New Haven Hackathon

The project "Where's My Bus" aimed at improving traffic conditions, particularly addressing the issue of bus arrival uncertainties faced by commuters in New Haven. Originating from the need identified through direct engagement with bus passengers—who frequently expressed frustration over the unpredictability of bus arrivals—the team developed an innovative solution to enhance the public transportation experience. Recognizing the common pain point of not knowing the real-time location of buses, the project sought to leverage technology for a practical solution.

The essence of "Where's My Bus" lies in its user-centered design, focusing on the application of geolocation technologies to provide real-time bus tracking. The approach was to crowdsource the bus's location through the passengers themselves, utilizing a mobile application that users could consult to ascertain the whereabouts of their bus. The application, designed to become more accurate with each additional user, effectively utilized the concept of crowdsourcing combined with geolocation to offer predictive analytics on bus locations along a route.

Development of a prototype was a collaborative effort, culminating in the creation of an app that integrated with the Google Maps API to visually represent the bus's movement on a map. This prototype demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the concept by showing live updates of a bus's location as it moved along its route, a precursor to now-commonplace real-time tracking technologies in various delivery services.

The project not only showcased the potential of integrating mobile technology with public transportation systems but also highlighted the importance of directly addressing the needs and frustrations of end-users. By developing a solution that was both innovative and grounded in real-world application, "Where's My Bus" successfully addressed a significant issue within the community, potentially setting the stage for further advancements in public transportation efficiency and user satisfaction.