Track Student Arrival with iOS Automation, Google Sheets & Email Alerts

This workflow automates real-time student tracking using iOS Shortcuts and geolocation data, notifying both teachers and parents based on geofenced logic.

🎯 What This Workflow Does

Receives student location updates via webhook (iOS Shortcuts) Detects if the student has arrived at school Logs arrival data to Google Sheets Sends email alerts** to teacher and/or parent based on location

🔄 Workflow Steps

| Step | Description | | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | Location Update Webhook | Triggered via iOS Shortcut when student location updates | | Process Location Data | Extracts coordinates and metadata | | Student Arrived? | Checks if student entered school zone | | Log School Arrival | Adds arrival data to Google Sheet | | At School? | Double-checks geofence condition before notifying | | Notify Teacher | Sends email if student is confirmed at school | | Notify Parent | Sends email to parent (can vary based on geofence logic) | | Success Response | Returns a 200 response to the triggering device |

🧠 How the Logic Works

The student’s phone runs a shortcut when near school. Sends coordinates to webhook. Workflow compares coordinates with predefined geofence (e.g., radius around school). If inside school zone: Log arrival Notify teacher and/or parent Else: Optionally notify parent only

📱 iOS Shortcut Sample (Trigger Setup)

Automation Trigger**: Arrive at Location (e.g., School) Action**: Run Shortcut → Make Web Request (POST)

POST URL:

https://your-n8n-instance.com/webhook/location-update

Body Example:

{ "student_id": "STU042", "student_name": "Anaya Joshi", "lat": 19.0760, "lng": 72.8777, "timestamp": "2025-08-06T08:05:00" }

📊 Google Sheets Logging

| Student ID | Name | Date | Time | Status | | ---------- | ----------- | ---------- | ----- | ------- | | STU042 | Anaya Joshi | 2025-08-06 | 08:05 | Arrived |

⚙️ Setup Requirements

n8n Instance** with webhook support Google Sheet** with appropriate columns iOS Shortcut** setup on student device Teacher and Parent Email Addresses** configured in workflow