You are on page 1of 92

Evaluation of Car Rental Reservation/Management System with

Tracking Capability Performance

A thesis submitted to Graduate Department of Computer Science, college of Art and

Science, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

(Information Technology)

University Utara Malaysia

Fathi Ali El_Shahawi

All rights received 2009


PERMISSION TO USE
 

In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirement for a postgraduate degree from

University Utara Malaysia, I agree that the University Library may make it freely available for

inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in

part, for scholarly purpose may be granted by my supervisor(s) or, in their absence by Dean of

Research and Postgraduate studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this

thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is

also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and University Utara Malaysia for any

scholarly use which may be made of any material from any thesis.

Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of materials in this thesis, in whole or in

part should be addressed to:

Dean of Research and Postgraduate studies

College of Art and Science

University Utara Malaysia

06010 UUM Sintok

Kedah Darul Aman


Acknowledgement

I owe my most sincere gratitude to Allah the almighty and the most powerful for offering
me such a strength, endurance, audacity, and capability to accomplish this project.

I would also like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Adi Affandi
Hj Ahmad, his wide knowledge and his logical way of thinking have been of great value
for me. His understanding, encouraging and personal guidance have provided a good
basis for the present thesis.

During this work I have collaborated with many colleagues for whom I have great regard,
and I wish to extend my warmest thanks to all those who have helped me with my work
in the College of Art and Science (Information Technology) University Utara Malaysia.

I owe my loving thanks to my mother, and all my family members. They have lost a lot
due to my research abroad. Without their encouragement and understanding it would
have been impossible for me to finish this work. My special gratitude is due to my
brother, my sisters and their families for their loving support.
CAR RENTAL RESERVATION/MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH

TRACKING CAPABILITY

ABSTRACT

This research presents a framework for development of new car

reservation/management with GPS tracking capability for car rental

businesses. The research will look into different aspects; such as to provide

an early, instantaneous coordinates via SMS text messages directly to the

administrators when they request their motor vehicles’ locations. In order to

come out with the intended system, this research suggests integration of GPS

technology and mobile device into the overall proposed system architecture.

This research also points out that the proposed system is not intended to

replace, but rather to compliment the current car management and the GPS

technologies available in the market. When they all work together, they will

offer a more comprehensive and rigorous car web-based

reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability to car rental

businesses.

 
TABLE OF Content
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………….. 1

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION:
1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….. 2
1.1 Problem Statement………………………………………………………………….. 4
1.1.1 Financial Risk…………………………………………………………………… 5
1.1.2 Rental Fraud…………………………………………………………………….. 5
1.2 Objectives…………………………………………………………………………….. 6
1.3 Research Question………………………………………………………………….. 6
1.4 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………. 7
1.5 Scope of the Study…………………………………………………………………... 8
1.6 Limitations of the Study……………………………………………………………... 8
1.6.1 Data Limitations………………………………………………………………... 8
1.6.2 Time Limitations……………………………………………………………….. 9
1.6.3 Financial Limitation……………………………………………………………. 9

CHAPTER 2: LITERETURE REVIEW


2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 10
2.1 World Wide Web…………………………………………………………………….. 12
2.2 Testing a Website…………………………………………………………………… 13
2.3 Web Based Requirement…………………………………………………………… 13
2.4 Design of UML (Unified Modeling Language)…………………………………….. 15
2.4.1 The Definition of UML………………………………………………………….. 15
2.4.2 UML Diagrams………………………………………………………………….. 16
2.5 GPS Technology…………………………………………………………………….. 18
2.5.1 How it Works……………………………………………………………………. 18
2.5.2 How Accurate is GPS? ………………………………………………………... 19
2.5.3 The GPS Satellite System…………………………………………………….. 20
2.6 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………… 21

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY:
3.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………… 22
3.0.1 Conceptual Design……………………………………………………………... 23
3.0.2 Construct Design of the System………………………………………………. 23
3.0.3 Prototyping……………………………………………………………………… 24
3.0.4 Evaluate Use of the System…………………………………………………… 24
3.0.5 Purpose of Study……………………………………………………………….. 26
3.0.6 Type of Investigation…………………………………………………………… 26
3.0.7 Unit of Analysis…………………………………………………………………. 26
3.0.8 Study Setting……………………………………………………………………. 27
3.0.9 Data Collection………………………………………………………………….. 27
3.1 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………. 27








CHAPTER 4: RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
4.0 System Functionality (Conceptual View)………………………………………….. 28
4.1 Use Case Diagram……………………………………………………………….. 28
4.2 Use Case Specification…………………………………………………………... 30
4.3 Class Diagram…………………………………………………………………….. 43
4.4 Sequence Diagram……………………………………………………………….. 45
4.5 Review of Car Management/Reservation System with Tracking
Capability…………………………………………………………………………. 48
4.6 Design of Use Requirements (Questionnaire)………………………………… 48
4.7 Prototype Evaluation Based On Survey Results……………………………… 52
4.7.1 Usability Testing……………………………………………………………. 52
4.7.2 Customer Web Reservation Task………………………………………… 54
4.8 Result of Research Design Method…………………………………………….. 59
4.9 Result of Awareness Problem…………………………………………………… 59
4.10 Result of Suggestion……………………………………………………………. 60
4.11 Result of Development…………………………………………………………. 60
4.12 Result of Evaluation…………………………………………………………….. 60
4.13 Result of Conclusion……………………………………………………………. 61
4.14 Summary…………………………………………………………………………. 61

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION


5.0 System Functionality Screenshots………………………………………………… 66
5.0.1 User Registration and Reservation Page………………………………….. 66
5.0.2 Administrator Login Page…………………………………………………… 68
5.0.3 Users’ List…………………………………………………………………….. 69
5.0.4 Cars Tracking Page………………………….………………………………. 70
5.1 Conclusions………………………………………………………………………….. 72
5.2 Recommendations………………………………..………………………………… 73
5.3 Suggestions for Further Research……………….………………………………. 74


 

CHAPTER 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Today, there are wide varieties of vehicle anti-theft devices in the market. These

include from simple security devices, such as steering lock, gear lock and

immobilizer, to a more advanced security system that can track down stolen

vehicles. Unfortunately, despite the availability of such security systems, vehicle

theft is still growing. As reported by the PersatuanInsurans Am Malaysia (PIAM

News Release, 2001), the industry had to compensate a total claim amounting to

RM168.6 million for the period of January 2001 to June 2001. Whereas Wah, K.C.

et al. (2005) in the journal for Kuala Lumpur Royal Malaysia Police College

reported that vehicle theft contributed 49% of the total index crime for the year

2004, as compared to 26% for year 1994. This issue has affected the car rental

businesses negatively.

The car rental contract is designed in a specific form for the car leasing at which

consists of the agreement between the lessee (renter) with the leaser (owner) of the

automobile. Whereby at the specific time agreed he lessee entitles the right of the

usage of the car, and at the same time the leaser will offer the features of the car

agreed, together with the tax payment, insurance, maintenance, and the accessories

 
 

and including the realization value added of the valuation of the car. Foreign car

rental industry through over several decades of development, has built up an

enormous car rental service network taking over most of the business in the world.

