Building an Application that Finds the Fastest and Best Urban Path in Tirana

NONE 20260224134222181 wseas/wseas content-registration-form+ja@crossref.org content-registration-form WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTER RESEARCH 1991-8755 2415-1521 Building an Application that Finds the Fastest and Best Urban Path in Tirana Grigorina Boce Department of Information Technology, 52, Boulevard Gjergj Fishta, Tirana 1023, ALBANIA In this paper, we introduce a smart mobile app designed for residents of Tirana, helping them to navigate the city more efficiently. It considers key factors like live traffic updates, distance, road conditions, and what users prefer. This approach leverages sophisticated route-finding techniques, including Dijkstra and A*, while utilizing geospatial information from OpenStreetMap and a live traffic API. Data was gathered from publicly available sources and local institution databases. Initial findings indicate that this new system offers quicker routes than the current options available in specific parts of the city. This conversation dives into the hurdles of managing traffic in a fast-growing city like Tirana, while also exploring how the system could evolve to tackle issues like air pollution and road safety. To sum it all up, this system offers a smart way to enhance how people move around in cities, while also backing eco-friendly urban development. 02 24 2026 02 24 2026 237 21 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en_US 10.37394/232018.2026.14.21 https://wseas.com/journals/cr/2026/a425118-421.pdf Yan Feng, Weiwei Zhang, Jin Zhu, “Application of an Improved A* Algorithm for the Path Analysis of Urban Multi-Type Transportation Systems”, MDPI, Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13090; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413090. E. Sogbe, S. Susilawati, and C. P. Tan, “Scaling up public transport usage: a systematic literature review of service quality, satisfaction and attitude towards bus transport systems in developing countries,” Public Transport, vol. 17, pp. 1–44, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12469-024-00367-6. Sylwia Kołodziej, Monika Ziółko, “Analysis of Mobile Applications Supporting Public Transport in Smart Cities on the Example of Poland”, European Research Studies Journal, Vol. XXVII, Issue 3, 2025, pp. 807-824. Aksel Seitllari, Erion Luga, “Analyzing Transport Problems in Tirana on a Sound Scientific System Base”, 3rd International Balkans Conference on Challenges of Civil Engineering, 3-BCCCE, 19-21 May 2016, Epoka University, Tirana, Albania. M. A. Hannan, A. M. Mustapha, A. Hussain and H. Basri, “Intelligent Bus Monitoring and Management System”, Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering and Computer Science 2012 Vol II WCECS 2012, October 24-26, 2012, San Francisco, USA. Alexandre Davitaia, “Optimizing Real-Time Traffic Management Using Java-Based Computational Strategies and Evaluation Models”, January 2025, SSRN Electronic Journal, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5228096. Kathy X. Tang, Nigel M.Waters, “The internet, GIS and public participation in transportation planning”, Progress in Planning, Vol. 64, Issue 1, July 2005, pp. 7- 62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2005.03.004 Andrei, P. Eles, J. Rosen, and Z. Peng. “Predictable Implementation of Real-Time Applications on Multiprocessor Systems-on Chip”, February 2008, Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on VLSI Design, Hyderabad, India, 04-08 January 2008. SY.Yuliani, Rozahi, Eka Angga Laksana, “Dijkstra’s Algorithm to Find Shortest Path of Tourist Destination in Bandung”, April 2021, Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), Vol.12 No.8 (2021) (Computer and Mathematics Education):1163-1168. Mark H.P. Zuidgeest , Mark J.G. Brussel, Martin F.A.M. van Maarseveen, “GIS for Sustainable Urban