> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.visita.co.za/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reporting Issues (Signals)

> How to report civic problems in your ward

# Reporting Issues

See something broken in your neighborhood? Report it as a **Signal** and watch your community fix it.

## What Can You Report?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Roads & Transport" icon="road">
    Potholes, damaged signs, broken traffic lights
  </Card>

  <Card title="Water & Sanitation" icon="droplet">
    Burst pipes, blocked drains, sewage issues
  </Card>

  <Card title="Electricity" icon="bolt">
    Outages, damaged cables, streetlight faults
  </Card>

  <Card title="Safety Concerns" icon="shield">
    Illegal dumping, vandalism, unsafe areas
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How to Report

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Your Ward">
    Navigate to your ward page at `visita.co.za/ward/[your-ward-code]`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Report Issue'">
    Find the report button on the Community tab
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe the Problem">
    * Select issue category
    * Add a clear title
    * Describe what you see
    * Drop a pin on the map
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Photo (Recommended)">
    A photo helps the AI analyze the issue and speeds up resolution
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit">
    Your report is visible to neighbors and local officials
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Understanding Signal Priority (The Heat System)

To ensure important issues get fixed first, Visita uses a **Heat Index** to rank signals.

### 1. The Heat Score

Every signal has a "Heat Score" calculated from:

* **Severity**: Critical issues get an automatic boost.
* **Community Interest**: Every upvote adds heat.

> **Formula:** `Upvotes + (Severity Multiplier)`

### 2. Visual Indicators

Look at the colored border on the left of each card:

* <span className="text-red-500 font-bold">Red (Critical)</span>: Score > 50 (Urgent attention needed)
* <span className="text-orange-500 font-bold">Orange (High)</span>: Score > 20 (Gaining traction)
* <span className="text-emerald-500 font-bold">Green (Normal)</span>: New or low-severity reports

### 3. Smart Sorting

The feed automatically sorts signals so you see what matters:

1. **Critical Issues** (Always on top)
2. **High Heat** (Most discussed/upvoted)
3. **Newest** (Just reported)

## Interacting with Signals

You don't need to open every report to make a difference. Use **Quick Actions** directly on the card:

* **Upvote**: Tap the thumbs-up to validate an issue. The count updates instantly.
* **Discuss**: Tap the message icon to join the specific chat room for that issue.

## Managing Your Reports

You have full control over the issues you report, but with some rules to preserve community trust.

### Edit Report

* **When:** A report is still "Fresh" (Draft/Reported status).
* **What:** Fix typos, update location, or clarify description.
* **Restriction:** Cannot edit once the issue has been **Acknowledged** or has received **Upvotes** (to prevent changing the context of neighbor support).

### Delete Report

* **When:** The report has **no activity** yet (0 Upvotes, 0 Comments).
* **Why:** You made a mistake or reported a duplicate.
* **Restriction:** If neighbors have already engaged, you cannot delete it. Use **Withdraw** instead.

### Withdraw Report

* **When:** Anytime.
* **Why:** The issue is no longer relevant, or you wish to stop receiving updates.
* **Effect:** The report is marked as "Withdrawn" and archived. It remains visible in the Ledger for transparency but stops gathering support.

## What Happens Next?

1. **AI Analysis** — Our system analyzes your report and estimates cost/responsibility.
2. **Community Support** — Neighbors "Upvote" to show interest. This increases the report's **Heat**.
3. **Resolution Path** — Based on heat, the system creates a poll or escalates to the municipality.
4. **Fix Logged** — When a fix is reported, its status changes to **Resolved**.
5. **Neighbor Verification** — Neighbors confirm if the fix is real. 3 verifications close it; 3 disputes reopen it.

## Civic Trust & Reputation

Visita is built on **Institutional Memory** and **Trust**. Actions in the signal system earn you **Trust Points**:

* **Report a Problem**: +5 Points (when validated)
* **Verify a Neighbor's Fix**: +2 Points
* **Reach Community Consensus**: +10 Points (for the reporter)

High Trust Scores unlock "Trusted Citizen" badges and increase the weight of your observations.

## Preventing Duplicates

Before submitting a report, our system checks for similar issues already reported nearby. If a match is found:

* Tap **"Me Too"** to join the existing report.
* This increases the "Heat" of the existing issue instead of creating clutter.

## Tips for Good Reports

<Tip>
  **Be specific:** "Pothole on Main St near house #42" is better than "Road is bad"
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Include location:** Use the map pin to mark the exact spot
</Tip>

<Tip>
  **Add photos:** A clear photo helps everyone understand the issue
</Tip>