RUParked is a mobile application designed for Rutgers University students, with a focus on commuters. It reduces logistical barriers, primarily around parking, to help students arrive on time, plan efficiently, and reduce stress. The app combines real-time parking data, predictive forecasting, class schedule integration, and community updates to improve campus convenience.
- Overview
- Features
- Design Principles
- Educational Impact
- Long-Term Vision
- Screenshots
- Status
- Contributing
- License
Commuter students often miss class due to stress caused by parking uncertainty or last-minute logistical challenges. RUParked solves this by providing:
- Live campus parking maps
- Predictive parking forecasts
- Class schedule integration with nearest lot recommendations
- Social and friend-based updates
The goal is not to improve academic content directly but to make it easier for students to show up consistently.
| Feature | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | Live parking map with clickable lots, detailed spot-level availability, and Smart Suggestions for optimal parking. | Implemented |
| Time Travel | Predictive parking forecasts starting at current time, updating every 15 minutes up to 1 hour ahead. | Implemented |
| Schedule Integration | Connects class schedule to nearest parking lot with availability forecasts. | Implemented |
| Social Feed | Real-time updates from students, trending parking topics, likes and comments. | Implemented |
| Friends System | Search and add friends, prioritize updates from trusted peers. | Implemented |
| Themes | Universal clean interface or optional retro-inspired theme, dark mode with Rutgers Red accents, JetBrains Mono font, toggleable. | Implemented |
- Mobile-first, phone-native interface
- Clear, uncluttered layouts with information density optimized for commuters
- Navigation fully contained within the app frame
- Focused on readability, clarity, and low cognitive load
- Consistent typography and color accents for a professional appearance
RUParked improves access to education by reducing logistical friction that can prevent students from attending class. By providing reliable parking information, predictive forecasts, and community-driven updates, the app helps students show up consistently and manage their day more effectively.
RUParked is the foundation for a broader Rutgers Navigator platform. Potential future expansions include:
- Campus navigation and walking time integration
- Schedule-aware alerts and planning tools
- Additional commuter-focused planning features
The goal is to support students who struggle with time management by reducing stress and logistical barriers before problems occur.
(Add screenshots or GIFs here)
- Dashboard view with Smart Suggestions and live parking map
- Time Travel forecast slider
- Class schedule integration with parking forecasts
- Social feed and friends system
Actively in development.
Contributions, feedback, and ideas are welcome.
To contribute:
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature-name) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add new feature') - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature-name) - Create a pull request