Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, traffic congestion and environmental pollution have become pressing urban challenges, highlighting the critical role of intelligent transportation systems. This project focuses on the core technologies and practical applications of smart urban transit, particularly in optimizing public transport, to enhance traffic efficiency and improve residents’ quality of life.
It addresses two key local problems: the misuse of the HK$2 concessionary fare scheme, in which some citizens and minibus drivers abuse senior citizen Octopus cards for personal gain, thereby undermining policy fairness. To tackle this issue, the project proposes an efficient, automated segmented fare collection system that requires no extra machines, supported by a distance based pay-as-you-go model to reduce waste and encourage greater use of public transport.
The project also features the Smart Commute Hub, an integrated one-stop smart platform that unifies Hong Kong’s multimodal transport system. Leveraging official open data from data.gov.hk and the Hong Kong Observatory, it combines real time MTR updates, traffic and weather data to offer personalized route planning with options for time, cost or eco-friendly priority. The system resolves unique local pain points such as cross harbour tunnel congestion, border delays and uncomfortable walking in heavy rain.
Built on lightweight technologies including Flask, Leaflet.js and Tailwind CSS with free open APIs, the system is highly efficient. It also emphasizes accessibility through responsive design, multilingual support and voice interfaces, while promoting environmental sustainability with CO₂ tracking, aligning with Hong Kong’s 2050 carbon neutrality target.
This innovative solution was awarded the Second Prize in the Secondary Stream at the Open Data Hackathon 2025 Competition award presentation held on 7 February 2026, in recognition of its practical value and contribution to smart and sustainable urban mobility.
