Inspiration
During our freshman year, we often found ourselves lost on campus. We realised that having photos of buildings would significantly improve navigation and make it easier to locate specific venues. When interacting with new friends through student societies, we discovered that many others faced the same challenge. As engineers, we are trained to solve real-world problems, and this inspired our team to take action. At Monash, we have learnt that engineering exists to address and overcome practical challenges. While tools like Google Maps are available, they are not always up to date. For instance, the Woodside Building was completed in 2020, yet the map still depicted it as a car park, as the last update was in 2017. These are the reasons that inspired us to build this project.
What it does
Our project is essentially an extension of the Monash Study app, incorporating key features such as a login page, a sign-up page, a map page, and a to-do list page. The map page serves as the core functionality of our project. When users click on a venue on the 2D map, a corresponding image of the building will be displayed. This feature not only helps students identify what their destination looks like but also assists non-Monash individuals, such as newcomers and parents, in familiarizing themselves with the campus and the buildings they or their children will be studying in. Due to time constraints—since this project is part of a two-day hackathon—we will initially focus on linking venues to their respective images. However, our long-term vision includes incorporating descriptions, such as the typical units held in each building and what unit is having class inside now. Additionally, the to-do list feature allows students to add important reminders, such as items they need to bring for specific classes. For instance, when tapping on a building, the app could display a list of necessary materials for the corresponding class, it depends what the users add in.
How we built it
The development process began with a team discussion to define our goals and allocate responsibilities effectively. Given the time constraints of the hackathon, we needed a structured workflow to ensure efficiency and productivity. After assessing each member's skills and experience, we divided the team into two main groups: four members focused on frontend development, while two members handled the backend.
The frontend team was responsible for designing and implementing the user interface, ensuring that the application was visually appealing and easy to navigate. They worked on creating key pages, including the login, sign-up, map, and to-do list pages. One of the biggest challenges they faced was optimizing the button placements and making the user experience as intuitive as possible. Since some members had limited experience with frontend frameworks, they had to quickly adapt and learn new techniques to improve the design and functionality. Meanwhile, the backend team worked on building the core functionalities of the application, handling user authentication, database management, and integrating the interactive map feature. As we decided to use Flask for the backend, some team members had to learn it from scratch, along with database integration. One major challenge was ensuring that the backend communicated smoothly with the frontend, requiring constant collaboration between both teams. Additionally, setting up the database structure efficiently was crucial for storing building information, user data, and to-do list entries. Throughout the development process, we faced several technical hurdles, including debugging errors, fixing broken functionalities, and ensuring smooth interaction between different components. Since many of us had limited experience with GitHub’s collaborative workflow, we also had to spend time learning how to properly use version control, manage branches, and merge code without conflicts. Despite these challenges, our teamwork and adaptability allowed us to successfully build the application within the given timeframe. We continuously communicated, shared knowledge, and supported one another in problem-solving. This experience not only strengthened our technical skills but also taught us valuable lessons about collaboration and efficient project management.
Challenges we ran into
We faced numerous challenges while developing this app, primarily due to our limited coding experience as second-year students. Much of our time was spent on trial and error. One major difficulty was deciding which programming language to use, such as JavaScript or Flask. Since our team members had learnt different programming languages, some were unfamiliar with JavaScript, so we decided to use Flask instead. In addition to Flask, we also had to learn how to integrate a database, which further added to our learning curve. Moreover, some team members were not familiar with GitHub’s team workflow, as they had primarily worked on coding projects individually. This required additional time to learn and adapt to a collaborative version control system. Another challenge was sourcing images of the buildings. One team member was responsible for finding suitable images, but since most of them were not available on Google Maps, we had to allocate extra time to obtain them. Additionally, arranging the buttons and optimising the user interface proved to be more time-consuming than anticipated. We dedicated three team members solely to this task to ensure a functional and user-friendly design. Despite these challenges, our team remained committed to overcoming obstacles and enhancing our problem-solving skills throughout the development process.
