샨무카 Shanmukha

Smart Class Locator

A web application designed to help university students find their classrooms with ease and efficiency.

A high-resolution screenshot of the Smart Class Locator application

The Challenge

At GITAM University, with a sprawling campus and complex building layouts, students frequently struggled to locate their assigned classrooms. This led to delays, confusion, and wasted time, especially at the beginning of new semesters when orientation and schedule changes were common.

The Goal

The goal was to develop a centralized, mobile-first web application that would provide instant, accurate classroom location information through a simple search function, reducing confusion and improving navigation.

The Approach

Discovery & Planning

I started by identifying the core problem: students needed a quick way to search and find their classrooms. I mapped the user flow around three main actions: Search → Find → Navigate.

Design & Prototyping

I created low-fidelity sketches to test layouts, focusing on a clean and intuitive search interface. Usability and clarity were prioritized so even first-time users could locate a classroom in seconds.

Development & Technology

For the backend, I used Node.js and SQLite to ensure fast, efficient queries with minimal setup. On the frontend, React.js and vanilla JavaScript were chosen to make the interface interactive and lightweight.

Key Features

Real-Time Search

Instant results appear as the user types, minimizing wait time.

Detailed Room Info

Each result includes classroom number, building name, floor level, and helpful navigation hints.

Responsive Design

A mobile-first UI that adapts to any device, ensuring accessibility for all students.

The Result

The final application delivered a simple yet effective solution to the navigation problem. Students could instantly find their classrooms, reducing confusion and wasted time. The project successfully demonstrated a complete full-stack workflow, from problem discovery to final deployment.

What I Learned

This project strengthened my skills in backend optimization and responsive frontend development. I learned the importance of building mobile-first solutions and how to structure data efficiently for real-world usability. It also reinforced the value of starting with user needs before jumping into development.