Desenvolvimento de sistema integrado composto por aplicação móvel e plataforma web para a localização e gestão do transporte escolar em Maputo

Abstract

School transportation is one of the safest means for student mobility. In Maputo, many educational institutions rely on this service. However, it faces various challenges that compromise its efficiency and safety. This study proposes computational solutions to improve the school transportation model. To this end, a system was designed consisting of a mobile application for locating school vans and a web platform intended for service management by schools. The system includes entities such as drivers, guardians/students and school administration. The model generated by the Random Forests technique using historical data for travel time prediction, as well as another resulting from the application of the Google OR-Tools method for route optimization of school vans, were integrated with the aim of reducing operational costs and improving service efficiency. The research has a qualitative nature, in which data collection was carried out through document analysis and also through semi-structured interviews, which made it possible to understand the current school transportation management model. Direct observation was also conducted, providing a richer and more contextualized perception of the study environment. In the technical implementation of the web platform and the mobile application, React Native was used due to its flexibility and suitability for cross-platform development. The research showed that the current school transportation model presents inefficiencies that compromise the safety, reliability, and quality of the service. These problems directly impact the routine and well-being of students, in addition to generating constant concerns for parents and guardians. The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed model can contribute to more efficient and transparent school transportation management, enabling real-time vehicle tracking, reducing delays, and improving communication between the school and parents or guardians. The integration of Artificial Intelligence algorithms proved effective in predicting travel time and optimizing routes, highlighting the potential of technological solutions in the modernization and safety of school transportation in Maputo.