Bus tracker in Canberra?

p1 said :

Frankly, I think we have a better chance of real time bus updates happening if ACTION hire a sky-writer in a Cessna.

p1, you are soooo funny! Sadly, it’s quite likely true!

I’d just settle for a bus with airconditioning.

ACTION buses have been fitted with GPS trackers for several years now since the last radio upgrade. The main reason they aren’t being used for real time tracking is that the TWU refuses to allow it to be recorded because it could be used to measure the performance of their members.

Frankly, I think we have a better chance of real time bus updates happening if ACTION hire a sky-writer in a Cessna.

Lin said :

Ok, I’m going to have to accept that I really am thick (and/or technically challenged), BUT… “Only if it was web-based”?

Don’t they have to store the GPS tracking data onto a server somewhere for users to access it? Or does the data somehow get sent directly to your mobile device from the satelite? Enlighten me, please!

The point is Lin that port 80 which is used for web browsers with the hypertext transport protocol (http) needn’t be the what an app uses to make this work.

It is best done using the internet, but perhaps not the web. If the data is released to an open standard then there’s any number of ways it can be accessed, read, and parsed.

Ok, I’m going to have to accept that I really am thick (and/or technically challenged), BUT… “Only if it was web-based”?

Don’t they have to store the GPS tracking data onto a server somewhere for users to access it? Or does the data somehow get sent directly to your mobile device from the satelite? Enlighten me, please!

Lin said :

True. But my point is still valid. You still need to communicate with a web server to get your data.

Only if it was web-based. If they made their own application, or used an existing protocol for vehicle tracking, mobile devices and so on would be more catered for. Chances are theyll use some bloated flash system, which will be out of date by the time they implement it, and will provide ‘real time information, current to within 2hours’ or something similarly useless, especially if they outsource it to any of the mobs theyve used in the past for their technology.

“There’s a difference between using the web and using the internet Lin!”

True. But my point is still valid. You still need to communicate with a web server to get your data.

Lin said :

I agree that a mobile app could be nicer – if it works properly and is not too limited in functionality. But it still uses the web so if you can access the data through the app, you can access the website aswell.

Most government agencies are hoplessly behind on the whole mobile technology thing. It requires a whole new skill set to design for mobiles, so it could take a while longer…

There’s a difference between using the web and using the internet Lin!

I agree that a mobile app could be nicer – if it works properly and is not too limited in functionality. But it still uses the web so if you can access the data through the app, you can access the website aswell.

Most government agencies are hoplessly behind on the whole mobile technology thing. It requires a whole new skill set to design for mobiles, so it could take a while longer…