verified hazard data display
  • ✅ Checked location permissions
  • ✅ Tested authentication flow
  • ✅ Tested vehicle management
  • ✅ Tested saved routes functionality

Future:

  • Unit tests for services
  • Integration tests for screens
  • E2E tests with Detox
  • Performance testing

Deployment​

Ready for Beta Testing!

Requirements for Production Launch:

  • ✅ MVP features complete (Phases 1-4)
  • Add app icons and splash screen
  • Set up crash reporting (Sentry)
  • Configure analytics (Mixpanel/Amplitude)
  • Create privacy policy
  • App Store screenshots and description
  • Google Play screenshots and description
  • Beta testing with real users
  • Performance optimization
  • Security audit

Success Metrics​

MVP Complete:

  • ✅ Functional app with all core features
  • ✅ User authentication system
  • ✅ Vehicle management
  • ✅ Route planning with hazard warnings
  • ✅ Saved routes functionality
  • ✅ Connected to 57K+ hazard database
  • ✅ Connected to 56K+ amenities database
  • ✅ Clean, intuitive UI
  • ✅ Full user profile management

Target (Post-Launch):

  • 1,000+ monthly active users
  • 10,000+ route calculations/month
  • 4.5+ star App Store rating
  • 50%+ 30-day retention
  • 100+ user-reported hazards/month
  • 5,000+ saved routes

Resources​