Smart Train Tracker

Abstract

Sri Lanka Railway (SLR) is considered as one of the most popular transportation modes in Sri Lanka for many decades. Currently, due to impracticable static train timetable, daily train scheduling problems, inability to capture the real-time location of trains and alert passengers on real-time updates of train arrivals, the inevitable issue which is faced by the train commuters is the delaying rails frequently. This dissertation presents a solution, Smart Train Tracker is a Real-time Location based Crowdsourcing Train Tracking Android Application to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public train transportation. The proposed application is developed by combining Global Positioning System (GPS), mobile computing and crowdsourcing technologies to gain information from the passengers and provide visual positioning using Google map in real-time. Additionally, it predicts Estimated Time to Arrival (ETA) of a train to any given railway station for better user experience and for better admin management. User registration by firebase phone authentication with OTP, detection and displaying nearest train stations available within 2km radius of user’s current location, searching train schedule by giving start and destination stations, detection of moving train location by passengers’ mobile phones, map plotting with real-time train location, calculating Estimated Time to Arrival of a particular train, displaying distance closure notification within 1.5km to destination and user feedback emails to app developer are some services that are provided by the mobile application. Furthermore, as the specific hardware implementation is not in this application, the zero capital investment cost can be considered as a key benefit of the application. Ultimately, the availability and efficiency of the railway services would be improved by using the Smart Train Tracker.