Traffic Category
Inspiration
Everyone needs to get somewhere - school, the library, or a friend's house. Transportation and traffic is becoming an increasingly large issue, especially in the Cupertino area. Ride-sharing is a proven solution to these problems.
What it does
Put your current location and destination, and the app does the rest, coordinating with local people for ridesharing based on your Facebook. Finds the best route for a group carpool and lays it all out for you to easily and conveniently follow. Accessible from mobile phones or on desktop. This positively impacts the Cupertino community by providing a partial solution to the traffic issue. It's especially helpful for teenagers who may not be able to easily find rides, and have many places to go. The positive impact also has to many other possibilities, ranging from community building to the environmental and economic impact from the energy and money saved in reduced driving.
How I built it
I combined the Google Maps API and the Facebook API to find efficient yet similar routes among local people. Additionally, I used to HTML5 Geolocation API to determine local location, regardless of platform, making it work if the user is on a laptop or a phone. Additionally, I used Firebase for storing data and PHP for backend coordination of rides.
Challenges I ran into
Working with multiple APIs and leveraging them effectively was the most difficult. I found the 12-hour time constraint to be the most intense challenge.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
I'm very proud of the backend algorithm I created for coordinating and finding similar rides, which uses an advanced weighing system to find routes. Additionally, the site is responsive, making it usable on any platform - desktop or mobile, regardless of Android or iOS.
What I learned
I learned how to effectively use APIs like the Facebook and Google Maps API, as well as using other platforms like Firebase. I also learned how to efficiently work under high pressure and time constraints, as the time crunch was a major factor I had to deal with.
What's next for RideTino
More platform integration - beyond facebook! Prettier UI, as well as more features and interaction. Additionally, I plan to incorporate more of a social platform on RideTino to coordinate rides.
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