When a map wasn't enough to get Gugulethu Mabuza around campus, he took matters into his own hands.
The electrical engineering senior from Zimbabwe sat down at his computer and went to work.
For the past year, Mabuza and George Iseid, an MSU alumnus, have been working on Spartylive.com, an interactive map of campus and the surrounding area.
The site uses Google Maps and its application program interface to give students a more detailed map of campus.
On the Web site, users can choose to see a variety of things from buildings and other landmarks to MSUFCU ATMs and emergency telephones, and CATA bus routes.
Once a building is selected on the site, a pushpin shows the user where it is located on campus.
After selecting the pushpin, the user can get the address, directions to and from the building, a photo and other information unique to the chosen building.
Mabuza hopes what started out as a map to help him find his way to campus buildings, while installing wireless Internet for Academic Computing and Network Services, will become a key tool for all new MSU students.
"My opinion at present is that it's more updated than the regular MSU map," Mabuza said.
He first contacted FYI: First Year Information, For Your Information, an MSU Web site designed for new students, to host Spartylive.com.
"I thought that my map would be good for an orientation program," Mabuza said. "They loved it but couldn't host it because it wasn't an official school site."
He also contacted faculty members of the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) and International Relations regarding the Web site.
Ghazala Khan, international adviser and orientation coordinator for OISS, said the site was "a great tool, especially for students who are hesitant to ask questions — they can explore it on their own."
However, Khan hasn't "strategized yet on how to use it," but said Monday she had planned on mentioning the site at today's meeting.
Even students who have used the site are impressed.
"I love it," electrical and computer engineering doctoral candidate Mike Chan said.
"It's useful — the best I've seen so far and it's very informative."
With the site garnering some buzz, Mabuza has an idea to make it even more useful: live CATA bus routes.
"I've made contact with them, but I'm still waiting to talk with them about it," Mabuza said.
"I know they have a GPS system on all of their buses, and I would plot the buses on routes so that you wouldn't have to wait outside in the cold for it."
Though he has made preliminary contact with CATA, Mabuza and transportation officials have yet to discuss the details of his ideas.
Mabuza also is working on translating the site into other languages.
"My focus is on international students," he said. "I'm also looking into making it available on PDA devices and adding voice recognitions."
Hoping that Spartylive.com will help others around the massive MSU campus is what keeps Mabuza logging on every day and constantly updating the site.
"I just want to thank the MSU community, administrators, professors, students, those who have viewed it — that's who I've done it for," he said.
Cash Kruth can be reached at kruthcas@msu.edu.