Accomplishments that we're proud of.
Although this was our first time working as a team, our cooperation was remarkable. Through this experience, we discovered the true power of teamwork, which we recognize as an essential skill for our future careers. Our workflow was highly effective, and all team members demonstrated responsibility and commitment to the project. We successfully built what we initially envisioned, and every team member took pride in our achievement. Seeing the functionalities come to life—from starting with nothing to refining our work through trial and error until it operated smoothly—was a truly rewarding experience. This project reinforced the importance of collaboration, perseverance, and problem-solving, further preparing us for future challenges in both academic and professional settings.
What we learned
Through this project, we gained valuable technical and teamwork experience that enhanced our skills as engineers and problem-solvers. One of the key areas of learning was technical development. We became more familiar with Flask and database integration, as some team members had to learn these technologies from scratch. Additionally, we improved our understanding of version control using GitHub, as many of us had only worked individually before and were unfamiliar with collaborative workflows. Another major challenge was designing a user-friendly interface, particularly arranging buttons and optimising the layout, which required careful planning and iteration. Beyond technical skills, this project also strengthened our problem-solving abilities. Since we lacked prior experience in building such an application, much of our development process involved trial and error. We also had to make critical decisions about the technology stack, such as whether to use JavaScript or Flask, teaching us how to evaluate different tools based on our team's strengths and constraints. Additionally, sourcing images of campus buildings was more difficult than expected, as many were not available on Google Maps, requiring extra effort and creativity to gather the necessary resources. Furthermore, working on this project improved our teamwork and project management skills. As it was our first time collaborating as a team, we had to establish an effective workflow, assign tasks efficiently, and communicate clearly to ensure smooth progress. The two-day hackathon format also reinforced the importance of time management, as we had to prioritise tasks and make quick decisions to complete the project within the deadline. Despite these challenges, we successfully navigated obstacles and strengthened our ability to work under pressure. Overall, this project provided us with hands-on experience in software development, teamwork, and problem-solving. It not only helped us develop technical skills but also taught us valuable lessons in collaboration and adaptability, preparing us for more complex projects in the future.
What's next for Interactive Monash Campus Map Application
This project marks a strong starting point for an innovative and practical navigation tool. The application has great potential for expansion beyond Monash University. Other campuses could adopt this functionality, making it easier for students and visitors to navigate their respective universities. Furthermore, this concept could be extended beyond educational institutions to encompass the entire city of Melbourne, allowing travelers to explore key landmarks, buildings, and attractions before visiting. To further enhance and expand the application, several improvements can be made. Implementing indoor navigation for large buildings, such as libraries and lecture halls, would allow students to locate specific rooms and study areas more efficiently. Integrating augmented reality (AR) could provide an immersive experience, enabling users to scan their surroundings and receive real-time guidance, building details, and directions through their smartphones. Additionally, incorporating live campus updates would ensure that students and visitors are informed about ongoing events, construction works, and temporary venue changes. To improve usability, an AI chatbot assistant could be introduced, allowing users to ask navigation-related questions, receive real-time route suggestions, and access detailed building information. A user-generated content feature could encourage students and staff to contribute by uploading images, sharing insights, and leaving comments about campus buildings, fostering a more interactive and community-driven experience. Furthermore, public transport and accessibility integration would be beneficial, providing connections to nearby bus and train stations, cycling routes, and accessibility-friendly pathways to accommodate all users, including those with mobility challenges. Lastly, incorporating course-specific features would allow students to view information about which courses and units are conducted in each building, along with faculty details, making the app more academically relevant. With these enhancements, the Interactive Monash Campus Map Application has the potential to evolve into a powerful and comprehensive tool, not only for students but also for faculty, visitors, and even travelers exploring Melbourne. This expansion could significantly improve campus navigation and city exploration, making the app a valuable resource for a wider audience.
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