Ideaz

Students spend an excessive amount of time each day waiting for campus shuttle buses while completely unaware of their arrival times. Typically, this results in dissatisfaction, class absences, and bus stop overcrowding. The way things are right now, the only form of available information pertains to schedules posted on the wall, or updates that are communicated.   

This is where the Smart Campus Shuttle App comes in. Buses will come equipped with GPS tracking devices, while the application will feature live tracking of the buses, as well as estimations regarding bus arrival and available seats. Students will simply open the application and see exactly where the bus is on the route and at what time the bus will be arriving at the stop in question.   

The app will also feature notifications for delays, breakdowns, and route changes. University administrators as well will benefit, as they will be able to see the overall bus usage, and plan the most efficient routes in order to eliminate excessive fuel wasting and unnecessary trips.   

Students as well as faculty and staff are the primary beneficiaries of the new system, as it streamlines the shuttle access. Not only is the amount of time saved from waiting the only benefit, but also the reduction in stress is quite substantial as well. From a higher perspective, it advocates for more efficient, sustainable campus mobility. 

This problem has spurred my interest, due to the fact that I have personally witnessed the challenge of waiting for a shuttle for an unlimited amount of time, particularly during peak hour. I believe this problem can be solved with a relatively straightforward digital solution.