Efficient, real-time tracking of public transport, using LoRaWAN and RF transceivers

This paper proposes an alternative to the conventional public transport tracking systems which uses GPS. The proposed model uses LoRa wireless transmission to communicate between the bus stops and a base station. The buses are equipped with RF transmitters, which sends out data regarding the bus identity, continuously. RF receivers placed in the bus stop, detects this bus when it is in range, and relays this information to the base station instantly thorugh LoRa communication. The LoRa receiver in the base station collects the transit information from all such bus stops in its range, modifies it as per requirement, and stores all necessary information in a database. The prototype built, only cost one-seventh of the cost required to implement a conventional tracking system, and consumed much less power as well. Such a system has minimal dependence on the number of buses being used. Hence, the system can be scaled at minimal costs.