Thanks to a newly developed program called "SmartRide Tracker," users of the BrownMed/Downcity shuttle will no longer have to guess when to wait outside for the next van.
The program, accessible online, uses GPS technology to allow users to determine the location of the shuttles from the comfort of their rooms.
The Tracker was designed by recent Brown alums at East Transit Technologies Inc., a company they founded to specialize in campus transportation software. It is the newest development in a two-year effort to improve the quality and function of the Brown shuttle service, according to Director of Real Estate and Administrative Services Abigail Rider.
Rider, who has been heavily involved in attempts to improve the traffic flow and convenience of travel at the University, initiated the effort two years ago by requesting a shuttle dispatch program for the University.
The concept of a dispatch program was first pitched to the Department of Computer Science as a student project. Under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Computer Science Shriram Krishnamurthi, students worked on the program as part of CS 190: "Software System Design."
After its completion, several students decided to commercialize the idea and form their own company - East Transit Technologies Inc. - to run the software. The final software product is called "SmartRide," of which "Dispatch" is a feature.
Last year, according to the head of East Transit's technology department, Matt Gillooly '04, the Brown transportation department expressed a need for a tracking system to be added to the BrownMed/Downcity shuttles in addition to "SmartRide Dispatch."
Work on the tracking system began in December, at first only allowing for the transportation manager on campus to track the shuttles.
The tracking system became accessible to students online as the "SmartRide Tracker" after its completion in late January.
"Tracker was a really good fit with the new shuttle service," Gillooly said, adding that the system was particularly beneficial to users in the current weather conditions.
Rider, who has prior experience in computer science, was very satisfied with the outcome of the project and recalled that the software and visual interface unite to make a "fabulous" program.
So far this year the online system has worked without failure or complaints, Rider said.
Michelle Kuppersmith '09, who has taken the shuttle both before and after the tracking software was implemented, is pleased with the Tracker. It is "easy to use," Kuppersmith said, adding that she views the BrownMed/Downcity shuttle as one of the "largest untapped resources" on campus.
Sam Reiter '09 also spoke positively of the new program and hopes that other students will "follow in his footsteps" by using the online software to locate the shuttle.
The Tracker will not be used with safeRIDE because the service is too frequent for the software to benefit users, Rider said.
The Brown alums at East Transit plan to continue serving the University as new issues arise and "in many ways still feel like part of the Brown community," Gilloly said.
The Rhode Island School of Design may also consider adding the "Tracker" system to its shuttle service, for which the waiting time between vans is 30 minutes, according to Rider.
Ultimately, controlling traffic is difficult and in some cases out of the University's hands, Rider said. She hopes that "Tracker" will ease traveling for students and staff while serving as one step in an effort to improve overall transportation goals for the community.
