My Sandfield Internship: Bringing shipment tracking to life in 3D!

Ever wished you could hold the world in your hands and trace a shipment's journey across continents? Well, that's exactly what I got to do during my internship at Sandfield! I'm Amanda, and I recently wrapped up an amazing internship where I transformed how we visualise freight shipments in a customer visibility portal for Logistics. Forget those boring 2D maps – I brought shipment tracking to life with an interactive 3D globe!

My mission was simple: ditch the static maps and create a more engaging and intuitive way to track shipments. Instead of just seeing dots on a flat screen, users could now spin a 3D globe, zoom in on countries, and get a feel for the journey their shipment was taking. It was all about bringing a new dimension to the user experience.

To make this happen, I dove headfirst into some seriously cool (and unfamiliar) tech, like Three.js and Tween.js. These JavaScript libraries allowed me to create the 3D globe, animate its movements, and add interactive elements that made the whole experience come alive.

I enjoyed a high degree of creative freedom while designing the interface and benefited from regular feedback through check-ins with my team lead. Before designing it, we had to understand the users' needs. We decided to go with a split-screen view, where users could see the 3D globe on one side and a detailed portal with all the shipment information on the other. To make it even more user-friendly, I added a slider that lets people adjust the size of each side so they can customise their view. 

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to make the labels on the globe disappear when they were positioned on the far side, behind the globe. While it sounded straightforward, implementing a reliable solution proved tricky!

I spent hours researching and experimenting with different solutions, including a "raycaster" that could detect when a label was hidden. With some guidance from my amazing team, I finally cracked the code and made the labels behave exactly as they should. Having the freedom to test different solutions was invaluable, allowing me to dive into the problem further and giving me a sense of ownership. Sandfield is big on mentoring but also empowering their teams to solve these complex problems.

My internship at Sandfield wasn't just about learning new technologies and building cool stuff. It was also about developing valuable skills that I can take with me anywhere, especially when it comes to solving real problems through software. They really emphasise understanding the business and problem before coming up with a solution. Working one day a week while juggling university life helped me to become a master of time management. I learned how to prioritise tasks, set clear goals, and communicate effectively with my team.

The whole experience was incredibly empowering. I learned I could take on complex challenges, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to a real-world project. Sandfield’s supportive environment gave me the confidence to experiment, ask questions, and push my boundaries. Everyone was approachable and willing to offer guidance, creating a collaborative atmosphere that encouraged growth and learning.

My internship at Sandfield was awesome. I got to work on an innovative project, learn from experienced professionals, and contribute to something innovative. The flexibility, the support, and the freedom to experiment made it an unforgettable experience.

If you're looking for an internship where you can make a real impact, learn from the best, and grow your skills, then Sandfield is the place to be.