Design and Development of a Mobile App for Public Security and Emergency Alerts in Albania

by Novruz BILLA, Teuta XHINDI

Abstract
Albania currently lacks a centralized mechanism to quickly disseminate emergency alerts and public safety information to its citizens. This paper presents the design and development of a mobile application aimed at managing emergency alerts and strengthening public safety response in Albania. The proposed system leverages real-time push notifications to inform citizens of crises or hazards as they unfold. This study followed a Design Science approach to gather requirements, architect a three-tier system, and implement a prototype using modern web and mobile technologies. The application consists of a React Native mobile client (for both iOS and Android) and a Node.js/Express backend with a MongoDB database. Key features include secure user authentication via JSON Web Tokens (JWT), role-based access control for institutional users, and an initial implementation of intelligent alert classification based on incident urgency. Preliminary testing with end-users and domain experts indicates that the system delivers stable performance, a user-friendly interface, and accurate, timely delivery of alerts. While these early evaluations (including a mean System Usability Scale score of 84/100) are promising, they are not yet conclusive. The study highlights the role of modern information technology in improving institutional emergency response and provides a foundation for further integration of the system into national public safety infrastructure. The results and insights from this project serve as an important step toward a full-scale deployment of a nationwide emergency notification system in Albania.

Keywords: Public safety, Emergency alerts, Mobile application, Push notifications, Design Science Research, Albania.