Overview & Background
Laikku was developed to help volunteer fire brigade (VPK) members better coordinate during emergency situations.
Issue addressed: Members often don’t know who is on their way to the station, which creates uncertainty and slows down response. Traditional call boards are becoming obsolete, and group messaging apps aren’t secure or practical during urgent moments.
The motivation behind the project came from the need for a modern, real-time communication tool that is easy to use under pressure. Knowing which qualified personnel are en route can drastically improve efficiency and preparedness. Research and inspiration stemmed from the limitations of existing tools and the desire to use mobile-first, reliable solutions.
Development Process
Flutter was chosen as the main technology because it seemed interesting and provided a great opportunity to learn. The need to support both Android and iOS platforms made Flutter a logical choice.
Initially, the project started as a proof-of-concept website, but limitations such as the inability to update location while the screen was off prompted a shift to mobile. Real-time data updates and a smooth authentication experience were essential, leading to the selection of Firebase as the backend platform.
Outcome
The result is a cross-platform mobile application available on both Android and iOS. Each member can belong to multiple units and indicate their arrival at the station with a single tap. Estimated arrival times are calculated using Google’s APIs, helping others anticipate who will be present and when.
Next Steps / Future Improvements
- Enable push notifications directly from the app when an alert is triggered.
Technologies & Tools
- Flutter
- Firebase
- Google Cloud (Maps API)
- Figma