5 Technological Innovations For The Next-Gen School Bus

When you picture a school bus, the first image that probably pops up in your mind is that of a big, yellow bus driving around with lots of noisy children in the back. While this idea of the school bus and its riders have not changed, the technology behind it certainly has. With children’s safety becoming an increasing cause for concern (a WHO report states that the mortality rate of children is as high as 19 in a lakh), school buses today use smart management systems that are known to be safer, more efficient and completely transparent.

The Modern School Bus Tracking System

Bangalore-based iTriangle School Transportation is a tracking solution that combines all three technologies — GPS, GPRS and RFID into one. The end-to-end service offers five features that make it one of the most convenient and reliable apps for schools and parents to use.

1. Live Tracking

With live tracking, parents can save their time waiting at the bus stop. There’s also the option of watching the entire travel replay of where the bus has been, so you don’t have to worry about your child’s whereabouts. It’s easily accessible as well, as a mobile application on the parent’s phone and on the school’s native app.

2. Student Badges

Many schools require students to wear ID badges, and for some, the school bus is no different. As soon as kids board the bus, the RFID device integrated into the bus automatically logs their attendance. A text message is then sent to the parent, sharing the location of their child. It also saves teachers a lot of time.

3. Automatic Routing

Figuring out pickups, drops, and routes have always been a time-consuming affair. Not with iTriangle smart algorithm, though. All the management has to do is input the number of students, their addresses and the total number of buses available, and voila! The software recommends the most efficient route to reduce time spent traveling.

4. Reports and Alerts

The system generates quick, customized reports (easily downloadable in PDF or Excel form) about the bus. This includes getting instant notifications if the vehicle is overspeeding, has services due or is braking harshly. School bus operations, therefore, become more proactive in fixing vehicle issues and reducing overall maintenance costs.

5. Security

A panic button is installed within the bus that is accessible to all children at any given point of time. In case of an emergency, the child can press the button, and an instant alert goes out to emergency personnel, the school management as well as the parents. Advances in technology are transforming the traditional school system, and now it’s extending to the school bus. All of these technologies result in keeping students safe, save fuel costs while reducing time, and increase the overall bus efficiency.