Live tracking for the BürgerBus is getting closer

Today, our new GPS tracker has arrived: a Teltonika FMC920. With this, we have taken another important step towards a modern and as automated as possible Citizen Bus system for Dettingen an der Erms.

Now, all that is missing is the already ordered IoT SIM card – then the first live tests can begin. The goal is to be able to track the future Citizen Bus in real time and thereby later also display arrival times, vehicle positions, and pickup times live on the homepage as well as in the planned web app.

In doing so, we are deliberately relying on our own technical solution: Instead of using cloud services or external tracking platforms, we connect the tracker directly via HTTPS to our own API. This allows us to retain full control over the data and avoid additional data protection and GDPR issues caused by third parties or external cloud infrastructures.

Although this solution generates a bit more data traffic, the ordered IoT SIM card already includes 1 GB of data transfer for 10 years. Based on current calculations – with location updates every 30 seconds or every 100 meters – we estimate a data consumption of only about 35 MB per year for the planned operating times of the Citizen Bus. This should be sufficient for many years. And if necessary, additional data transfer can be purchased at any time later.

In the coming days, the focus will be on technically expanding the platform with live tracking features and conducting the first practical tests. This brings us a good step closer to our goal: A largely automated, modern, and digitally supported Citizen Bus for Dettingen an der Erms.

What is still missing? Above all, committed volunteer drivers, some legal frameworks – and of course the first Citizen Bus itself. Ideally, fully electric.

We are staying on it. And hopefully, you will continue to accompany us on this path.