Introduction

Real-time multimodal route planning platform for SUST students

Welcome to MND

MND is a real-time multimodal route planning platform designed specifically for students at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Think Google Maps, but hyper-focused on your campus commute—with actual bus timings, fare estimates, and smart fallbacks when the bus doesn’t go directly to your pickup point.

Quick Start

Get MND running locally in under 5 minutes

API Reference

Explore the RESTful API endpoints

Architecture

Understand the graph-based routing engine

Mobile App

Build cross-platform apps with Flutter

The Problem MND Solves

As a SUST student living off-campus in Sylhet, you face a daily routing challenge:

The Commute Dilemma

You’re at Tilagor and need to reach campus by 9:00 AM. Should you:

• Wait 20 minutes for Bus 1 (free, direct to campus)?
• Take a CNG to Subidbazar, then walk (faster, costs ৳30)?
• Walk to Shibgonj and catch Bus 2 there?

Without real-time information about bus schedules and alternative routes, students waste time waiting or spend unnecessary money on local transport.

MND solves this by combining:

• 7 university bus routes with real departure times
• Local transport options (CNG/rickshaw/walking)
• A graph-based algorithm that finds the fastest, cheapest, or balanced route

Key Features

Multimodal Planning

Combines bus, CNG, rickshaw, and walking into optimal routes

Real-Time Schedules

Actual bus departure times for all 7 university routes

Cost Optimization

Prioritizes free bus travel, shows local transport costs

Transfer Support

Suggests multi-leg journeys with bus-to-bus connections

Smart Fallbacks

Local-only routes when no bus is available

Map Visualization

Color-coded polylines showing your entire journey

How It Works

1. Graph Data Model

   Sylhet is modeled as a weighted directed graph with 19 nodes (locations) and 289 edges (connections). Each edge has:

   • Transport mode (bus/local/walk)
   • Travel time (minutes)
   • Cost (BDT)
   • Route IDs (for bus edges)
2. Multi-Strategy Planning

   The route planner tries 4 strategies in parallel:

   1. Direct Bus: Single bus from origin to destination
   2. Bus + Local: Bus as far as possible, then CNG/walk
   3. Transfer: Multiple buses with connections
   4. Local Only: Dijkstra’s shortest path (fallback)
3. Option Ranking

   Results are categorized as:

   • Fastest: Minimum total time
   • Cheapest: Free bus routes preferred
   • Alternative: Balanced time/cost tradeoffs

Architecture Overview

The entire city graph fits in JSON files instead of a database—perfect for hackathons and rapid iteration!

Technology Stack

Layer	Technology	Purpose
Frontend	Flutter 3.x	Cross-platform mobile (Android/iOS)
Backend	Node.js + Express	RESTful API server
Language	TypeScript	Type-safe backend code
Algorithm	Dijkstra + Graph Search	Shortest path finding
Maps	Google Maps Flutter + Directions API	Route visualization
Auth	JWT + Magic Links	Passwordless authentication
Data	JSON files	Static schedules and graph

Example: Planning a Route

Here’s what happens when you search for a route from Tilagor to Campus at 8:00 AM:

cURL Request

curl "http://localhost:3000/api/routes?from=TILAGOR&to=CAMPUS&time=08:00"

Response (3 route options):

Option 1: Bus 1 Direct (Fastest)

• Time: 45 minutes
• Cost: Free (₹0)
• Route: Tilagor → Campus on Bus 1
• Departure: 08:25 from Tilagor
• Arrival: 09:10 at Campus

Option 2: Bus 1 + CNG (Alternative)

• Time: 35 minutes (faster!)
• Cost: ৳30
• Route:
  1. Bus 1: Tilagor → Subidbazar (25 min)
  2. CNG: Subidbazar → Campus (10 min)
• Why faster? Skip the bus’s remaining stops

Option 3: CNG Direct (Fallback)

• Time: 40 minutes
• Cost: ৳120
• Route: Tilagor → Campus via local transport
• When to use? If you just missed the 08:25 bus

Real-World Impact

Built for SUST Students, By Students

MND was created to solve a real pain point: the daily commute for thousands of students who live off-campus. The app helps students:

• Save money by maximizing free bus usage
• Save time by avoiding long waits
• Make informed decisions with real schedule data

Live Data Coverage

• 19 Locations: All major stops and intersections in Sylhet
• 7 Bus Routes: Complete university shuttle schedules
• 289 Connections: Bus, CNG, rickshaw, and walking paths
• Daily Departures: 20+ bus trips from campus and to campus

What’s Next?

Quickstart Guide

Set up the backend and mobile app locally

Routing Algorithm

Deep dive into the multi-strategy planner

API Documentation

Explore the /api/routes endpoint

Flutter App Guide

Build and customize the mobile app

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Ready to contribute? Check out our GitHub repository and the contributing guidelines.