A Story Behind Mobile App AutoCop

Posted on 14 Apr 2014 12:22 in Shimbi Insights

Learn about interesting thought process behind the development of android app AutoCop.

Looking for an Auto Rickshaw? Get ready, it is likely that you are going to face either of these situations, Refuses to go to destination or charges you excess money. When things get out of hand we get to read these types of news

 

Commuters face trouble, auto rickshaws refuse to go to Mumbai

 

Autowallas' incorrigible ways continue in Pune

 

Listen to what they say:

 

Passenger
"There is no way that the situation is going to change unless the traffic police department take strict measures. An auto rickshaw wala (Auto-rickshaw operator) going to charge excess or refuse to go.”

 

Auto Rickshaw Wala
“For some destinations, I found it difficult to get passengers. On many occasions, I had to return without any passenger."

 

Police
“We are taking action against the errant drivers. But unless there is an active public participation the issue will remain the same”

 

Now who is to be blamed?
We think there is an element of truth in each side, and every point of view need to be answered after comprehensive study. Moreover, such study is only possible, if we have structured data, if not for all but the majority of such incidents.

 

Solution
Once we have uniformly structured data from small Towns to Major Cities, Metropolitan Areas of India. Based on such structured data, It is possible to learn trends, generate heat maps.

 

For example from above two news, it is clear that in Pune at Magarpatta City many Auto Rickshaw Drivers are charging extra. In Navi Mumbai Auto, Rickshaw Drivers are refusing to go to Mumbai. Why because they have their own reasons, sometimes they are valid reason but not always. To take proper action and to find a sustainable solution needs large data, which can through insight and tell us many trends and facts.

 

Examples (These are just indicative figures)

 

Example 1

 

In Pune we collected data:

 

Start Point: Laxmi Road, Day : Wednesday, Time: 7 pm
Destination: Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar

 

 

Data was collected from 15 March to 18th March 2014

 

Above data clearly shows that it seems most of the time Auto Rickshaw on Lakshmi Road are reluctant to go to Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar or they over charge the passenger.

 

So find the solution to it, all stakeholders must find out real cause and proper solution to it.

 

Example 2

 

Start Point: Bangalore Railway Station, Day : All Days, Time: 9 pm
Destination: Any destination beyond 10 Km.

 

 

Data was collected from 10 February to 20th February 2014

 

Above data is indicating that most of the time Auto Rickshaw at Railways Station are overcharging passengers. Great number of such Passengers may be a tourist or temporary visitor.

 

In both examples reasons can be many but such systematic data (Geo tagged and time stamped) is very useful to start an investigation.

 

Any further decision based on such solid data will be of more effective.

 

Example 3

 

Here is another example of Profiling Auto Rickshaw Number.

 

 

These data will easily alert authorities to keep a regular check on these Auto Rickshaw Numbers. More details on what offends they are doing also can be obtained from data, including Geo location and Time.

 

Mobile App.
We at ShimBi Labs thought of addressing this problem. First step was to create one simple to use Mobile App. to capture user experiences and save them in uniform and structured format.

 

Then make it available to related Authorities, Auto Rickshaw Unions, NGOs, Data Scientist and Policy Makers. So that it can help making proper decisions and policies.

 

However, before we create this app. we were very clear on certain points.

1. This app is not for complaining
2. This app is not for abusing anyone.
3. This app is to share your experience of auto rickshaw ride.
4. This app will gather user experience and help setting trends and heat maps.

 

So what should this App do?

1. Provide an easy way to capture the required data.
2. Data such as Auto Rickshaw number, time and location of the incident.
3. and exactly what happened such as Fare denied, Charge Extra, Meter Tempered and everything was fine.
4. Some other utility such as virtual meter, route map etc.

 

AutoCop
AutoCop is social awareness app that allows users to share their experiences of Auto Rickshaw ride with others. It helps a rider to channelize his frustration or good experience of Auto Rickshaw ride and share it on various platforms of social media. We aim to facilitate people in India (including Auto Rickshaw drivers) to be more aware of the benefit achieved by accumulating the day-to-day service quality, either good or bad.

 

Through social awareness, we hope every Auto Rickshaw ride will be a pleasant one.

 

Learn more about AutoCop App

 

This complex task and unless active participation of people it is impossible to solve the problem.

 

We request all stakeholders to help us. Spread awareness.

 

Download App Here | Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

 

Auto Rickshaw transportation is going to stay here for long, and there is huge scope we can work together. If you share same thoughts and believe in this idea will work, some funding is welcome.

 

Let us know your suggestions, if anyone of you have some good idea, you are welcome to join our team. Post your comments below.

 

Siddharth Deshmukh
CEO and Founder
ShimBi Labs



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