On the market, the car demand of the car rental has already had the whole 10% of

car yield in the developed western countries. After entering 20 centuries in 90's,

the scale of the global car rental industry extends quickly, with the sales of USD

48 billion of 1997 from USD 15 billion of the end of 80's in 20 centuries,

exceeding USD 100 billion in 2000, having the world leasing industry total

amount about 1/5 from all. [College of Economics, Xiamen University,

361005,Xiamen, China]. The internet contributed in expanding of the car rental

business industry and many other services related to this field.

The dramatic expansion of the Internet has been observable throughout the world

for more than a decade by now. More and more systems are put on-line, as the

mesh of IP-based data communication networks gets tighter every day. The

advancement of network technologies has opened a whole new set of possibilities

for service providers to offer and for users to take advantage of a variety of

information services.

In parallel to the development of the Internet, also mobile communication

technologies have experienced in recent years a phase of spectaculous growth.

New features like the short message service (SMS) or the multimedia messaging

 
 

service (MMS) provided by modern mobile telecommunications system standards

like the global system for mobile communications (GSM), have for their part

caused these systems to become popular and a broad user base all over the world.

Mobile telecommunication networks provide the possibility to engage in real-time

wireless communications regardless of the location and the movements of the

communicating parties. Particularly in mobile environments, like automobiles,

wireless networks provide thus a exible and robust possibility to implement remote

communication channels for a variety of applications and systems, in addition to

conventional voice calls.

The paper is organized as follows: After this introductory section some of the

problems facing the car rental industry will be presented. In the third section, we

present some of the new IT applications that the researcher recommends to be used

in the automobile environment.

1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Wah, K.C. et al. (2005) suggested anti-theft mechanism to be updated and made

fool-proof in order to bring the crime (vehicle theft) index down. This implies that

there are still some weaknesses inherent to the current anti-theft devices in their

ways to go against the crime. One of the noticeable weaknesses is lack of early,

instantaneous warnings to the vehicles’ owners themselves when the crime

happens. We will present corresponding proposed solution for car rental

companies to manage and control these risks:-

 
 

Anti-theft devices, such as steering lock, gear lock and immobilizer attempt

to prevent the crime from happening in the first place; but it is left at the

“mercy” of these anti-theft devices alone to go against the crime. Vehicles’

owners would have no idea what will happen to their motor vehicles when

they leave their motor vehicles, for example at parking lots. They would be

shocked to see that only the steering locks were left behind at the parking

lots with no sign of their motor vehicles at all.

Anti-theft devices, such as Captor is very efficient in tracking down stolen

vehicles; but it is controlled by the Captor (i.e. the third party rather than

the vehicles’ owners themselves), and it is good only after the crime has

already been committed.

1.1.1 FINANCIAL RISK

Financial risk: having a precise management of the business is very

important issue because renting is all about time so if rental companies

do not consider the time factor wisely it will therefore cost them money

which will obviously place a financial risk.[ 2School of Management,

Xiamen University, 361005,Xiamen, China]

 
 

1.1.2 RENTAL FRAUD

Some criminals pretend to be a lessee so that he can rent a car and then

sell this car to get profit illegally using false personal information.

Some vicious lessees may rent a car and then mortgage this car to pay

their debt. Some lessees may delay or not pay the rental fee. Some

lessees may hide traffic illegality and punishment when they return the

car [2School of Management, Xiamen University, 361005,Xiamen,

China]

1.2 OBJECTIVES

Below are the main research objectives of this project:

To identify the user requirements lessees/renters

To develop a web based system to help manage the business and keeps records

of all the data of the customers, the cars they rented and the duration.

To install a GSM-GPS alarm in a car and then connect it to the management

system

To evaluate the usability of the system

 
 

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

Below are the main research objectives of this project:

• How user requirements can be gathered?

• How can a management system help the car rental business?

• How can the car management system be integrated with a GPS tracking

capability?

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research is significant due to the fact that in these challenging business

environments, many car rental firms have been unable to properly implement

corrective methods in order to improve their services and provide superior quality

and security to their customer. Working with our system organization can benefit

from many things like:

Online booking engine

Fleet management solution

Vehicle scheduling solutions

GPS-based navigation / trace and track solutions

In essence, some of the firms do not even know where to start when it comes to

securing their properties where in our case are the cars. Hence this project is meant

to serve as a guide to firms like these in terms emphasizing the importance of

effective security, and the strategies that can be employed in order to improve and

 
 

perfect security so that businesses can be run without any losses.

1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research is connected to the domains of car rental businesses, web-based and

GPS tracking services hence these related concepts would form the central theme

of the project. More specifically, the project concerns making an examination of

the service that have been employed by the most successful European firms such

as Perot and what can be done to perfect use of proper strategies by organizations

like these.

1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

There are a number of limitations that are likely to be encountered during the

course of the project, from the commencement to completion of the project:

1.6.1 DATA LIMITATIONS

It is submitted that data limitations might be encountered as there might be

instance where primary and secondary research techniques might not be

able to provide the necessary information in order to satisfy the research

objectives. Hence, the researcher might have to improvise or narrow the

scope of the research as appropriate but remaining relevant to the research

 
 

topic at all times.

1.6.2 TIME LIMITATIONS

This project has to be completed while the researcher is in the process of

doing various other course related activities and hence there might be

insufficient time when it comes to successfully completing the project.

Hence, it is empirically important for the researcher to ensure that

sufficient time is allocated for all projects related activities so that the

successful completion of the project is not compromised by limitations of

time.

 
 

1.6.3 FINANCIAL LIMITATION

The objectives of this project must be met in a proper way but the

researcher could not afford to buy the elements those make up the system

such as the GPS-GSM alarm, the static IP and the fees for the SMS server.

 
CHAPTER 2

LITERETURE REVIEW

2.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter provides an overview on the different technologies applied on the car rental

industry. The car rental is such a big market which needs a massive effort to be improved.

