ShuttleTrack

Dates

February 2002 — August 2003

Principal Investigators

Sam Korb and Ilia Mirkin
Krishnan Sriram and Salil Soman (Original PIs)

Problem

MIT students often work late at night and rely on SafeRide vans to get back to their dorm or residence. However, the vans, which run from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., are subject to local weather and traffic conditions and do not always arrive at their stops at the scheduled time.

Goal

To use Global Positioning Satellite technology to track MIT SafeRide vans online for access to accurate arrival times.

Overview

The Shuttle Track project has implemented a Web-based tracking system to enable the Institute's community to better use MIT's on-and-off campus shuttle system, both for commuting around campus during the day and for reaching residential areas during evening, providing a greater sense of safety. The system uses GPS-GIS based technology, and is accessible with wireless handheld devices.

The team developed a GPS-based system that operates through networked computers, wireless computers, and existing radios in the SafeRide vans. It allows students to see, in real-time on a Web-based map, exactly where the shuttle buses are and when they will arrive at their next stop. With that kind of up-to-date information, students will be able to eke out a few more minutes of studying and still make it home safely.

The GPS position information is transmitted over radio to a network server, where the data is processed and displayed on the ShuttleTrack web site using GIS software. This web site is accessible to all members of the MIT community. Additionally, the GPS data collected at the server is used with forecasting algorithms to estimate the arrival times of the vans at various stops along the route. The team explored different methods to display the information to users (schematic route maps, telephone interfaces, public LED displays, etc.) and solicited feedback from users to design an efficient site and useful services.

Project Output

Publications

"Academia gets creative with Web services," CNET News.com, 10/27/03. View

SafeRide Tracking Project Nears end of Beta Testing - The Tech, April 25, 2003
"The Shuttletrack project, which provides real-time tracking of the locations of SafeRide and Tech Shuttle on the Internet, is nearing the end of its beta testing..."

SafeRide Replaces Vans, Online Tracking Expected - The Tech, November 3, 2002
"SafeRide, MIT's nighttime transportation service, has replaced some of its vans with buses on busier routes and may soon implement the new Web Global Positioning Satellite iCampus project..."

More cost-effective GPS tracking system being developed by MIT students - digitalMass at Boston.com, May 2002
"Waiting in the cold at the bus stop for what seems an eternity is not the way most people envision their dream commute. Traffic and unreliable drivers can make schedules unreliable and can subject riders to packed buses and inevitable tardiness. ..."

Presentations

18th Annual Conference of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, Washington DC, November 7, 2003. "Shuttletrack—A technologically-enabled, collaborative student project," Krishnan Sriram and Salil Soman.

Awards

2003 National Program Award presented by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, Washington DC, November 7, 2003.

Links

ShuttleTrack