theBus: Bus Monitoring Application

A Capstone Project

Presented to the Faculty of the College of Computer Studies, University of Cebu — Banilad — 2016

ABSTRACT

Transport has long been a problem in our society. It is mostly due to traffic. Bus industries barely catch their schedule and leave passengers to wait in a long line without knowing when the bus is coming. Traveling via bus also imposes a problem to tourists who absolutely no idea where or how to travel around the island. This study focuses on approaching these problems by imposing a solution. TheBus Application, an android mobile application that helps track and lessen waiting time by giving estimations to the possible time of arrival. By using the iterative method as our research methodology, the researchers are able to use the different technologies present on android phones to answer the statement of the problem. This includes Google map, GPS, and SMS Gateway Service. Using the Google Map services, theBus app is able to locate buses in the area and the smartphone user’s location. This is then turned into data which enables the application to know the distance between a bus and a passenger. Google map is used to determine the estimate of the time of travel before it reaches a certain destination or the whereabouts of the users. Using GPS technology to track buses as well as the users. SMS Gateway service allows notification to be available through text for users. This allows the users who are travelling to save battery which is essential especially if it’s going to be a long ride. Since text messages does not rely on data or internet, notifications will reach the passengers easily. The convergence of these technologies on the application allowed theBus App to give power to the users to conveniently use their time not waiting for the bus to arrive. It also eliminates the chances of hold-up in the streets and gives a better passenger security when waiting for buses at night. theBus App also gives a better view to users of how they can commute to a certain place. theBus App is a great travelling application to the back packer as well to those everyday bus riders.

INTRODUCTION

Technology has improved our way of living in terms of communication, transportation, health, education, agriculture, politics, and in so many areas. Technology associated in the transportation sector had greatly improved relation of commuters and Transportation Companies.

Transportation sector such as airlines uses technology innovations like Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). ITS is an embedding sensors and microchips into elements contained within the transportation system such as traffic lights, roads, message signs, vehicles, etc. This enables communication among each element through the means of wireless systems. Intelligent Transport System allows major improvements in transportation system performance, including increased traveler convenience, safety, and decreased traffic congestion (Ezell, 2010).

There are other modes of transportations aside from air transportation. These are road transportation, water transportation, and space transportation (K. Ramey, 2015). These modes of transportations are important that is why there are many innovations for these to improve our way of living. Road transportation is the focus of this study.

Rationale of the Study

Bus is one of the primary modes of road transportations in the Philippines. Many commuters preferred to ride bus because of its affordability and practicality. Bus is highly available during ordinary days and off-peak hours. Problems arise during peak hours and holidays; hence, the bus demand is quite high. During this time, there is no enough transportation available, which results in overcrowded vehicles and discomfort for passengers.

In the Philippines, bus has regular schedule in leaving the terminal. However, a little delay of schedule happens sometimes. This causes people to wait which turnout delay and frustrations to passengers. The same problem can also affect people waiting for the bus on the road. These people are not even sure if there is a bus available or what bus to ride to get to their destination.

Common scenario the researchers observed in bus terminals here in Cebu City during peak hours is the long lines of passengers waiting to board the bus. These passengers spend a great deal of time waiting for their turn to ride the bus. Commuters are not even sure how long they have to spend waiting for the bus. Aside from the time, the safety and security is another concern the commuters considered. Because of the lack of transportation system in the Philippines, bus schedule is inaccurate as ever and the frustrating experience is repeated every day.

Booking and reservation is common in water and air transportations. This gives several advantages in the part of the passengers like convenience, security, and less stressful. Since passengers are riding buses regularly, thus, the same is applicable to road transportation. Monitoring of the bus is very much necessary in order for the commuters to get updates of the location of the bus.

The researchers are mindful of the different problems that exist in bus transportation terminals. Thus, a solution to monitor the bus is the concentration of the researchers. With the help of bus monitoring application, commuters can get update of the location of the bus and the time the bus would arrive at the specific location.

Objective of the Study

This study aimed to develop a mobile-based application for monitoring bus location. In order to achieve this goal, the following objectives were:

1. to gather data of the bus operators;

2. to define mechanism in tracking the bus location; and

3. to determine the notification scheme.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The proposed study design is define on the following scope and limitations. The proposed application runs in Android with the minimum operating system of Android 4.1 commonly known as Jellybeans and maximum of the latest Android operating system, Android Lollipop. A notification feature used SMS Server to receive and send data to management as well as passengers. The study also focused on utilizing smartphone service such as geographical positioning system. Smartphones used with pre-built Geographical Positioning Systemrunning in them. The study also utilizes the availability of data connection over mobile.

Since the period of the completion of this study is very limited the proposed application is set for Cebu province only. The study will consider one terminal, which is the south bus terminal because of the time constraint.

Flow of the Study

This section consists of input, process and output segments. The inputs are the data gathered from the bus operators, mechanism in tracking the bus location, and the notification scheme. The process will be implemented through the use of Iterative Development Model. It is composed of five phases namely, Initial Planning, Planning Requirements, Analysis and Design, Implementation and Evaluation. An application to monitor the bus location and the time it reaches certain place of its route is the output of this study entitled as “theBus: Bus Monitoring Application”.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter covers the methodologies and techniques used in the study that will help to strengthen the proposed system. It also shows the different diagrams that will set as the basis for the success of the proposed system. This chapter also deals with studies done by the researchers in analyzing the development and its feasibility. The specification needed in accomplishing “theBus Application” is also included for it to work as what the researchers planned.

Software Engineering Methodology

The study used the Iterative Development as the Project Methodology for the design, development and documentation of “theBus Application”. The researchers decided to use this methodology because Iterative Development breaks the overall project into a series of versions that developed sequentially. All of the important requirements will be bundled into the first version of the system. This version is developed quickly just like a mini-waterfall process, and once implemented the users can provide valuable feedback to be incorporated into the next version of the system.