Some of the technologies that are available now in the market are listed below:

Perot Systems has proven experience and expertise helping organizations worldwide

develop, enhance, and manage their applications and IT infrastructure to maximize

returns on their IT investments. And we can help your business achieve and increase

competitive advantage through the creation of flexible, customer-focused, enterprise-

wide global information systems. (Perot Systems, 2005)

The design and development of an alarm device that can disseminate disaster early

warnings to threatened communities over the GSM network. The device is capable of

generating audible, high-volume alarms, flashlights and turning on an in-built radio in

response to a warning message from an authorized entity via GSM's short message

service (SMS) or cell broadcast (CB). The design of the device follows international

guidelines on emergency communications, such as the ability to reach a large number of

people very fast, awaken sleeping communities, and be able to acknowledge warning

messages. The alarm has been designed as a last-mile technology in a larger Disaster


 10

Early Warning network (DEWN). It is intended to be place in selected locations such as

police stations, places of religious places and community centers

The Transition to web-based reservation systems and IP-based call centers with

multilingual support Migrate mission-critical applications from legacy mainframe

systems to open platforms using contemporary technologies seamlessly in titrate business

partners and suppliers to successfully deliver services. (Perot Systems, 2005)

Deliver solutions based on technologies including GPS navigation, Chip & PIN, and

voice to improve trace and track capabilities and fleet management Build, implement, and

support fleet management solutions, vehicle scheduling, purchasing and billing, and other

back-office applications to achieve business efficiencies. (Perot Systems, 2005)

Integrate databases at various points of sale and field locations to maintain continuity of

service delivery in real time, Perot Systems has helped leading car rental companies

achieve higher levels of operational excellence and increase their customer base while

consolidating and enhancing legacy IT systems to maximize return on technology

investments. (Perot Systems, 2005)

A vehicle management system and method using wireless terminals is provided. In the

method, a server on a network stores accumulated travel distance-based vehicle

maintenance/consumable item replacement time information in a specific recording

medium. The server transmits an accumulated travel distance information request


 11

message to a wireless terminal of a subscriber. The wireless terminal of the subscriber

transmits accumulated travel distance information to the server. The server checks

whether or not any vehicle maintenance/consumable item, which is required to be

replaced according to the accumulated travel distance information transmitted from the

wireless terminal, is present, based on the accumulated travel distance-based vehicle

maintenance/consumable item replacement time information stored in the recording

medium. If a vehicle maintenance/consumable item required to be replaced is present, the

server notifies the wireless terminal of information of the vehicle

maintenance/consumable item to be replaced. Thus, the appropriate time to replace

maintenance/consumable items (for example, engine oil, brake linings/pads, and a

generator) and prices of the items at the moment when they are replaced can be easily

calculated according to the accumulated travel distance information provided through the

wireless terminal. (Jeon, 2006) (Name, 2009)

This study will determine the review of World Wide Web (WWW), testing a website,

website requirements, Unified Modeling Language (UML) and provide some information

related to the market development of the Go-Kart through online reservation system.

2.1 WORLD WIDE WEB

The World Wide Web (commonly shortened to the Web) is a system of interlinked,

hypertext documents accessed via the Internet. With a web
browser, a user views web


pages that may contain text, images, videos, and other multimedia and navigates


 12

between them using hyperlinks. The World Wide Web was created in 1989 by Sir
 Tim


Berners‐Lee, working at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Since then, Berners-Lee has

played an active role in guiding the development of web standards (such as the markup


languages in which web pages are composed), and in recent years has advocated his

vision of a Semantic
Web (Polo, 2003).

2.2 TESTING A WEBSITE

There are certain procedural steps that need to be followed in order to avail a good

Website that adheres to the standards of any quality system (Bemers-Lee, 1996; Krueger,

1992). The steps for Website testing are (Whittaker, 2000; Bruno & Agarwal, 1997).

• Define the purpose of Website testing effort.

• Develop test plan/scenarios.

• Run and evaluate the test plan/scenarios.

• Continuous testing and measurement.

2.3 WEB BASED REQUIREMENT

A useful web application should be based on traditional graphical user interface designs

which rely on menu selection and navigation. But these interfaces require a considerable

cognitive overhead. This may be tolerable to frequent users, but will in many cases deter

casual users, especially those who are not yet used to computers. (Nielsen, 1993).


 13

Applications based on the web, and running on top of application servers are a case of

multi-tier application. They are mainly composed of a Client and a Server tier. The client

tier is responsible of interacting with application users and to generate requests to be

attended by the server; it can be considered as a user interface of the application. The

server tier implements the logic of the application and is responsible of serving user-

generated requests. Web contents can be basically divided depending on their nature as

static or dynamic. Static contents are those served to clients without any kind of process.

HTML files are the best example of static contents: when requested, they are read from

disk and sent to clients directly and without any modification. Dynamic contents are

those requiring some process before being sent to clients. Typical dynamic contents are

server scripts, which are processed and generated results (typically formatted as an

HTML page) are sent to clients (Carrera, et. al., 2003).

Web applications implement business rules and have certain functionality to either

interact with another actor (person or system) or change its own state (Souer, 2003). De

Troyer and Leune identified a comparable subdivision of Web information systems: a

kiosk for presenting plane information, and a Web application as a kind of interactive

information system (Troyer, et. al., 1998). Castro et al (2004) recognize one of the

challenges of specifying Web applications: unlike traditional Information Systems, in

Web applications the client and the users are not the same people. Another recognized

challenge stems from the fact that Internet, and more specifically, the Web, is a

completely different computing environment compared to conventional computer-based

environments (Arch-int, 2003).


 14

2.4 DESIGN OF UML (UNIFIED MODELING LANGUAGE)

2.4.1 THE DEFINITION OF UML

A computer reservations system (CRS) is a computerized system used to store and

retrieve information and conduct transactions related to travel. Originally designed and

operated by airlines, they were later extended to travel
agents as a sales channel; major

CRS operations that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines are known as Global

Distribution Systems (GDS). Airlines have divested most of their direct holdings to

dedicated Global Distribution System companies, and many systems are now accessible

to consumers through Internet gateways for hotel, rental cars, and other services as well

as airline tickets (Andrew, 1998).

In the field of software engineering, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a

standardized specification language for object modeling. UML is a general-purpose

modeling language that includes a graphical notation used to create an abstract model of a

system, referred to as a UML model (Ambler & Scott William 2004).


 15

UML is officially defined at the Object Management Group (OMG) by the UML meta-

model, a Meta-Object Facility meta-model (MOF). Like other MOF-based specifications,

the UML meta-model and UML models may be serialized in XMI. UML was designed to

specify, visualize, construct, and document software-intensive systems (Chonoles, et. al.,

2003).

UML is not restricted to modeling software. UML is also used for business process

modeling, systems engineering modeling and representing organizational structures. The

Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is a Domain-Specific Modeling language for

systems engineering that is defined as a UML 2.0 profile (Coad, et. al., 1999).

2.4.2 UML DIAGRAMS

UML 2.0 has 13 types of diagrams, which can be categorized hierarchically as follows

(Fowler & Martin, 2004):

Figure 2.3: UML Diagram


 16

Structure diagrams emphasize what things must be in the system being modeled:

• Class
diagram

• Component
diagram

• Composite
structure
diagram

• Deployment
diagram

• Object
diagram

• Package
diagram

Behavior diagrams emphasize what must happen in the system being modeled:

• Activity
diagram

• State
Machine
diagram

• Use
case
diagram

Interaction diagrams, a subset of behavior diagrams, emphasize the flow of control and

data among the things in the system being modeled:

• Communication
diagram

• Interaction
overview
diagram (UML 2.0)

• Sequence
diagram

• UML
Timing
Diagram (UML 2.0)


 17

2.5 GPS TECHNOLOGY

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a

network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was

originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the

system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the

world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS.