Transport”, IJGI, November 2015,4(4):2583-2585. doi: 10.3390/ijgi4042583. Sara Paiva, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Gautami Tripathi, Noushaba Feroz, Gabriella Casalino, “Enabling Technologies for Urban Smart Mobility: Recent Trends, Opportunities and Challenges”, Sensors, March 2021, 21(6):2143. doi: 10.3390/s21062143. Alba Gora, Ersi Ryci, Artan Kacani, “Metropolitan Public Transport Lines in Tirana: Assessment of Public Mobility”, ISBN (e): 978-9928-347-14-5. doi: 10.37199/c41000708, Published by Polis Press. Percentage of individuals owning a mobile phone, 2023. International Telecommunication Union (ITU), [Online]. https://www.itu.int/itud/reports/statistics/2023/10/10/ff23-mobilephone-ownership/ (Accessed Date: May 3, 2025). Yetisen, A. K.; Martinez-Hurtado, J. L.; et al. (2014). "The regulation of mobile medical applications". Lab on a Chip. 14 (5): 833– 840. doi: 10.1039/C3LC51235E. M. A. Hannan, A. M. Mustapha, A. Hussain and H. Basri, “Intelligent Bus Monitoring and Management System”, WCECS 2012, October 24-26, 2012, San Francisco, USA. Ben Ammar Hatem, Hamam Habib, “Bus Manage-ment System Using RFID in WSN”, European and Mediterranean Conference on Information Systems, International Journal of Technology Enhancements and Emerging engineering Research, Vol. 3, Issue 04 97 ISSN: 2347-4289. Ganesh K, Thrivikraman M, Joy Kuri, Haresh Dagale, Sudhakar G, Sugata Sanyal, “Implementation of a real time passenger information system”, June 2012. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.1206.0447. Gianfranco Fancello, Patrizia Serra, Alessandra Schintu, Andrea Zoratti, “Performance evaluation of a tracking system for intermodal traffic: an experimentation in the Tyrrhenian area”, May 2020, European Transport \ Trasporti Europei (2020) Issue 76, Paper n.8, ISSN: 1825-3997. Habtu Reda, Sudhir Kumar Mohapatra, Tapan Kumar Das, Santanu Kumar Dash, “Electric bus arrival and charging station placement assessment using machine learning techniques”, International Journal of Sustainable Engineering 2024, vol.17, No.1, pp.278–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2024.23335 63. Abdullahi Ahmed Abdirahman, Abdirahman Osman Hashi, Ubaid Mohamed Dahir, Mohamed Abdirahman Elmi, Octavio Ernest Romo Rodriguez, “Enhancing Vehicle Tracking through SMS: A Cost-Effective Approach Integrating GPS and GSM”, SSRG International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Vol. 10, Issue 9, 29- 39, September 2023, ISSN: 2348-8379. https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEEV10I9P104. Dinu Covaciu, Daniela Florea, Ion Preda, Janos Timar, “Using Gps Devices for collecting traffic data”, Conference: SMAT2008 International Conference, At: Craiova, Romania. Baburao Kodavati, V.K.Raju, S.Srinivasa Rao, A.V.Prabu, T.Appa Rao, Dr.Y.V.Narayana, “GSM and GPS based vehicle location and Tracking System”, International Journal Research and Applications (IJERA), ISSN: 2248-9622 Vol. 1, Issue 3, pp.616- 625. R. Maruthi, C. Jayakumari “SMS based Bus Tracking System using Open Source Technologies”, Foundation of Computer Science (FCS), NY, USA, International Journal of Computer Applications, 2014, Vo. 86, No. 9. doi: 10.5120/15017-3305. R. Poovarasi, K. T. Siva Prasanth, S. M. Sesha Gopal, J. Roshini “Automated Bus Tracking System Using GSM and GPS Module”, Vol 10, No 3 (2018), CiiT International Journal of Automation and Autonomous System. Carmelo R. Garcia, Santiago Candela Solá, Jonatan Ginory, Alexis Quesada-Arencibia, Francisco Alayón Hernández, On Route Travel Assistant for Public Transport Based on Android Technology. July 2012 Conference: Innovative Mobile and Internet Services in Ubiquitous Computing (IMIS), 2012 Sixth International Conference on. “On Route Travel Assistant for Public Transport Based on Android Technology”. doi: 10.1109/IMIS.2012.103. Ei Phyu Thet , Win Zaw Hein, Ijsetr, “Real Time Bus Information System