It is being desinged for monitoring local area gas station fuel prices and posting updates online for everyone to see. The goal of this application is to attempt to answer the following questions:
1. Where should I go in town to fill-up my car at the best price? 2. When do gas prices at a particular station change? 3. How often to prices change? 4. What's the connection between the cost of a barrel of crude oil and the pump price? 5. Is it possible to "predict" price changes in advance and possible fill-up before price increases occur (or vice verse... avoid filling up if a price decrease was coming)? 6. What's my MPG and how do I calculate it? 7. Is a few pennies difference between stations worth the effort to driver further for a better price? If so, how much further before the cost savings benefit is lost.
The basic premise is IF we get a group of people working together to update the site with fuel price information on a routine basis, then EVERYONE can then make a more informed decision about where to go to FUEL UP their vehicle and hopefully save some of their hard earned money.
PHASE 1 of this project consists of setting up a back-end database to store the information, manually capturing some area fuel prices and providing a single option to "LIST FUEL PRICES". This is completed and accessible for the home page or by clicking on the link below.
PHASE 2 will involve adding further functionality to allow everyone to ADD/UPDATE fuel price information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Question: Aren't there other sites doing this sort of thing already?
There is a similar concept going on at michigangasprices.com but the focus is statewide and not really in our local area of SW Michigan. That's our focus! This new application is being developed with the idea that out-of-area people could also use it they wanted to. Question: Do we have to help update gas prices to use the application?
No. Anyone who accesses the web site will be able to run the application and input or report on gas price information. Data entry will not be restricted as long as the integrity of the data is maintained. We WILL recognize those people who do contribute by posting their name along side their reported pump prices. Question: I don't have a computer and internet connection with web browser with me when I'm driving around and suddenly need to fill up. So how am I suppose to get information on where to fuel up when I'm out running errands?
Great question. I see a few possible scenario's here:
1) Assumption: You are at home or work with a computer and able to access the site. You know you are low on gas and need to fill up soon. So... You use the web site to provide you info to make an informed decision as to which station near you has the best price. (Here you are PROACTIVE.)
2) Assumption: You are pulling into an gas station and need immediate advice as to whether there may be a different station nearby with a lower price (BEFORE) you begin filling up. Your location is known. You have a cell phone with you.
2A) The cell phone is basic and can only place/receive phone calls. 2B) The cell phone is advanced and has mobile email (and/or internet) access.
In this scenario, you are reacting and need information quickly. The cell phone is the obvious answer to getting you that information. The key is what can your cell phone do? If it has mobile email capability (assumption 2B), then you could send an email message requesting info and have the system immediately email you back the data you want to see. If the phone is basic (2A), then you could call a designated telephone number, key in some information and have the system play (speak) back to you the information you need.
(In either case, Here you are REACTIVE.)
As gas price competition continues to grow, prices continue to climb and the timing of price changes become more dynamic, the reactive approach may become the only viable solution. In the scenarios above, I believe the cell phone becomes the key personal communication device to making In this system work effectively.