2.5.1 HOW IT WORKS

GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal

information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to

calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a

signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference

tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements

from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on

the unit's electronic map.


 18

A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a

2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in

view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude).

Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other

information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise

and sunset time and more.

2.5.2 HOW ACCURATE IS GPS?

Today's GPS receivers are extremely accurate, thanks to their parallel multi-channel

design. Garmin's 12 parallel channel receivers are quick to lock onto satellites when first

turned on and they maintain strong locks, even in dense foliage or urban settings with tall

buildings. Certain atmospheric factors and other sources of error can affect the accuracy

of GPS receivers. Garmin® GPS receivers are accurate to within 15 meters on average.

Newer Garmin GPS receivers with WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) capability

can improve accuracy to less than three meters on average. No additional equipment or

fees are required to take advantage of WAAS. Users can also get better accuracy with

Differential GPS (DGPS), which corrects GPS signals to within an average of three to

five meters. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the most common DGPS correction service.

This system consists of a network of towers that receive GPS signals and transmit a

corrected signal by beacon transmitters. In order to get the corrected signal, users must

have a differential beacon receiver and beacon antenna in addition to their GPS.


 19

2.5.3 THE GPS SATELLITE SYSTEM

The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000

miles above us. They are constantly moving, making two complete orbits in less than 24

hours. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.

GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard to keep

them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar power. Small rocket

boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.

Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also called NAVSTAR, the

official U.S. Department of Defense name for GPS):

• The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.

• A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.

• Each satellite is built to last about 10 years. Replacements are

constantly being built and launched into orbit.

• A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and is about 17 feet

across with the solar panels extended.

• Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

 Data is sent via a cellular phone network to the client’s cell phone


 20

• Security Concepts manufactures WorldTracker, which uses the voice

channel of an already installed GSM cell phone.

Using your PC you contact the tracker from your home or office phone, without going

through the Internet, and instantly display the target vehicle on your computer with a

moving street map. No monthly fees. New options allow the WorldTracker to shut the

vehicle off remotely or call the owner in the event their vehicle is stolen.

2.6 CONCLUSION

At the end of this chapter we can clearly see that there are various technologies applied

by different companies each is slightly following a specific technique but eventually they

all are trying to achieve the same result which is to improve the car rental industry but

they are quite different from the system we implemented whereby the cost is quite

cheaper and the technologies here are integrated together to produce more desirable

results.


 21

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

3.0 INTRODUCTION

It is theorized here that academic investigations such as this one has to be approached in a

manner that is very and it is at this chapter where a determination will be made of the

most appropriate methodology (Research Methodology, 2009). The careful selection of

the methodology that will be used in order to collect information for the purposes of

satisfying the research objectives of the project is very important as it is will determine

the quality of information that is obtained. The employment of the wrong methodology to

collect information might be quite disastrous to the outcome of the project and might

result in the objectives of the project not being satisfied. For this project, the information

that would be processed and synthesized for the purposes of satisfying the research

objectives would be collected from a variety of primary and secondary research sources

and this means that primary and secondary research tools will be used in order to gather

data for this project. It is the opinion of the researcher that the use of primary ands

secondary research methods would be very beneficial in drawing in the correct data for

the purpose satisfying the research objectives.

System Development Methodology (SDM) research proposes by Nunamaker (1991) will

be used as design research approach. There are four stages in this approach, conceptual

design, construct design of the system, prototyping and evaluate use of the system.


 22

The detail of design research stages are shown below:

1.1.1 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Apply existing knowledge in car rental industry and identify the gap, the

meaningful research objectives are developed in this stage. Here where the system

requirement are gathered from the users through the means of questionnaire

where they were asked straight questions regarding their opinion and past

experience with the web based management and tracking system. The

questionnaires were divided into two parts one was distributed to the public to

determine their behavior towards the car rental industry and also to determine

their opinion about having an online car reservation system. The second part of

the questionnaire focuses on the employees working in the car rental field to

determine three main areas which are their opinion about having an online car

management system, their experience with their customers and their opinion

about having web based tracking system.

1.1.2 CONSTRUCT DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM

In this stage, new knowledge is created. Creative and innovative design

architecture develops, define components, model, and data structure were

applied in this stage to develop the prototype for car rental management

system with tracking system. This stage is based on the previous step


 23

whichmeans it was initiated based on the results of the questionnaires to meet

the users’ satisfaction.

1.1.3 PROTOTYPING:

The concept of car rental management system with tracking capability was

proved and designed based on the architecture that was proposed, involve the

iterative analysis, design and implementation of an evolving prototype.

1.1.4 EVALUATE USE OF THE SYSTEM:

The system or proposed prototype model is evaluated by case and

field study.

Case study: Study artifact in depth in business environment.

Field study: Monitor use of artifact in multiple projects.


 24

The framework based on Nunamaker (1991) is represented in the below diagram:

Conceptual
design


The meaningful research objectives


will be developed in this stage.


Construct
design
of
the
system


Creative and innovative design


architecture develops, define
components, model, and data
structure will be applied in this
stage



 Construct
design
of
the
system


Creative and innovative design


architecture develops, define
components, model, and data
structure will be applied in this
stage



Prototype


A
prototype
based
on
the
designed

architecture
will
be
developed
in
this

stage




Evaluating
the
use
of
the
system


The system or proposed prototype


model will be evaluated by case
and field study



 25

Addition information about the research shown below:

1.1.5 PURPOSE OF STUDY

Exploratory: The main purpose of this study is to introduce and implement a

group of IT applications that can be used in modern automobiles comprises a

miscellaneous set of applications, services and devices that relate to the successful

operation of the automobile rental companies.

1.1.6 TYPE OF INVESTIGATION

Causal Study: Define problems in car rental industry. How the financial risk,

rental fraud and traffic accident effect to car rental industry.

1.1.7 UNIT OF ANALYSIS

Individual: Staff, Customer. Compare the benefit of the system before and after has been

developed.


 26

1.1.8 STUDY SETTING

Non-Contrived: This study done in the natural environment.

1.1.9 DATA COLLECTION

Internet and interview: We are collecting our data basically from the internet and

also on our experience in renting cars and as some of us have experience working

in the car rental industry.

3.1 CONCLUSION

The reason this research methodology is chosen simply because in order to meet the

above points a suitable method had to be applied. To satisfy the purpose of this study

which is to explore new area of comfort for the car rental industry, a general purpose

method ought to be implemented in the research. Most of the other research methods

have one specific purpose, which will certainly hold the process of this paper back in

order to satisfy all of their requirements.


 27

CHAPTER 4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

In this chapter, result obtained from the prototype implementation will illustrate system

functionality in UML (Unify Markup Language).

4.0 SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY (CONCEPTUAL VIEW)

There are five examples UML representations used in this study. UML is developed by

Huge(2002). UML has several representations such as class diagram, use case diagram,

state diagram, collaboration diagram, sequence diagram, sequence diagram. This study

used UML design since UML is a de facto standard for software engineering. It is a much

more attractive approach due to the familiarity of software designer with UML hence it

can reduce the learning curve and make it not far from their usual practices.

