Jesse Verbeek developed the app Droog Over to predict whether cyclists will arrive at their destination without getting soaked. The idea came after his girlfriend returned home completely drenched from her commute.
Verbeek built the initial version over a single weekend using open source data from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute. The national weather service data updates every five minutes to map rainfall patterns across the country.
Tracking weather along the route
Existing weather services tend to show rain conditions for a single fixed location. Verbeek pointed out that cycling for half an hour moves someone several kilometres, meaning local downpours can form or clear while in transit.
The service is designed for longer bike rides or walks of roughly twenty to 25 minutes rather than quick local trips. Users can see whether they will cross paths with rain moving through their specific travel corridor.
Suggestions from his girlfriend have helped shape features, such as morning push alerts for expected commutes. The system can recommend leaving fifteen minutes earlier or later to miss a downpour entirely.
Growing user base for side project
Verbeek works as a software developer at a startup and manages Droog Over as a hobby outside his regular hours. The tool is still being improved as more people begin using it.
About 8,500 people now use the service to plan their journeys around the Dutch autumn weather.
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