Students Help Columbus Develop Mobile App
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By Jackson Kohn
Those pesky potholes in Columbus may get fixed faster thanks to some bright engineering students at Ohio State.
Residents of the city will soon have a new tool at their disposal thanks in part to students of The Ohio State University computer science and engineering program. The mobile application suite “My Columbus,” the city's latest effort to enhance community service, is set to launch today.
Software engineering students were tasked with establishing a proof of concept and fundamental development of the app in conjunction with the City of Columbus Department of Technology. The app was then passed on to a local upstart technology company, eProximiti, for further development.
The “My Columbus” app suite features four sections:
- 311, which allows residents to report issues like graffiti and potholes, with the capability of uploading a photo;
- My Neighborhood, which provides quick information about government services, private sector services, entertainment and local shops;
- GreenSpot, which offers tips on how to be more environmentally friendly; and
- GetActive, which gives locations of local parks and recreation centers, walking and biking paths, exercise tips and health advice.
Moez Chaabouni, deputy director of technology with the city of Columbus, described the partnership with the Ohio State students as a “great opportunity for students to get firsthand experience in the mobile world.”
Chaabouni, an adjunct faculty member of the computer science and engineering department, detailed a strong relationship between the department and the city. Students working on the project were directly responsible to their peers, faculty and city employees at the Department of Technology.
“We have a tremendous asset right in our backyard in OSU,” said Columbus Department of Technology director and CIO Gary Cavin. “It has been our goal for the past several years not only to partner with that asset … but to keep those young students here in our city when they graduate.”
Aaron Rietschlin, a recent graduate of the computer and information science program, said that the city came to the students with exactly what they wanted done for the app, and that a lot of teamwork went into keeping the project on track.
The real privilege, according to Rietschlin, was “getting the chance to help the lives of citizens of Columbus through the use of technology.”
My Columbus is designed for Apple iOS devices, with support for Android devices coming later this year. The application is available in the Apple app store.
Jackson Kohn is a student videography assistant in the College of Engineering communications office.
