Mobile App for Touristic Routes in Riobamba-Ecuador
Cross-platform tourism app for cycling routes in Riobamba, Ecuador with real-time tracking, weather integration, and offline maps. Published in Academic Journal (July 2022, DOI: 10.36941/ajis-2022-0111).
Overview
Tourism mobile application developed for Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo (UNACH) to promote cycling tourism in Riobamba, Ecuador. The app provides 10 pre-designed cycling routes around Riobamba with different difficulty levels, real-time GPS tracking, weather forecasts, and the ability to create and share custom routes. The project includes three integrated systems: Ionic mobile app for Android/iOS, Angular administrative dashboard, and .NET REST API. Published research article "A Mobile Application for Touristic Routes in Riobamba-Ecuador and Its Usability Analysis" in Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (July 5, 2022) with usability validation showing 88% overall satisfaction from 50 field test participants.
Technologies & Tools
Key Features
- 1Cross-platform mobile app (Android/iOS) built with Ionic Framework v5 and Angular
- 210 pre-designed cycling routes with varying difficulty levels (low/medium/high) covering 14-48km distances
- 3Real-time GPS tracking with Google Maps integration showing user location and route progress
- 4Weather forecast integration with OpenWeather API for route planning decisions
- 5Custom route creation and recording with photo upload capabilities for key points
- 6Offline route access and persistent data storage for user-created routes
Challenges & Solutions
Usability Validation for Academic Publication
Challenge: Needed scientific validation that the app met usability standards for publication in an academic journal. Required formal testing methodology with quantifiable results from real users in field conditions.
Solution: Conducted field study with 50 participants (35 males, 15 females, ages 18-45) using standardized five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Evaluated 12 aspects: task completion, comfort, information comprehension, screen organization, enjoyment, simplicity, intuitiveness, information finding, upload ease, interface friendliness, memorability, and overall satisfaction. Results showed 88% overall satisfaction, with 94% task completion rate and 80% finding app simple to use. Published findings in Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies (AJIS) with DOI 10.36941/ajis-2022-0111.
Offline-First Architecture for Remote Areas
Challenge: Cyclists in rural areas around Riobamba (2,750-3,339 m.a.s.l.) often had limited or no cellular connectivity. App needed to function fully offline while still providing route guidance and tracking.
Solution: Implemented offline-first architecture with local data persistence using Ionic Storage. All 10 pre-designed routes stored locally on installation with embedded GPX data and route metadata. GPS tracking worked offline using device location services, with route data synced when connectivity restored. Weather data cached from last online session with graceful degradation if outdated.
Multi-Difficulty Route Classification System
Challenge: Routes needed dual classification (physical and technical difficulty) to help users select appropriate routes based on fitness level and cycling experience. Classification had to be intuitive and accurate.
Solution: Designed comprehensive route classification system with physical difficulty (low/medium/high based on distance 14-48km, elevation gain 76-559m, and duration 2-5 hours) and technical difficulty (low/medium/high based on terrain type, road surface, and required cycling skills). Example: Route R8 (Riobamba-Pulinguí) classified as High Physical/High Technical (37.5km, 3,339m max altitude) vs Route R9 (Riobamba-El Canal-Yaruquíes) as Low Physical/Low Technical (14.1km, 2,812m max altitude). All routes displayed average heights (2,614-2,867 m.a.s.l.) for acclimatization planning.
Project Information
Timeline
Jan 2022 - Apr 2022
Role
Full Stack Developer
Project Metrics
50
Users Tested
88%
Satisfaction
10
Routes
4 months
Development