Development of a GPS Location Detection and Monitoring System for NU-APC Shuttle Service Using Android Application and Web Server
ABSTRACT: Shuttle service serves as a highly convenient mode of transportation for private institutions and companies seeking to travel between two locations. NU-Asia Pacific College offers a school shuttle service that accommodates students, parents, visitors, faculty, and staff who rely on public transportation from Lapu-Lapu St. to the main building of NU-Asia Pacific College. Currently, there is no existing monitoring system in place for the college’s shuttle service. Consequently, several potential scenarios could arise, including unexpected incidents like hijacking or kidnapping, route changes due to refueling, unauthorized usage of the service, and insufficient capacity. To address these issues, a system has been developed that utilizes Google Maps to accurately track the shuttle’s current location, capacity, and status. Additionally, the system automatically records each trip and generates historical analytics. The study’s results demonstrate an impressive accuracy rate of 99.99989% in terms of GPS coordinates, thus confirming the system’s reliability for real-time monitoring of shuttle activity at NU-Asia Pacific College and highlighting the significance of this technological advancement. Keywords: track monitoring system, transportation, web services, database, Google maps Development of a GPS Location Detection and Monitoring System for NU-APC Shuttle Service Using Android Application and Web Server Engr. Luigi Carlo De Jesus Engr. Leonardo M. Samaniego Jr. Engr. Stanley Glenn E. Brucal Engr. Einstein D. Yong Engr. Juan Miguel H. Villarroel Engr. Sergio R. Peruda Jr. Engr. Paulo Cosio Abstract Shuttle service serves as a highly convenient mode of transportation for private institutions and companies seeking to travel between two locations. NU-Asia Pacific College offers a school shuttle service that accommodates students, parents, visitors, faculty, and staff who rely on public transportation from Lapu-Lapu St. to the main building of NU-Asia Pacific College. Currently, there is no existing monitoring system in place for the college’s shuttle service. Consequently, several potential scenarios could arise, including unexpected incidents like hijacking or kidnapping, route changes due to refueling, unauthorized usage of the service, and insufficient capacity. To address these issues, a system has been developed that utilizes Google Maps to accurately track the shuttle’s current location, capacity, and status. Additionally, the system automatically records each trip and generates historical analytics. The study’s results demonstrate an impressive accuracy rate of 99.99989% in terms of GPS coordinates, thus confirming the system’s reliability for real-time monitoring of shuttle activity at NU-Asia Pacific College and highlighting the significance of this technological advancement. Keywords: track monitoring system, transportation, web services, database, Google maps Introduction Transportation is an essential aspect of contemporary society (Cascetta, 2015). In the Philippines, commonly utilized forms of public land transportation include tricycle, jeepneys, buses, and taxis (Thanatorn Chuenyindee, 2022). When people travel, it is crucial for them to stay informed about their current location, ensuring they are on the right track and aware of the distance remaining to reach their destination safely. Modern technologies, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), play a significant role in providing secure transportation services like Grab, Uber, and Angkas. Shuttle service proves to be an extremely convenient means of transportation between two locations (Collins Dictionary, n.d.), especially when one of the destinations is not easily accessible via public transportation. These shuttle services are reliable in terms of reaching their designated destinations within specific time frames. Statement of the Problem Undoubtedly, a glaring concern looms over the shuttle service operations at NU-Asia Pacific College – a concern that demands immediate attention and rectification. Astonishingly, the current scenario paints a disconcerting picture: a complete absence of any form of monitoring system for the shuttle service. This unsettling void in oversight gives rise to a series of potentially dire situations, each more alarming than the last. First and foremost, the specter of unexpected incidents, such as hijacking or kidnapping, hangs ominously over the entire operation. The absence of a monitoring mechanism magnifies the vulnerability, leaving both passengers and authorities in a state of helpless uncertainty. Adding to this unnerving landscape, the potential for abrupt route changes due to the mundane necessity of gas refilling emerges yet another lurking danger. Without a robust system in place, even the most routine operational alterations can lead to confusion, inconvenience, or worse. Compounding these concerns is the disquieting specter of unauthorized individuals exploiting the system for their own purposes. The lack of a vigilant eye allows for clandestine and unauthorized usage of the shuttle service, a perilous breach of security and propriety. Lastly, the dismaying realization of insufficient shuttle service capacity looms large, exacerbated by the absence of a mechanism to gauge and manage demand. Passengers left stranded due to capacity issues may find themselves questioning the very reliability of the service they depend upon. In the absence of a monitoring system, this multifaceted predicament deepens, highlighting a stark and urgent need for comprehensive oversight and rectification. The call for action resounds louder than ever, underscoring the pressing need to establish a robust and vigilant monitoring system without delay. To address these concerns, the researchers propose the implementation of a GPS tracking system utilizing an Android application through a web server. Separate Android applications will be developed for drivers and users, while administrators and users will have web access. Administrators will be able to monitor the current location of shuttle drivers and the number of trips made throughout the day via a web browser and the web server. Additionally, administrators will have access to historical data regarding the shuttle’s capacity status. This data will aid in decision-making regarding the deployment of additional shuttles, based on the average daily trips for the corresponding day of the week over a four-week period (e.g., if today is Monday, the historical data will be from the last four Mondays). Drivers will have access to the application to monitor their current number of trips and the shuttle’s location. Students, faculty, and staff users can view the shuttle’s current location by connecting to the Wi-Fi or using mobile data, either through the Android application or by accessing a public link within the APC main campus. The application will notify administrators if a