Based on your Coastal Savior project files, here's a detailed overview:

Project Details: Coastal Savior

What It Does & How It Works

Coastal Savior is an interactive web-based climate simulation game that integrates real-time NASA Earth observation data to teach coastal urban planning and climate resilience. The game features:

6x6 Grid Board: Represents coastal and inland areas where players make strategic planning decisions
Resource Management: Players balance four critical metrics - budget (💰), wellbeing (😊), environment (🌿), and resilience (🛡️)
Real-time NASA API Integration: Uses live data from:
EONET climate events
Jason-3 sea level measurements
GISS temperature anomalies
OCO-2 CO2 measurements
Dynamic Climate Events: Based on actual NASA data patterns that affect gameplay
Save/Load System: Persistent gameplay with statistics tracking and data export

Benefits & Intended Impact

Educational Impact: Transforms complex NASA climate datasets into accessible, engaging content
Decision-Making Training: Teaches players to use real Earth observation data for informed urban planning
Climate Awareness: Demonstrates the interconnected nature of climate resilience, economic development, and community wellbeing
Real-world Application: Shows practical applications of NASA data for sustainable coastal development
Scalable Platform: Can be adapted for different coastal regions worldwide facing similar challenges

Tools & Technologies Used

Programming Languages:

JavaScript (ES6+) - Core game logic and NASA API integration
HTML5 - Structure and semantic markup
CSS3 - Advanced styling with animations and responsive design

APIs & Data Sources:

NASA EONET API - Real-time climate events
NASA Jason-3 - Sea level data
NASA GISS - Global temperature analysis
NASA OCO-2 - CO2 atmospheric measurements

Development Tools:

localStorage API - Save/load functionality
Fetch API - Asynchronous data retrieval
CSS Grid & Flexbox - Responsive layout system
GitHub Pages - Deployment platform

Key Features:

Caching System - 30-minute cache for NASA data to optimize performance
Fallback System - Robust error handling when APIs are unavailable
Modular Architecture - Separate files for game logic, data management, and API services

Creative Elements

Gamification of Climate Science: Turns abstract data into tangible consequences through interactive gameplay
Real-time Data Integration: Creates dynamic scenarios based on actual current climate conditions
Visual Storytelling: Uses emojis and intuitive icons to represent complex climate concepts
Progressive Difficulty: Game adapts based on real NASA data trends, making it more challenging as climate conditions worsen
AI Integration: Includes climate advisor AI that analyzes game state and NASA data to provide strategic recommendations

Team Considerations

Technical Considerations:

API Reliability: Implemented comprehensive fallback systems for when NASA APIs are unavailable
Performance Optimization: Caching system reduces API calls while maintaining data freshness
Cross-browser Compatibility: Uses standard web technologies for maximum accessibility
Mobile Responsiveness: CSS grid system adapts to different screen sizes

Educational Design:

Balanced Difficulty: Game mechanics require strategic thinking without being overwhelming
Real-world Accuracy: Climate events and sea level rise based on actual NASA projections
Immediate Feedback: Visual and numerical feedback helps players understand cause-and-effect relationships
Long-term Planning: 5-year turns encourage strategic thinking about climate adaptation

User Experience:

Intuitive Interface: Clear visual hierarchy and familiar web patterns
Save System: Players can continue their city-building journey across sessions
Statistics Tracking: Detailed analytics help players learn from their planning decisions

Innovation Highlights

First-of-its-kind integration of live NASA climate data into an educational game
Hybrid approach combining real scientific data with engaging gameplay mechanics
Accessible climate education that doesn't require scientific background to understand
Practical application showing how Earth observation data directly impacts urban planning decisions

This project successfully bridges the gap between complex climate science and public understanding, making NASA's invaluable Earth observation data both accessible and actionable for future urban planners and climate-conscious citizens.

2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge

Star Field