Built, Not Bought: Delivering a Fast, Frugal, and Fully Accessible Virtual Safety Walk Mobile App

In today’s evolving campus environment, students expect fast, mobile-first services. At the University of Houston (UH), we saw an opportunity to meet these needs by leveraging creative technology solutions where we could deliver a safety-focused app with custom features. With limited resources and a growing need for scalable solutions, we partnered with the University of Houston Police Department (UHPD) to build the UHPD app featuring the Virtual Safety Walk. This digital alternative to traditional escorts allows students to request a virtual safety walk directly from their remotely monitored phones, eliminating the wait for an officer to be dispatched, optimizing the use of valuable personnel, and saving time in students' busy schedules. Using UH property lines (geofencing) and real-time location tracking, UHPD can virtually monitor a student’s walk and respond quickly as needed, greatly improving response time and campus coverage. Originally designed to be provided in UH Go, the UH official mobile app, the university pivoted to a standalone app as part of our ecosystem to meet the needs of users and UHPD. Designed with student habits in mind, the app is fast, intuitive, and available 24/7. It empowers users with control and convenience while enhancing campus safety through smarter, tech-driven solutions. Come to this session and learn more.