SAGISU

Smart RFID-based system for automated campus access and meal payments, faster, safer, and available 24/7, improving student life and simplifying management.

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Inspiration

As a former student in a Senegalese university, I personally experienced the long queues to access the university restaurant and campus. I faced the frustration of no meal service on weekends and slow, manual access checks. These challenges inspired me to build a practical, locally-adapted solution to improve students' daily lives.

What it does

SAGISU (Automated System for the Management of University Social Infrastructure) simplifies and digitizes access to the university restaurant and campus. Using RFID student cards and a digital platform, students can buy meal tickets online, pay even on weekends, and access the campus quickly and securely. Administrators can track meals and entries in real time.

How we built it

We combined web development and IoT technologies. The platform was built using Laravel and Angular, while RFID cards and readers were used for physical access and payment. The system connects the hardware (RFID readers) to the web app through a Node.js-based bridge for real-time communication.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was integrating RFID hardware with the web system. We also had to ensure data security and make the user interface intuitive. Budget limitations also made testing the solution in real conditions difficult.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We managed to build a functional system that automates access control to the university campus. We also developed a meal ticket system that works 24/7, improving both convenience for students and control for administrators.

What we learned

We learned how to bridge the gap between hardware and software in real-time systems. We also gained valuable insights into user-centered design and how to solve problems specific to local university contexts.

What's next for SAGISU

We plan to deploy the restaurant management module and conduct a full pilot test in a university. We’re also exploring partnerships with local universities and student organizations to scale the solution.

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