This project focused on designing a mobile-friendly, low-cost cemetery management system for volunteer church board members, aimed at replacing traditional paper-and-Excel-based workflows. Existing plot management relied on tape measures, wooden stakes, and scattered records, making plot identification, navigation, and data updates time-consuming and error-prone. The solution introduces a centralized web application that enables users to search plots by number, access organized digital records, and manage cemetery data directly on-site through mobile devices. Built with simplicity and accessibility in mind, the system supports real-time data management and intuitive navigation without requiring technical expertise. The outcome is a practical and deployable digital platform that improves record accuracy, streamlines cemetery operations, and reduces dependence on manual processes.
Yoyo Xu
Project manager and Frontend Developer
Peisen Zhao
Deployment and infrastructure support
Mengyuan Zhang
Map Developer and research support
Lei Liu
Backend and infrastructure support
Long Yan
Project manager and UI/UX designer
St. Helen's Anglican Church
Role in Project:Technical Advisor for the project.
Arya Rahgozar
Adjunct Professor
The School of Engineering Design and Teaching Innovation, University of Ottawa
Role in Project:Technical Advisor for the project.
GPS Navigation
Our system choose QGIS for geo-referencing and A* for real-time navigation on-site.
Data Edit
We allow users to update plot info directly within the system. We select MongoDB as our main data storage.
Search By Plot & Name
Rather than browsing the map, this makes the process much faster and more efficient.
Exter & Internal Face
We designed a high-contrast visual hierarchy interface to meet the needs fo elderly users.
Yoyo Xu – Through working on this project, I gained the precious knowledge and hands on experience of becoming a frontend developer and project manager. Moreover, going through the process of new product development, I have learned industrial-aligned project experience start from scratch.
Peisen Zhao – I was responsible for the backend, mainly implementing the A* pathfinding algorithm for our navigation function. Through this project I learned how to optimizing route calculation and improving it's efficiency. I also gained hands-on experience in algorithm design and learned how to integrate backend logic with real user needs.
Mengyuan Zhang – I was responsible for QGIS-based data processing. I worked on map data preparation and supported the navigation system, ensuring alignment between spatial data and the interface. Through testing and client feedback, I developed a stronger understanding of how to turn geospatial data into practical, user-friendly solutions.
Lei Liu – I was responsible for frontend development and QA testing. I contributed to the map interaction features and conducted structured QA across multiple milestones, which helped me sharpen my eye for usability issues that only real users can reveal.
Long Yan – Transitioning from UX/UI Designer to Project Manager allowed me to bridge creative design with technical feasibility in a real-world setting. This 'start-from-scratch' experience provided me with invaluable industrial-aligned skills in leading a product from initial vision to a functional reality.