Public Transport Tracking Systems: A Comprehensive Study of Real-Time Solutions for Small Cities

Abstract: Public Transport Tracking Systems leverage advanced location-based technologies to enable accurate real- time vehicle monitoring and efficient transit management, departing from traditional systems that rely on fixed schedules and limited passenger information. As urban mobility evolves—particularly in small cities with growing population and infrastructure constraints—the need for scalable, cost-effective, and accessible real-time transport solutions has intensified. This paper presents a structured review of multiple studies from IEEE, Springer, ScienceDirect, and related sources, covering core technologies such as GPS-based tracking, IoT-enabled transport systems, mobile application integration, and cloud-based data processing. A novel four-tier taxonomy is proposed, classifying systems based on functional capabilities: real-time vehicle tracking, passenger information systems, fleet management and optimization, and smart transport assistant platforms. Performance aspects including tracking accuracy, latency, system reliability, scalability, and cost-efficiency are analyzed. Comparative evaluation reveals that no existing solution fully integrates real-time tracking, predictive arrival estimation, route optimization, and user-interactive platforms into a unified system suitable for small cities. Several research gaps are identified, and a strategic roadmap toward intelligent, affordable, and integrated public transportation systems is outlined.