Capstone Projects | Information School | University of Washington

AMZL Digital Twin

The Last Mile Design team at Amazon is addressing the challenge of discrepancies between physical warehouse designs and virtual attributes, which hinders productivity and coordination. Our project develops a web-based Digital Twin that integrates and manages these elements in a unified platform. This tool serves as a reliable source-of-truth for all design-related data, ensuring accurate updates and consistency across all team members and stakeholders. By streamlining the management of warehouse designs and attributes, our project significantly enhances operational efficiency and collaboration within Amazon's warehouse operations, directly impacting the effectiveness and satisfaction of the design and operational teams.

Arena Sports: Data Pipeline Modernization

Team Cherry Balls worked alongside Arena Sports to modernize and migrate their data pipeline to a new system. Previously, their data services utilized a less-efficient platform that led to inaccurate reports and laborious report building. The new system utilizes Fivetran, a cloud based data movement service, and connects to Microsoft’s Power BI, allowing for more consistent synchronizations and easier access to data. With our new workflow, we can now provide easier and more accurate dashboards to help various stakeholders of the firm gauge their operational health.

Bike Works | Revamping Bike Works Volunteer Tracking Workflow

Bike Works is a non-profit that offers community-focused bike maintenance services. One service is a bike repair class, which students can pay for via “work-trade” by committing volunteer hours instead of paying money. The current system used to track these hours requires excessive manual entry because it lacks a centralized database platform and automation capabilities. To address this issue, we simplified the record keeping process for “work-trade” tracking using two no-code platforms called Softr and Airtable. This allows Bike Works staff to put more time into services that will benefit their local community.

Cataloging Community Stakeholders

The “Cataloging Community Stakeholders” allows WCLS staff to catalog information on significant relationships with key community stakeholders in Whatcom County. Staff members can input contact information for community stakeholders, as well as basic information about the organizations, areas of expertise, or topics that they represent. The project took the form of an Airtable where information about key community stakeholders is housed and searched based on criteria determined by WCLS staff. This tool supports outreach and relationship building between WCLS and the Whatcom County Community by centralizing information and easing the burden for new and veteran staff collaborating with community partners.

HazingInfo.org

Hazing is any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of consent. Across college campuses, hazing among social organizations is a continuing issue due to obscure or undocumented hazing-prevention resources. HazingInfo.org is a free, comprehensive database of information showcasing a school’s actions to prevent hazing through hazing reports, policies, and legislation. This site centralizes hazing resources by surfacing information that can be buried within school websites. HazingInfo.org is an accessible way for students and families to make informed decisions in enrolling at a school or joining an organization.

iLease: The Easy Way to List and Find House

Subletting is a common solution for University of Washington students struggling to cover high rents during breaks. However, finding suitable tenants often proves difficult. This financial pressure led our team to develop a reliable platform that connects UW leaseholders with potential tenants. Using detailed search filters, users can find properties that fit their needs and communicate directly with leaseholders. Simple listing instructions enable leaseholders to easily add their properties and manage tenant requests. Our platform offers an essential solution to the subleasing challenges faced by UW students and also helps those seeking short-term accommodation in the UW area.

In Their Own Words: Reporting & Organizing Youth Testimonials of Censorship from Books Unbanned

Since the launching of the Books Unbanned initiative in April 2022, Brooklyn Public Library and Seattle Public Library have collected nearly 10,000 testimonials from young cardholders. A sample set of cardholder testimonials were analyzed for key themes of censorship, access, and the overall impact of Books Unbanned. Our studies revealed the multitude of barriers that hinder youth from access to books, shedding light on censorship's profound impact. For future data analysis and tracking the impact of Books Unbanned, we developed a database solution to organize and manage the testimonials, as well as recommendations for uploading and tagging future stories.

Last Mile Innovations: Leveraging Smart Solutions for Efficient Amazon Warehouse Audits

The Site Audit Tool revolutionizes the warehouse audit process for design engineers at Amazon's Last Mile team. Developed by Team Phoenix, this AWS-based web interface addresses the shortcomings of traditional spreadsheet audits by enhancing efficiency, improving the tracking of critical issues, and fostering better collaboration among auditors. As Amazon expands its network of delivery stations, engineers must ensure each site aligns with the 'Digital Twin' before launching. This tool digitizes the process, integrating features like real-time data synchronization, dynamic user interfaces, and robust backend support. It empowers engineers to swiftly identify and resolve discrepancies, ultimately boosting operational accuracy and efficiency.

Modernizing Pierce County's Energy Assistance Program

Recognizing the need for warmth in the winter and the inefficiencies of manual paper processes, our project, sponsored by Pierce County Human Services, aims to streamline energy assistance processing for low-income residents. Through a centralized application portal and database, this user-friendly online platform, accessible via mobile and desktop, prioritizes equity in information access for low-income communities. By minimizing application errors and the need for phone calls or mail, residents gain faster access to energy assistance. We address critical access issues related to affordability and financial support in underserved populations, ensuring compliance and enabling robust data collection for informed decision-making.

Movie Madness Metadata Cleaning Project

I’ve worked with an independent video store, Movie Madness, to clean their database of 90,000+ film titles to ensure consistency, accuracy, and completeness of every record. They acquired a new POS system in 2015 that acts as their film database which made it simple for them to input new film information. However, they had a backlog of film data that was not moved over with a consistent framework in mind. My work to clean this data has made their reports more accurate, created a consistent cataloging schema, and made the online search experience for their customers much smoother and enjoyable.

iSchool Capstone

2024