4.1 USE CASE DIAGRAM

The use case diagram is a visualization of a use-case analysis whichis one of behavior

diagrams of UML design, i.e., the interaction between the system and the users. Figure

4.1 shows the use case diagram.


 28

This system allows user to do registration, see information, products, make reservation

and do payment as well. This system requires login from the admin before the admin can

make new reservations or edit any existing ones besides the admin can have the system

send messages to the cars to get the coordinates in order to locate cars.

Figure 4.1: Use Case Diagram


 29

4.2 USE CASE SPECIFICATION

4.2.1 CUSTOMER USE CASE SPECIFICATION

1 USE CASE: Member Registration

Figure 4.2 : Use Case Customer Registration

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by user/client to make a new user name and

password.

PRE-CONDITION

User will automatically enter this page as an index.


 30

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

It is used when the new user intends to create his/her user name and his/her

password.

FLOW OF EVENT

• Basic Flow

This use case will begin when the user click the “OK” button. Then

the system displays a page which is used as a form to input the

information about the user, the information input is user name

and password. User must click the “submit” button to insert the

input to the database.

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter

the valid link of the new user name page.

POST-CONDITION

User can login to the reservation menu by using the username and password

that they have after registering their profile details.


 31

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by user/client to view the information such as

cars and availability.

PRE-CONDITION

User will automatically enter this page as an index.

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

When the user intends to view the product information and the cars

availability.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the user enters the system. Then the

system displays a page which contains information about the

reservation.

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter


 32

the valid link of the main page.

POST-CONDITION

User can get information about the system by using correct link.

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

1 USE CASE : MAKE RESERVATION

Figure 4.4 : Use Case Make Reservation

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by user/client for making a reservation.

PRE-CONDITION


 33

The user has username and password in order to be able to login into the

system.

Characteristic Of Activation

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the user click the “reservation”

button. Then the system displays a page which used as a form to

input the details of reservation, the input are booking date, time

and length to use of the desired car. User must click the submit

button then the input are insert to the database.

•EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter

the valid username and password.

POST-CONDITION

Users can add, search, delete and view their reservation

LIMITATION

Not applicable.


 34

1 Fi

. g

4 u

e 4.6 : Use Case Make Payment

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by user/client to make the payment for the car

PRE-CONDITION

The user has username and password in order to login into the system.

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the user/client confirms the booking

and provides his credit card details.

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter

the valid credit card details.


 35

POST-CONDITION

User can make the payment based on the details that have been inserted

into the database.

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

Figure 4.6 : Use Case Confirm payment

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by user/client to confirm the payment for the car

PRE-CONDITION

The user has username and password in order to login into the system.

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on customer demand.


 36

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin after the user/client confirms the booking and

provides his credit card details.

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter the valid

credit card details.

POST-CONDITION

User can make the payment based on the details that have been inserted into the

database through the registration process.

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

Figure 4.6 : Use Case Administrator login


 37

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by admin to login the system

PRE-CONDITION

The admin must have a username and password in order to login into the system.

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the admin inserts his username and password

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter the valid

username and password.

POST-CONDITION

Admin can login after being registered and his/her details inserted to the database

LIMITATION

Not applicable.


 38

Figure 4.6 : Use Case Administrator manage the booking

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by admin to manage the booking

PRE-CONDITION

The admin must have a username and password in order to login into the system.

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the admin inserts his username and password

and press the edit button

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message and then the user must enter the valid

username and password.


 39

POST-CONDITION

The admin can manage the booking after logging in

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

Figure 4.6 : Use Case Administrator rented car check

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by admin to check the status of the rented cars such as

their return time and here the admin can also send a message to the device in the car

to get the coordinates


 40

PRE-CONDITION

The admin must choose which car to be checked

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the admin chooses to check the rented car

status

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message if the car is not rented

POST-CONDITION

The admin can check the status after the car has been given out

LIMITATION

Not applicable.


 41

Figure 4.6 : Use Case Administrator inserts the car coordinates of the car

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

This use case will be used by admin to check the location of the rented cars after the

device in the car sends the coordinates

PRE-CONDITION

The admin must send a coordinates request to the car device

CHARACTERISTIC OF ACTIVATION

Execution depends on administrator’s demand.

FLOW OF EVENT

• BASIC FLOW

This use case will begin when the admin inserts the rented car’s coordinates

that were received through a text message to the administrator’s phone

• EXCEPTIONAL FLOW

The system displays an error message if the coordinates inserted incorrectly


 42

POST-CONDITION

The admin can check the location after the car has been given out

LIMITATION

Not applicable.

4.3 CLASS DIAGRAM

A UML class is defined by a rectangle having 3 segments. The segments are defined as:

• Identity, class name

• State, class variables

• Behavior, class methods

Classes are the building blocks of software architecture. A class diagram is used to show

hierarchical relationships as figured above. A class diagram is also used to show other

relationships, like whole/part "has-a" relationships using aggregation and composite


 43

connectors, interaction "uses" relationships with dependency arrows, or associations with

connecting lines.

The class diagram is the most important entity in object-oriented design and analysis. It

describes the types of classes that exist in the system and shows the relationship between

them. It also shows the attributes exist in the system, operations involved, and also

constraints that apply to the way the objects are connected. The following diagram shows

a hypothetical class interaction diagram. Figure 4.7 shows the class diagram.

Figure 4.7: Class Diagram


 44

This class diagram has three identities, all customers can do reservation and many

reservations can be done by a customer on the other hand the third entity, which is the

administrator who also can add or edit any booking as well as locate the desired cars.

Each reservation needs a registration.

4.4 SEQUENCE DIAGRAM

The sequence diagram displays the overall flow of control in an object-oriented program.

It captures the behavior of a single use-case. Figure 4.8 shows the sequence diagram of

admin


 45

Sequence Diagrams

Figure 4.8: Sequence Diagram for administrators’ activities


 46

Figure 4.9: Sequence Diagram for customers’ activities


 47

4.5 REVIEW OF CAR MANAGEMENT/RESERVATION SYSTEM WITH
TRACKING CAPABILITY

Most of famous car rental companies have several thousand locations all over the world,

which are used to provide rental service for their customers. Therefore, there is an

obvious logistics management problem in the service operation process. For a large-scale

car rental company, the rental locations are scattered around the world, while its daily

operation is based on a country even a special region. However, the car rental industry

contains various risks. Besides facing common risks of the general service business

enterprise, the car rental business also faces some specific risks resulting from finance,

rental fraud, and traffic accidents. Therefore the system provides a solution for most of

those problems by offering a management solution, an online car reservation solution for

the customers and finally and the most important service is the car tracking capability

which eliminates the hustle of finding cars in case of fraud or major accidents. This

capability comparing to other services is far cheaper because it can be done manually

where no cost is applied other than the hardware cost.