using GPS Based on Web Application”, International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research, ISSN: 2319-8885 Vol.07, Issue.02, February-2018, pp.0186- 0191. Manish Kumar Chauhan, Sidharth Bhatia, Monika Rana, “Vehicle telematics with real time operating system”, IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, eISSN: 2319-1163, pISSN: 2321- 7308. Feng Liu, Jan Sparbert, Christoph Stiller “IMMPDA vehicle tracking system using asynchronous sensor fusion of radar and vision”, Published in 2008 IEEE Intelligent ehicles Symposium. doi: 10.1109/IVS.2008.4621161. C. J. Vidanapathirana, T. Thilakshan, A. H. S. Sharic and J. M. S. J. Bandara, “A GPS-based Solution for Real-Time Data Collection of Public Transport Systems”, Annual Sessions of IESL, pp.15-22, The Institution of Engineers, March 2024, Conference: 115th Annual Session of IESL, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Balqies Sadoun, Omar Al-Bayari, “Location based services using geographical information systems”, November 2007, Computer Communications, 30(16):3154-3160. doi: 10.1016/j.comcom.2007.05.059. Idriss Moumen, Najat Rafalia, Jaafar Abouchabaka, Marouane Aoufi, “Real-time GPS Tracking System for IoT-Enabled Connected Vehicles”, E3S Web of Conferences 412, 01095 (2023), ICIES’11 2023, https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20234120109 5. Pradip Suresh Mane, Vaishali Khairnar, “Analysis of Bus Tracking System Using Gps on Smart Phones”, IOSR Journal of Computer Engineering (IOSR-JCE), e-ISSN: 2278-0661, p-ISSN: 2278-8727, Vol. 16, Issue 2, Ver. XII (Mar-Apr. 2014), pp.80-82. Sandhiya, Dr. Shanthi AL, “Real Time Bus Tracking System”, International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science, e-ISSN: 2582-5208, Vol. 07, Issue 09 September 2025. Menzi Skhosana, Absalom E. Ezugwu, “A Real-Time Machine Learning-Based Public Transport Bus-Passenger Information System”, November 2021, International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 16(7):1221-1238, https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.160703. Laura Miola, Veronica Muffato, Enrico Sella, Chiara Meneghetti, Francesca Pazzaglia, “GPS use and navigation ability: A systematic review and meta-analysis”, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Vol. 99, November 2024, 102417, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102417. A. H. Alomari, A. A. Al-Omari, and W. K. Aljizawi, “Evaluation of travel time reliability in urban areas using mobile navigation applications in Jordan,” Journal of Applied Engineering Science, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 644– 656, Sep. 2022. https://doi.org/10.5937/jaes0- 35118. Zahra Karami, Rasha Kashef, Smart transportation planning: Data, models, and algorithms, Transportation Engineering, vol. 2, Dec. 2020, pp. 100013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.treng.2020.100013. E. Echaniz, R. Cordera, A. Rodríguez, S. Nogués, and L. dell’Olio, “Spatial and temporal variation of user satisfaction in public transport systems,” Transport Policy, vol. 117, Mar. 2022, pp. 88–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.01.003. S. Duleba and S. Moslem, “User satisfaction survey on public transport by a new PAHP based model,” Applied Sciences, vol. 11, no. 21, Nov. 2021, Art. no. 10256. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110256. Tian Z, Yao H, Shao Y., A Review of Urban Path Planning Algorithms in Intelligent Transportation Systems, Algorithms, vol. 18, no. 11, Oct. 2025, Art. no. 676. https://doi.org/10.3390/a18110676. G. Inturri, N. Giuffrida, M. Le Pira, M. Fazio, and M. Ignaccolo, “Linking public transport user satisfaction with service accessibility for sustainable mobility planning,” ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, vol. 10, no. 4, Apr. 2021, Art. no. 235. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi10040235.