Transapp Inspector
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A mobile tool to register and characterize real-time passenger activity on public transport services in Chile, used for operational monitoring and service evaluation.
Inspector Transapp is an Android mobile application developed at Transapp to support field teams in evaluating the state of public transport services in Chile. It enables transport inspectors to register in real time the activity of passengers — including boarding, alighting, payment types, and passenger categories — for operational and planning purposes.
How It Works
The app is designed to be used on-site by transport professionals who monitor services at specific points along transit routes. Through an intuitive interface, users can quickly log each boarding or alighting event, specifying attributes such as payment method (e.g., bip! card, cash, QR), passenger profile (e.g., student, elderly), and vehicle/service identifiers.
All records are timestamped and georeferenced, then automatically synchronized with a central server to support both real-time dashboards and post-processing workflows.
This data is crucial for authorities and planners to evaluate service performance, ensure accessibility compliance, and optimize public transport operations based on ground-level insights.
Challenges
Real-Time Operation in Variable Conditions: The app had to be responsive and robust enough to work in noisy, fast-paced field conditions, often with limited connectivity and shifting passenger flows.
Accuracy and Speed in Data Entry: One major challenge was balancing fast input (to avoid missing events) with the need for detailed categorization of each interaction. The interface design had to support power users who needed to operate with minimal distraction.
Reliable Synchronization and Recovery: Like other mobile data collection tools, Inspector Transapp needed to ensure that no data would be lost due to connectivity issues or app crashes. The system was built to queue and retry failed sync attempts automatically.
Key Learnings
Designing for Field Use: I gained hands-on experience in designing mobile tools for professional users in dynamic environments — emphasizing clarity, speed, and reliability over feature-richness.
Streamlining UX for Repeat Tasks: We implemented patterns like keyboard-free interactions, swipe actions, and persistent UI states to minimize friction during repetitive logging sessions.
End-to-End Data Workflows: This project gave me insight into the full lifecycle of operational field data — from collection and validation on-device, to structured ingestion and visualization for decision-making.
Tech Stack
The app was built using Flutter, targeting Android due to the platform’s wider hardware availability for inspectors. It leverages:
- Custom widgets for fast, ergonomic UI interactions
- Local data persistence with offline-first architecture
- A synchronization mechanism with retry and fallback strategies
- State management using
Blocunder Clean Architecture patterns - Modular components for flexibility in scaling features across different clients or regions
Conclusion
Inspector Transapp reflects our commitment to building practical tools that directly support the evaluation and improvement of public transport services. It was a rewarding challenge that combined mobile UX, offline data handling, and robust architecture — all driven by the goal of empowering field teams and improving the daily experience of public transport users in Chile.