4.6 DESIGN OF USER REQUIREMENTS (QUESTIONNAIRE)

Table 4.1 below identified questionnaire for the user requirements. There are three

variables such as online reservation task for customers, web-based management system

for the companies and finally the tracking capability. Questionnaires were distributed to

the respondents to measure their perception related to the system.


 48

Table 4.1 Item for the Questionnaire to Identify User Requirement

Variable Indicator

Customers’ use of the internet

Customers’ perception on having a

website to rent cars

conveniences to book cars via the

internet

Car reservation website Frequency of facing troubles booking

cars through phone calls

The availability of the renters through

the phone

The ease of finding a car through the

phone in case of emergency

Frequency of renting cars


Customer behaviors towards renting cars


 49

Time of renting cars

Types of cars to rent

Advance or last minute booking

Frequency of troubles regarding the

time of taking or returning the car

Variation of price without prior notice

Availability of all car types

Cancellation of booking without prior

notice

Precision of the car delivery time

Variable Indicator

The perception of car companies on Frequency of car loss

customer renting behaviors


Frequency of fraud from the customer

The range of responsibility of the


 50

customers

Easiness of tracing the abandoned

cars

Whether customers pay for delay

The consideration of allocating a budget

to having an automated car management

website
Employees’ perception on having a
The positivity of an automated car
management website
management website on everyday tasks

The effect of a car reservation website

market expansion

Variable Indicator

The perception of car companies on having a Companies’ experience with vehicle

web based tracking capability tracking solutions

If companies recently considered, or

are currently considering, a vehicle

tracking solution in their fleet


 51

operation

If companies consider an Internet

based, GPS tracking solution whereby

they pay fees for hardware and

communication costs for once

If companies prefer to purchase the

equipment and the GPS service and

then pay a set monthly fee for the

online hosting service only

4.7 PROTOTYPE EVALUATION BASED ON SURVEY RESULTS

4.6.1 USABILITY TESTING

Table 4.2 below shows that 80% respondents indicated that the website has a strong
interface, 70 % indicated the good menu of the website. Furthermore, 53.3% of the
button, 83.3% of easiness of navigation, 60% of picture as guide for them to the web
reservation and car rental service, 70% of the navigation and 80% of icon quality, were
indicated the confident performance of the design. Overall, 76.7% of respondents
indicated the system criteria have strong indicators (figure 4.16).


 52

Table 4.2 Respondents Perception on website Criteria

Yes
Indicators No (%)
(%)

Interface 80 20

Menu 70 30

Button 53.3 46.7

Easiness of navigation 83.3 16.7

Picture 60 40

Navigation 70 30

Icon 80 20

Average of Perceptions 76.7 23.7


 53




Wea
kStron
g

Figure 4.16 website Criteria

4.6.2 CUSTOMER WEB RESERVATION TASK

Table 4.3 summarized respondents’ perception based on the customer web reservation
task. 73.3% of respondents mentioned the register menu in this application is strong.
Furthermore, the percentage of the optimistic reply from the respondents is 70% in fields’
information, 73.3% in transaction record, 80% in confirmation and 70% in cancellation
process. This result represents the task in this application is confidently strong to provide
a high quality service.

Table 4.3 Respondents Perception on Web Reservation

Indicator Yes (%) No (%)

Register menu 73.3 26.7

Fields 70 30

Transaction log 73.3 26.7

Confirmation 80 20


 54

Cancellation 70 30

Average of Perceptions 86.7 13.3

Overall figure 4.18 below shows that, 86.7% of respondents agreed that the reservation
tasks to the web reservation are strong.

Figure 4.18: User Task

Table 4.2 in the appendix shows that 80% respondents indicated that they had no

experience with the GPS tracking services this shows that the idea of the GPS tracking

will be accepted. 70 % indicated that they are considering vehicle-tracking solution

whereby the willingness of the companies to experience the idea is widely welcomed.

Furthermore, 53.3% of them are willing to have internet based GPS tracking solution

whereby if the idea is implemented correctly and advertised properly it will be welcomed

strongly, 83.3% indicated that they prefer to purchase the hardware and pay very little or


 55

no fees for other services this is considerably cheap when compared to the service

available in the market. Figure 4.16.

Table 4.2in the appendix shows that 0% of the companies never loses track of their rented

cars 1% rarely, 2% sometimes, 6% often and 1% always. This emphasizes the importance

of such a system to manage and track the cars. This survey also indicates that fraud

happens from the customer 1% never, 2% rarely, 4% sometimes, 2% often and 1%

always here we can clearly see that fraud is something that happens most of the time and

this is a prove that such a system can be of a good use. This survey also indicates that in

case of car accident customers take full responsibility 1% never, 4% rarely, 3%

sometimes, 1% often and 1% always. Another important finding that this survey indicates

is that in case of awful car accidents, companies can easily find their abandoned cars, 4%

never, 2% rarely, 3% sometimes, 1% often and finally 0% always. This is encouraging

because the system can obviously help companies to locate their cars at any given time.

Customers return cars late and do not pay for the delay 2% never do that, 2% rarely, 4%

sometimes, 1% often and 1% always. This is quite high rate so the system can help

reduce the effects of bad habits.

Questionnaire Design

Table 4.3 in the appendix shows that 1% strongly disagree on considering allocating a

budget to have an automated car management website, 1% disagree, 3% neutral, 2%

agree, and 3% strongly agree here we can see the majority is willing to allocate the budge

for the website which means the idea of the web reservation will be accepted. An

automated car management website will positively ease everyday tasks 1% strongly


 56

disagrees, 2% disagree, 4% neutral, 2% agree and 3% strongly agrees. Here also the

majority thinks that the management website can ease their everyday tasks. Only 0%

disagrees that A car reservation website will help to expand the market, 1% disagrees, 3%

neutral, 4% agree and 2% strongly agrees. These answers indicate that the car reservation

web site will help companies to expand their market. Now in the sense of the confusion

with the customers 2% strongly disagrees that such a web site would help companies to

eliminate the problem, 1% disagrees, 3% neutral, 3% agrees and 1% strongly agrees. This

is a good sign to develop the car reservation web site. Finally 2% strongly disagrees that

an automated management website will provide more accurate revenue report, 2%

disagrees, 2% neutral, 2% agrees and 2% strongly agrees such answers are fair but they

encourage to develop the management system because 60% of them think that such

system will do help them.

Questionnaire for users:

The answers we acquired in the appendix indicate that 7% of the users cannot get access

to the internet easily means strongly disagrees, 8% disagrees, 9% think it is neutral 3%

agrees and 3% strongly agrees so in the sense of availability of access to the internet the

majority can get easy access. On the other hand, 6% strongly disagrees that a car

reservation website would be more convenient to book cars 8% disagrees, 12% neutral,

2% agrees and 2% strongly agrees. Here if we calculate we can see that 16 out of 30

agree on the convenience a car web based reservation system. Now here the questions ask

the users whether booking a car via the internet is easier than booking through the phone

or not and the result was like the following, 4% strongly disagrees, 4% disagrees, 13%

think it is neutral, 4% agrees and 5% strongly agrees. The users were also asked if


 57

booking through the phone gives them troubles and the result was 3% strongly disagrees,

2% disagrees, 7% think it is neutral, 12% agrees and 6% strongly agrees. Another aspect

the users were asked about was the possibility of reaching the car rental companies

through the phone and the result was 5% disagrees, 5% disagrees, 7% neutral, 6% agrees,

and 7% strongly agrees. Users were also asked if they can get a car easily and quickly in

a case of emergency and the result was 12% strongly disagrees, 5% disagrees, 5%

neutral, 4% agrees and 4% strongly agrees.

