That “Where’s My Package?” Feeling
We’ve all done it—endlessly refreshing a tracking page, hoping for some clue where your delivery is. One day, I asked myself:
“Why can’t we just see everything live, in 3D?”
That question sparked one of the most transformative projects I’ve ever worked on. It started with chaos—millions of GPS points, speed readings, fuel stats, and cargo temperature data pouring in from a fleet of IoT-equipped trucks.
The goal? Real-time visibility. The kind where you don’t just read about a delay—you see it unfold on a 3D map.
Part 1: Taming the Firehose with Apache Flink
Our initial setup was rough. We dumped all the sensor data into a database and ran reports.
The problem? By the time we got the answers, the questions had already changed.
That’s when I discovered Apache Flink—a powerful stream processing engine. Instead of collecting data and analyzing it later, Flink lets you analyze it as it flows.
We configured it to:
- Calculate average truck speeds in rolling five-minute windows
- Detect temperature breaches and generate real-time alerts
- Monitor fuel levels and flag trucks that needed refueling
- Create live event streams like “Truck 101 is entering Chicago”
What used to be raw noise became intelligent, actionable insights. It was like going from static reports to live surveillance.
Part 2: Bringing It to Life with Three.js
Now we had real-time intelligence. But displaying it in tables and charts? Still not intuitive enough.
That’s when I found my second secret weapon: Three.js.
Three.js let us build a 3D map inside a browser, without needing a PhD in computer graphics.
Here’s how we used it:
- Every truck was a 3D model on the map
- As Flink sent new coordinates, the trucks would glide in real time
- Low fuel? Truck icon glows yellow
- Cold chain breach? Trailer flashes red
- Clicking a truck showed live stats: ETA, speed, cargo details
It felt like we’d built a living model of our operation. Zoom in, pan around, watch the fleet pulse with activity. No more wondering. We could see the problem as it happened—and act instantly.
The Tech Stack Breakdown
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Apache Flink | Real-time stream processing |
| Three.js | 3D browser-based visualization |
| WebSockets | Push Flink events to frontend |
| Custom backend | Event routing & authentication |
Lessons Learned
- Speed changes everything. Real-time insights help you prevent problems, not just react to them.
- Visualization isn’t decoration. It’s a powerful decision-making tool.
- The right tools matter. Flink handled the firehose. Three.js made the results feel alive.
- You don’t need to be a graphics wizard. Three.js makes 3D surprisingly approachable.
- Data is only useful if it’s accessible. Tables tell you what. Maps show you why.
What’s Next?
We didn’t build this system for pizza deliveries, but now whenever I hit “refresh” on a package tracking page, I can’t help but imagine a better world—a real-time, 3D one.
And who knows? Maybe one day, consumer-facing logistics dashboards will look like this, too.
Read more about tech blogs . To know more about and to work with industry experts visit internboot.com .
Want to Build Your Own? Start Here:
- Learn Apache Flink Basics
- Explore Three.js Fundamentals
- Connect them with WebSockets (Node.js or Python make it simple!)
- Visualize first—optimize later.
