RapidSOS: Train Derailment Solution
Delivering critical hazmat information during large-scale emergencies 🚂
Detailed workflows and solutions for this project are hidden under NDA.
Train derailments, particularly those involving hazardous materials, pose significant risks to communities and first responders. Annually, an average of 1,300 incidents occur, accounting for 61% of all train accidents. A critical challenge in these situations is the slow, disjointed transfer of vital hazmat and cargo data to emergency services. This delay can have catastrophic consequences, as highlighted by the East Palestine derailment where it took nearly 72 hours for responders to fully receive hazmat information.
As the lead product designer for this strategic partnership between RapidSOS and Norfolk Southern, I spearheaded the end-to-end design of a safety platform to rapidly digitize and deliver this critical information. My design efforts focused on streamlining workflows for 911 telecommunicators, train dispatchers, and first responders, aiming to drastically reduce information transfer time, enhance responder safety, and improve incident outcomes.
Impact & Outcomes
This feature transformed a manual, days-long data relay (e.g., 72 hours for East Palestine) into an instant, digital process. This significantly:
- Reduced Information Latency: Critical hazmat data delivered in minutes, not hours.
- Enhanced First Responder Safety: Provided immediate, accurate intelligence for safer incident approach.
- Improved Operational Efficiency: Streamlined workflows for dispatchers and emergency services.
- Strengthened Inter-agency Coordination: Enabled seamless data sharing for coordinated responses.