The answers we acquired here indicate that 3% strongly disagrees that they rent cars very

often, 5% disagrees, 4% neutral, 4% agrees and 14% strongly agrees, the other question

was about users’ time of renting and the result was 5% strongly disagrees that they rent

cars at random times, 6% disagrees, 7% neutral, 6% agrees and 6% strongly agrees. Now

4% strongly disagree that they have a specific type of cars, 4% disagrees, 9% neutral, 6%

agrees and finally 7%agrees. Booking cars in advance 7% strongly disagrees, 9%

disagrees, 4% neutral, 5% agrees and 5% strongly agrees. By not using the web

reservation system users always face troubles regarding the time of taking and returning

the cars 5% strongly disagrees, 5% disagrees, 7% neutral, 7% agrees and 6% strongly

agrees. About the variation of the renting price some people have had good experience

and some have had bad ones. 8% strongly disagrees that the price varies, 7% disagrees,

5% neutral, 5% agrees and 5% strongly agrees. One very important aspect is the

availability of the desirable type of cars 8% strongly disagrees that they can always get

their car type, 8% disagrees, 6% neutral 4% agrees and 4% strongly disagrees. Some

users’ cancelation sometime gets canceled with no prior notice 5% strongly disagrees,


 58

5% disagrees 4% neutral, 7% agrees and 9% strongly agrees. The car delivery of cars

some people get it on time and some not 5% strongly disagrees that they get cars on time,

8% disagrees, 6% neutral, 6% agrees and 5% disagrees.

4.8 RESULT OF RESEARCH DESIGN METHOD

In this page researcher present a broad perspective that explicates the types and levels of

knowledge that can be derived from design research while reserving judgment on

whether a narrower goal of design research should be held within any specific research

community.

4.9 RESULT OF AWARENESS OF PROBLEM

The output of this phase is a Proposal, formal or informal, for further research. They are

proposals for how things should be done. In this project researcher found models differ

from natural science theories primarily in intent: natural science has a traditional focus on

truth whereas design research focuses more on (situated) utility. Proposal of car web

reservation/ management system with tracking capability model is presented in terms of

what it does and a theory described in terms of constructing relationships.


 59

4.10 RESULT OF SUGGESTION

After the researcher read the literature about the car web reservation/management system

with GPS tracking capability based requirement, the researcher obtained the overview of

the whole guidelines provided by the car rental industry. Researcher found that the car

rental industry is in need to have web management/reservation system to promote and

also to support the task of such a field.

4.11 RESULT OF DEVELOPMENT

Output in this phase is that the researcher developed a prototype of the car web

reservation/reservation system with GPS tracking capability according to the

requirements and the design. The system has been developed using PHP, MySQL and

Apache Web server. UML diagram such as Use Case diagram, Class diagram and

Sequence diagram has been used, too.

4.12 RESULT OF EVALUATION

The researcher evaluated the entire component in previous phase according to car rental

industry requirement. The output of this phase is that researcher found that most of the

respondents mentioned the strength and goodness of the overall system.


 60

4.13 RESULT OF CONCLUSION

The researcher found that the car web based reservation/management with GPS tracking

capability has a multiplier effect to the customer services development and to the car

rental companies managements. In contrast, the GPS tracking capability is enough to fill

the industry’s pleasure, and also to attain profits by decrease the car loss rate. They view

the mobile and the seemingly endless dynamism, more-compact computers and higher-

speed service as tools that allow them to function with increased effectiveness. All the

requirement of system has been completely fulfilled by this system.

4.14 SUMMARY

Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 14.00 was employed to determine

the frequency of respondents answer and categorized their answers to the strong and

weak level.

Based on the answers of respondents respond to the user requirements researcher found

that most of them mentioned the strength and goodness of the car web

reservation/management with GPS tracking capability.

The car web reservation has provided complete information about the existence of the car

rental industry to the customers. The user requirements of the car web reservation system

provided facilities to eliminate the troubles of the phone booking and also to provide


 61

easier solution and availabilities to the market. On the other hand, the management

system will ease every day tasks as well as provide more accurate management results.

Last but not least, is the tracking capability which is the main strength of the system will

sophisticatedly provide companies with better information about their cars, it will also

decrease the loss rate.


 62

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter will review back all the findings of this study by giving a full view based on

the research objectives. There is much more work to do in developing an efficient and

effective system to provide customers and car rental industry a mechanism for making

online reservation and managing as well as tracking capability. This study will provide the

recommendation to the current community as well as the information and suggestion for

future studies.

5.0 SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY SCREENSHOTS

5.0.1 USER REGISTRATION AND RESERVATION PAGE

Here is the users’ reservation page where they can insert their personal information like

name, address, and phone number as well as to create their usernames and passwords.

After the users are done inserting their information they can then choose the car model

they desire. Upon completion of this step users will get a message of success or failure. In

the case of reserving a car, that particular car will not be available anymore in the

reservation list so that no conflict will take place.


 66


 67

5.0.2 ADMINISTRATOR LOGIN PAGE

Here is the administrators’ login page. The administrator must enter his username and

password in order to login into the system, check reservation list and track any car that

he/she desires.


 68

5.0.3 USERS’ LIST

In this user car list the administrator can check each and every reservation details he/she

wants for example the customer details like name, address or phone number besides that

he/she can just click the track button to locate the car. The mechanism of this function is

connected to a messaging sending server and Google maps of the desired country, which

is in this case Malaysia. When the system is hosted on a server an IP will automatically be

assigned to it so that receiving of messaging becomes possible without having to reserve

or subscribe to this service. When the track button is clicked the system will automatically

send a message to the car’s SIM card, which is in fact a request for the coordinates in

return the car will send back the coordinates to the website. Google provides a service that

if acquired sufficient locating times per second is offered which in this system it is

available already. Eventually when the website receives the coordinates it will

automatically, in the presence of the internet connection of course, connect to Google

maps and give a precise location of the car. It also offers a zoom in and out option. Last

but not least, the system will automatically moves the map as the car moves.


 69

5.0.4 CARS TRACKING PAGE

This page is where the system connects to Google maps to locate the car. Here we can see

that the red color point is the car and it is in fact moving but the picture cannot represent

the movement. However, this is called real time tracking.


