Bus tracking feature coming soon for Android
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Grand Valley State University is updating its mobile application to include a tracker for The Rapid buses for the Android. The update took effect for iPhones users last year, allowing some students to follow The Rapid along its routes.
Jonathan Engelsma, associate professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems, worked with students to create the bus-tracking feature for the app. Engelsma said the app has been around for several years, but the university just added the newest feature last year for the iPhone.
“We haven’t done anything promotional, just put the feature in there,” he said. “It’s become the most popular feature of the app. Especially in the cold weather, people want to know when the next bus is coming.”
He said the university hopes to add the feature to the Android app in the near future, and it is working to adapt it to the different programming and software that Android uses.
Engelsma said he worked with The Rapid to develop the feature, and the bus company controls the data and technical work that updates where the buses are.
“All the buses have trackers on them and periodically send updates,” he added.
Jennifer Kalczuk from The Rapid said the company didn’t have to do anything extra to make the feature work: it just allowed GVSU to use the data.
“The buses already had the tracking device on them, so we just made the data available,” Kalczuk said.
Since the bus tracking feature on the app just tracks the GVSU routes, the feature isn’t very useful to most people outside of GVSU. Kalczuk said The Rapid has a mobile website that people can use to track the buses in real time, but it’s not packaged into an app.
Delord McMath, a Rapid bus driver on the GVSU routes, said he likes that the buses are tracked because it creates accountability.
“Your employer needs to know where you are because if something happens they can identify the location,” McMath said.
For each route, he said he has time points that he is expected to meet. He has a list of stops that are at certain time points, such as Kirkhof and Walker Fire Station, and is expected to be at each at a particular time to stay on track.
“(The time points) are what keeps us on time,” he said. “That’s how dispatchers know where we are, so it’s like a GPS system.”
Students with Android phones can be looking out for the bus-tracking app in the near future as Engelsma and those developing the app work to adapt it to the programming Android uses.
shillenbrand@lanthorn.com
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013
Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon
GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.
GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.
GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.
Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement
Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.
Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season
Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.
GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.
GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.
GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library
Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.
GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom
GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.
Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.
Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.
GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.
GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.
GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.
GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.
GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.
GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.
GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.
GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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