Bus Shuttle Management System

Bus Shuttle Management System

Inspiration

The inspiration for the Bus Shuttle Management System stemmed from students' struggles with the current, inefficient way school buses are organized. Currently, links are shared with students via WhatsApp to locate buses, which often leads to confusion and missed buses. Based on real experiences, students usually find it stressful and challenging to access the shuttle buses reliably. This system aims to address these concerns and offer a more streamlined solution.

What it does

Our Bus Shuttle Management System simplifies school bus logistics. It allows students to track bus locations in real-time, receive notifications when buses are nearby, access important details such as bus stops, routes, and pick-up/drop-off times, and arrive at school on time. With this system, students can avoid missing buses or arriving at bus stops too early, ensuring a more convenient and stress-free commute.

How we built it

We’ve developed a prototype mobile application for the Bus Shuttle Management System. Users can log in using their school email and select whether they travel from home to campus or vice versa. The app integrates Google Maps to show real-time bus locations, trace routes, and notify users when the bus is near their location. Additionally, students can chat with or call the driver from the app to confirm the bus’s arrival. The app also lists various bus stops, so that students can choose the most convenient one.

Challenges we ran into

While developing the prototype, we faced challenges with mapping out street numbers, as some routes in Rwanda don’t have clearly defined street numbers. Another challenge was customizing the system based on student requirements. Gathering this input took more time than anticipated, which was difficult given the time constraints.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of creating the prototype of the Bus Shuttle Management System, especially after many iterations and challenges. Our team dedicated significant time and effort to ensure the prototype meets student needs. Despite limited time, we conducted thorough research, gathered insights from students, and successfully created our first version of the prototype.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we learned to maximize every opportunity at Carnegie Mellon University to make a positive impact on our community. We identified key issues faced by students, both at CMU-Africa and other universities, and chose to solve the bus shuttle issues. We also enhanced our teamwork and communication skills, which were crucial for building this prototype.

What's next for Bus Shuttle Management System

We are currently working on the full implementation of the Bus Shuttle Management System, focusing on the programming and coding aspects. The next version of the app will not be limited to school buses but will extend to public transportation across Rwanda, making it a more comprehensive solution for students and the public alike.