CommUTe Wise: A Smarter Way to Navigate Campus

Project Overview

Navigating public transportation and dealing with unexpected delays can be a major source of stress for university students, especially when trying to make it to class or campus events on time. CommUTe-Wise is an innovative mobile app designed to ease the burden of commuting, leveraging AI technology to provide real-time recommendations and the most efficient routes, ensuring that students can arrive at campus stress-free and on time, every time.

Elevator Pitch

CommUTe-Wise is designed for university students who struggle with unpredictable public transportation or traffic. By using AI technology, the app provides tailored suggestions for the quickest and most reliable routes to campus. No more stressing over delays—CommUTe-Wise takes the guesswork out of commuting.

Target Audience

Demographics:

  • Residence: Lives off-campus, approximately 20–30 minutes from campus.

  • Campus Involvement: Occasionally participates in UT clubs or events or has distant campus classes.

  • Academic & Career Goals: Focused on maintaining a strong academic record and networking for future career opportunities.

  • Time Efficiency: Values minimizing commute time and optimizing daily routines to accommodate a busy schedule.

Motivators:

  • Seeking efficient use of time due to a packed academic and social schedule.

Pain Points:

  • Unreliable Commute: Struggles with public transit delays or unpredictable traffic, resulting in missed or late arrivals for classes and events.

  • Poor Campus Connection: Missing events or arriving late due to poor transportation options leads to a sense of disconnect from campus life.

App Walkthrough - Figma

First Iteration of App Experience:
The previous version of the app faced several challenges, including limited functionality and a lack of personalization for users.

Final App Experience:
CommUTe-Wise now utilizes advanced AI to offer a more tailored experience. The AI takes into account factors like:

  • Preferred mode of transportation (bus, bike, car, etc.)

  • Weather conditions

  • Community input

  • Optimal arrival times at the destination

To make this process more engaging, we’ve introduced a friendly AI mascot that assists users by providing clear, real-time recommendations and updates. The app can even predict the best routes a day in advance by analyzing historical travel data and average times for different modes of transport.

AI Integration

The AI within CommUTe-Wise is designed to:

  • Recommend the most effective travel paths based on real-time and predictive data.

  • Analyze different transportation routes to find the quickest option.

  • Offer advance notifications of potential delays or optimal travel times for the next day.

By leveraging AI in this way, CommUTe-Wise ensures users always take the most efficient route, reducing stress and increasing punctuality.

Reflection

Overall, we believe CommUTe-Wise, when properly built and integrated with efficient AI, will provide a seamless and valuable solution to the challenges students face with commuting. The front screen and map layout are the highlights of our design, offering a clean, user-friendly interface that users will appreciate. However, we acknowledge that certain aspects, such as the settings for time preferences, could be further refined for a smoother experience. Additionally, while the AI concept is solid, we see potential for further optimization in its integration.

We are proud of what we've accomplished and are confident that CommUTe-Wise has the potential to effectively improve the daily commute for university students.