Overview
VisitLichfield is a multi-city tour platform that transforms how tourists experience historic cities. Built as three interconnected applications, the platform handles everything from real-time tourist navigation to driver tour management and comprehensive administrative analytics.
The system scales across multiple cities (currently Lichfield and York), with dynamic API-driven content switching that updates maps, attractions, and tour routes based on the selected city. Each app serves a distinct purpose while maintaining seamless data synchronization through a centralized PHP/MySQL database architecture.
Tourist App Features
Real-Time GPS Navigation
Live location tracking with Leaflet/OpenStreetMap integration. Directions to attractions open native maps apps.
Interactive Audio Guides
Click map markers to access AI-generated audio guides (ElevenLabs), transcripts, Gaussian splat 3D models, and photographs.
Tour Management
Join guided tours by difficulty/theme/length. 15-minute warning notifications before tour end. Bus location marked on map.
WhatsApp Integration
Direct contact with tour company for questions or if tourists get lost during tours.
Partner Discounts
Colored map pins show partner locations. Click to reveal exclusive discount codes for coffee shops and eateries.
Smart Feedback System
1-3 stars prompts written review. 4-5 stars redirects to Google/Yelp for public reviews.
Driver & Admin Apps
Bus Driver App: Drivers create city-specific tours that tourists can join. Switching cities (Lichfield β York) dynamically updates tourist maps via API. Drivers manually control start/end times and can add 15-minute extensions. Real-time tourist check-in counts and profile management (name, password, photo) all handled through PHP database.
Admin Panel: Comprehensive analytics dashboard showing driver statistics (tours completed, average ratings), tour metrics (attendance, feedback comments), and user management. Admins can create role-based accounts, approve driver applications, limit user access, reset passwords, and track feature requests. Built with PHPMyAdmin for robust database control.
The Three Apps
Tourist App
Driver Dashboard
Admin Panel
Technical Stack
Built with Claude AI assistance, the platform uses PHP/MySQL for backend database management with PHPMyAdmin for administrative control. Real-time mapping powered by Leaflet and OpenStreetMap, with audio guides generated through ElevenLabs AI. Gaussian splat 3D models captured using drone photogrammetry, providing immersive previews of historic attractions.
The system underwent a comprehensive security audit to identify and close vulnerabilities, ensuring safe handling of user data and tour operations across multiple cities.
Case Study
I'm documenting the full journey of building VisitLichfield β from initial concept through to deployment. The case study will cover technical challenges, design decisions, and lessons learned.
Building VisitLichfield: A Technical Journey
From concept to launch β the complete story behind creating a tourist app for a historic English city.