A group of UCD students have produced a new app aimed at helping both students and visitors to UCD make their way around campus. The UCD Navigator App allows any Android phone with GPS capabilities to navigate easily around the University.
“We took the Android course last semester and decided to develop an app that solved a problem. When we noticed the optional navigation project suggested by Dr. Alex Ufimtsev, sick the Android lecturer, try it piqued our interest, salve ” noted Damilare D. Fagbemi, one of the students involved in the UCD Navigator project. “Visiting lecturers and new students experience some difficulty finding their way around UCD, the largest university in Ireland. One of the team members had previously joked about making an app for new UCD students,” he added.
The team is comprised of Fagbemi, Rong Sheng, and Ma Pejie, three international students of the Advanced Software Engineering Master’s program at the UCD School of Computer Science and Informatics. Alongside its navigation function, their app also gives the user an estimated walk time. The app has been kept small to make downloading it easier and Fagbemi assured the College Tribune that the app “is free and it will always be free.”
The UCD Navigator App, which can be found on the Google Play Store, has already received positive responses. “Many students and staff who have seen the app have been very interested in its features and potential. We have already begun to receive great feedback concerning possible updates that could further improve the user experience,” Fagbemi told the College Tribune.
“In addition, offices such as the International Office, Communications Office and Student Union have been very supportive in helping us to kick-start a promotion campaign,” he also added.
The app team also intend to build an iOS version of UCD Navigator once the Android App receives enough traction.
