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👤 User Guide

🟢 New here? Start with the Setup Guide to get your environment running quickly.

This guide explains how to use the Edmonton Accident & Near Miss Reporting Platform as an end user.

🔑 Getting Started

1. Sign Up / Login

  • Use Google, Apple, Mastodon, or BlueSky to log in.
  • The system automatically assigns you a random alias username (e.g., gentle_happy_otter).
  • You can adjust your profile visibility in Settings.

2. Profile Settings

  • Public → Anyone can see your profile & reports.
  • Members-only → Only logged-in users can see your profile.
  • Private → Only you can see your profile.
  • You can also delete your account at any time.

📝 Submitting Reports

1. Create a Report

  • Click "Submit Report" from the homepage map.
  • Provide details:
  • Type → Accident or Near Miss
  • Category → Pedestrian, Cyclist, or Motor Vehicle
  • Severity → Minor, Moderate, Severe
  • Location → Pin on the map
  • Description → What happened?
  • Photo (optional) → Upload to S3 storage

2. Report Approval

  • If moderation is enabled, your report will enter the Pending Queue until approved.
  • If moderation is disabled, reports appear immediately.

💬 Comments

  • You can comment on any public report.
  • Be respectful — all comments are subject to moderation.
  • Inappropriate comments can be flagged.

🚩 Flagging Content

  • If you see inappropriate or false content:
  • Click "Flag" under a report or comment.
  • Choose a reason (spam, offensive, inaccurate).
  • Moderators will review and take action.

📊 Viewing Analytics

  • As a user, you can see public analytics on the homepage dashboard:
  • Reports over time
  • Categories distribution

  • Approval/rejection ratios

  • Moderators & Admins see advanced analytics (moderation performance, resolution times).

🔒 Safety and Privacy

  • Your real name is never shown.
  • Every user gets a random alias by default.
  • You can choose to stay anonymous when commenting.