Burdur City Guide Mobile Application – TÜBİTAK 2242
In the spring semester of my 3rd year in 2018, I returned to Burdur, the city where I was studying, just one week before the midterms. I had taken a slightly longer midterm break, and my purpose was to check my attendance status, get information about the semester, and visit my advisor, Ali Hakan IŞIK, who would later become my advisor in both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
At that time, I was trying to work on projects, but I mostly kept them to myself or showed them only to my close circle. My marketing and public visibility were quite weak, and I also had little knowledge about competitions. When I went to my advisor’s office, the TÜBİTAK 2242 University Students Research Project Competition had just started. My advisor had previously served as a judge in such competitions. As I entered the office, he was reviewing the competition details to see if there were any updates.
In the 3rd year, our school was introducing mobile app development with MIT App Inventor, which was a bit limiting. So, I started to learn Android app development on my own by following Atıl SAMANCIOĞLU’s Udemy courses. Eventually, with my advisor’s guidance, I researched the TÜBİTAK 2242 program and applied — unknowingly stepping into a brand-new adventure.
Since we were studying in Burdur, we decided to develop a project for the city. Burdur has a rich historical and cultural heritage, so we aimed to create a mobile app to promote these sites and provide information for locals and tourists. The app allowed users to select destinations on a map, learn about them, view photos and videos, and generate optimized travel routes. Additionally, it suggested nearby places worth visiting along the route and recommended local restaurants, cafés, and accommodations. Although it was originally tailored for Burdur, the parameters could easily be adapted for any city or country.
Under the guidance of Ali Hakan IŞIK, we submitted the project in the "Smart Cities and Transportation" category. First, we prepared a short report for the preliminary review. After passing that stage, we submitted a more detailed report for the second stage. When the results came in, I was invited to Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya for the presentations.
During the event, we presented our project at the booth for two days. Thanks to my advisor’s support and guidance, I was able to deliver my presentation successfully, answer questions, and explain both the strengths and weaknesses of the project along with future development plans.
When the competition results were announced, I was awarded 2nd place in the Smart Cities and Transportation category for my region.
Beyond the award, the experience taught me valuable lessons about project presentation, marketing, and communication. In the end, as I like to say:
"When I arrived, I realized my delay had actually brought me to a new life — right on time."
