Cleanlet

Name: Cleanlet
Author: Drexel University

Drexel University

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:Researchers & AcademicsGeneral Public & Enthusiasts

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App Summary

Cleanlet is a gamified citizen science app that helps communities prevent urban flooding by notifying residents to clear local storm drains ahead of intense rainfall. The app's design, detailed in the associated research, integrates real-time National Weather Service data to automatically alert users when rainfall thresholds are exceeded, facilitating just-in-time, crowd-sourced inlet cleaning. The authors conclude that this approach offers a promising strategy to enhance urban flood resilience and mitigate the effects of intense precipitation.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Developed by Drexel University, Cleanlet is a citizen science platform designed for proactive stormwater inlet management. The system leverages real-time National Weather Service data to monitor precipitation forecasts. Upon reaching a pre-defined rainfall threshold, it automatically dispatches notifications to registered participants for specific storm drains. The interface facilitates the submission of pre- and post-clearance photographic evidence. Participant contributions are tracked and aggregated through a gamified point structure, encouraging sustained engagement in community-based flood mitigation efforts.

Evidence & Research Context

The app's design, detailed in an associated research article, is grounded in principles of urban hydrology to mitigate pluvial flooding exacerbated by clogged stormwater inlets.
Its architecture integrates a National Weather Service API to automate just-in-time cleaning alerts based on real-time precipitation thresholds.
The platform functions as a citizen science tool, facilitating the crowd-sourced collection of photographic data on inlet conditions before and after clearance.
A descriptive case study illustrates the system's operational performance, demonstrating successful automated notification dispatch during a monitored storm event.

Intended Use & Scope

Cleanlet is intended for the general public as a citizen science tool to support municipal flood resilience efforts. Its primary utility is to facilitate crowd-sourced, just-in-time maintenance of stormwater infrastructure. The platform is a supplementary tool and does not replace official emergency services or professional municipal maintenance. Professional guidance should be sought for large-scale blockages.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Cleanlet: a smart app for enhancing urban flood resilience through automated stormwater inlet management

Adhikari et al. (2025) · Journal of Hydroinformatics

Describes the research-driven development of this app

Urban pluvial flooding, a growing challenge due to increasingly intense precipitation, occurs when stormwater runoff exceeds drainage system capacities in urban areas. This type of flooding is distinct from fluvial and coastal flooding, which are caused by overflowing rivers and high tides, respectively. Traditional grey infrastructure and modern green infrastructure methods have been implemented to manage urban stormwater, though their efficiency is often hindered by clogged inlets. The Cleanlet app was developed to address this issue by integrating real-time weather data and automation for stormwater inlet cleaning, offering timely notifications when rainfall thresholds are exceeded. Using an application programming interface developed by the National Weather Service that provides real-time rainfall data and Firebase for backend functionality, the app facilitates crowd-sourced just-in-time inlet cleaning. This paper presents the app's architecture, its functionality (including threshold setting and automated notifications), and a case study demonstrates the app's performance during a storm event, illustrating its potential to enhance urban flood mitigation efforts.