Geo-informatics may not be the most preferred option for engineering aspirants but it definitely has scope to provide solutions to everyday problems.
S. Nivedita, a student of geo-informatics at the College of Engineering, Guindy is out to prove exactly this.
“Maps, combined with technology, can give you valuable information,” she said, as she demonstrated an app that enables a user to find out where buses are on a particular route. It also gives you information about the bus stops nearest to your current location, she added.
The app, which analyses data from GPS devices, has been developed for android platforms and the team is trying to adapt it for other platforms too.
“We studied the GPS devices fitted in all government buses. Most of them are functional but the data doesn’t reach the display boards but goes to some other server,” said Nivedita.
The team members said coding on open source platforms was an interesting and educational experience.
They also said they had developed code to direct the information to a server in CEG, Guindy from where the app would source the data. They have been in touch with Metropolitan Transport Corporation officials and are planning to release the app in a few days.
“We had requested data regarding the schedule of buses from the MTC. As of now, the functioning of the app is based on old data. Once we have the relevant information, we can release the app for use,” said M. Palaniappan, a computer engineering student who is part of the team.
So, will the app also tell users how crowded a bus is? “That is the next level of the app. We are trying to collate the number of tickets issued till the the query for that information,” Nivedita said.
Keywords: Kurukshetra, Anna University, Geo-informatics
Good Effort. With all due respect to these people i would like to say that apps like this is already developed in other countries such as singapore.. They can look into how these app work and create something better than those existing. So it stands out of the crowd.
Awesome job guys .. need more apps,keep it coming.
Good to see such efforts from our guys. This type of applications
having been used successfully in countries like Singapore. You can make
use of such application to get your efforts more accessible. Good Luck
CEG
This is what wanted. I sent an oneline note to the Hindu immediately after I saw your article, as below. Pls convey my Best wishes to Nivedita and team.
" Referring to Vasudha Venugopal's report that a team of Geo-informatics students of College of Engineering, Guindy is developing an app using GPS data for city buses, I have seen all such informations - what Ms S.Nivedita with her team at Guindy is working for - are available at Singapore; the Local buses, its route, the stopage locations and time within which it would reach a particular stopage, presently where the bus is and the diversion of route, if any etc. Best wishes to Nivedita and the entire team."
if only THE HINDU had mentioned the name of the app it would have been good. it is good start by the team and hope and wish them to take up more apps like this.
Yes. Too good. I have scribbled a singleline in appreciation of Nivedita and her team's work, for publication in the Hindu just a while ago.
Referring to Vasudha Venugopal's report that a team of Geo-informatics students of College of Engineering, Guindy is developing an app using GPS data for city buses, I have seen all such informations - what Ms S.Nivedita with her team at Guindy is working for - are available at Singapore; the Local buses, its route, the stopage locations and time within which it would reach a particular stopage, presently where the bus is and the diversion of route, if any etc. Best wishes to Nivedita and the entire team.
I happened to read another news on the same page of The Hindu - "Proposal for unified portal on city commute". Looks like CUMTA and the students can collaborate.
Good idea.....
May your idea come true...
I am new to chennai state and i am facing the issue what you are going
to over come...
Waiting for that app..........
All the best .. this was exactly what i needed .. It would also be good
if Hindu could mention the name of the App so that when it releases in
store we can download it.
May your effort deserves you
Good to see young engineers develop something new and useful instead of buying projects for just marks and job. Keep up the good work. All the best!!!
Good luck to you and your team.
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