 70

5.1 CONCLUSIONS

From the findings derived from the survey process, researcher concluded that 80%

respondents indicated that they had no experience with the GPS tracking services. 70 %

indicated that they are considering vehicle-tracking solution. Furthermore, 53.3% of them

are willing to have internet based GPS tracking solution, 83.3% indicated that they prefer

to purchase the hardware and pay very little or no fees for other services

This project is developed by using Design Research methodology and applying UML

technique for analyzing and designing the prototype. Design Research emphasizes on the

knowledge generation inherited in the method. The Unified Modeling Language is a

standard design specification that is overseen by the Object Management Group (OMG).

The use case diagram is a visualization of a use-case analysis been applied. This project

also implement sequence diagram to display the overall flow of control in an object-

oriented program. Thus, the second objective to design the car web-based

reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability is achieved.

From the findings that derived from the survey process, researcher concluded that the car

web-based reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability design is

confidently reliable, easy to use and user-friendly. Concurrently, the study found that the

system has a multiplier effect to the customer/management services development.

To make this system more interactive and keep the pace of the technology of it, all

stakeholder in the car rental industry should understand the utility and implement the


 71

system as the strategic point in order to improve the profit of their car business, develop

the number of loyal customers and expand the design to get a higher quality in services.

Car web-based reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability is a

valuable means to guide customers to reserve all services or facilities offered by the car

rental companies. The third objective to develop the prototype of car web-based

reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability is achieved.

The present study was determining the car web-based reservation/management system

with GPS tracking capability, for getting information about the cars and making

reservation of the facility provided. Besides the overview of the service that the car

companies are willing to provide for such a system that can store the database about

profiles and reservation that have been made by the customers or the management. PHP

programming language and MySQL server are needed to construct this dynamically web

based system.

Concurrently, the study found that the system has a multiplier effect to the

customer/management services development. In contrast, the GPS tracking is enough to

fill their pleasure, and to reduce loss rate. Most of the car rental managements view the

GPS tracking and the seemingly endless dynamism, more-compact computers and

higher-speed service as tools that allow them to function with increased effectiveness.

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

To make this car web-based reservation/management system with GPS tracking

capability more interactive and keep rapidity with the technology of the it all stakeholder


 72

in the car rental industry should understand the utility and implement the such a system

as the strategic point in order to improve their profit, develop the number of loyal

customers and expand the design to get a higher quality in services.

5.3 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Future research about the combination of other facilities and services with car web-based

reservation/management system with GPS tracking capability is needed, further

researcher should look up to such systems to develop this technology to reach more

profit, customers and better performance.




 73

REFERENCES

Agarwal, R., Ghosh, B., Banerjee, S., & Kishore, S. (2000). Ensuring
WebSite Quality: A case study. (IEEE), 665-670.

Ambler, & William, S. (2004). The Object Primer: Agile Model Driven
Development with UML 2.: Cambridge University Press.

Andrews, T., Curbera, F., Dolakia, H., J. Goland, Klein, J., Leymann, F., et
al. (2003). Business Process Execution Language for Web Services.

Arch-int, S., & Batanovv, D. N. (2003). Development of industrial


information systems on the Web using business components. 50(Feb, 2),
231 – 250.

Atkinson, R. J. (1997). Toward a More Secure Internet. (IEEE Computer),


57-61.

Bemers-Lee, T. (1996). “WWW: Past, Present, and Future. (IEEE Software),


69-77.

B. C. Smith and E. L. Johnson, "Robust airline fleet assignment: Imposing


station purity using station decomposition," Transportation Science, vol.
40, no. 4, pp. 497-516,2006

Chris Wullems, Oscar Pozzobon, Kurt Kubik: (Trust your receiver)


Enhancing location security. GPS World, Oct 1, 2004

Chonoles, Jesse, M., & Schardt, J. A. (2003). UML 2 for Dummies.: Wiley
Publishing.

 
Coad, Peter, Lefebvre, E., & Luca, J. D. (1999). Java Modeling In Color
With UML: Enterprise Components and Process.: Prentice Hall.

Discoverahobby. (2009). Extreme Sports : Learn Go Kart Racing


[Electronic Version]. Retrieved 9/1/09 from
http://www.discoverahobby.com/learngo-karts.htm.

Fowler, & Martin. (2004). UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard
Object Modeling Language, : Addison-Wesley

Guo, Y., & Xu, Z. (2007). Risk Management of Car Rental Industry in
China. China: Xiamen University.

GPS technology retrieved on the 10/07/2009 from


http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

Hooijdonk, A.V. (2008) Passive/Real time GPS car tracking systems.


Retrieved on the Oct. 2008 from http://www.gps-practice-and-
fun.com/gps-car-tracking.html

Jessa Liying Wang and Michael C. Loui University of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign(2006)

Jeon, H.T. (2006). Car Management System Using Mobile Phones and The
Method Thereof. Retrieved on August 3, 2006 from
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2006080632

Khalaf, R., Mukhi, N., & Weeravarana., S. (2004). Service Oriented


Composition in BPEL4WS.

 
Krueger, C. W. (1992). Software Reuse. (ACM Computer Surveys), 131-
183.

Li Jun, “Quick development of abroad car rental industries”. China Vehicle


Newspaper, August 27, 2002.

Lance N. Ulanoff, e. a. (1996, Sep, 10). Build Your Own WebSite. PC


MAGAZINE, 101-111.

Lemiux, M. (2005). The Future of Web Design is Content Management!


[Electronic Version]. Retrieved Feb, 8, 2008 from
http://www.webpronews.com/printable.php

Maglogiannis, I., Kormentzas, G., Rouskasa, A., Vergadosa, D., &


Panagiotarakis, N. (2003). An integrated platform for providing ship
management, tourist information and booking services.

March, S., & Smith, G. (1995). Design and Natural Science Research on
Information Technology. 251-266.

Marshall, C. C., & Shipnian, F. M. (1996). “Spatial Hypertext: Designing for


Change. Vol. 38, No. 8(Communication of The ACM), 88-97.

Mowat, B. (2003). Exploding myths: online travel spreads its tentacles.

Markus Miettinen_ Lehrstuhl fur Kommunikationssicherheit Ruhr(July

 
21, 2003)-Universitat Bochum, Germany

Nielsen, J. (1993). Usability engineering.

Noruzzi, A. (2004). Introduction to Webology [Electronic Version], 1.


Retrieved Feb, 3 2008 from http://www.webology.ir/2004/v1n1/a1.html.

Orlikowski, W. J., & Iacono, C. S. (2001). Research Commentary:


Desperately Seeking the “IT” in IT Research—A Call to Theorizing the
IT Artifact. 12(Information Systems Research), 121-134.

Polo, L. (2003). World Wide Web Technology Architecture: A Conceptual


Analysis [Electronic Version]. Retrieved Jan 8 from
http://newdevices.com/publicaciones/www/.

Purao, S. (2002). Design Research in the Technology of Information


Systems: Truth or Dare. (GSU Department of CIS Working Paper).

Peter H. Dana. Global positioning system overview. Available at URI:


http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html,
September 1994. [Link last checked: 2.6.2003]

Perot Systems. (2005). Application and IT Solutions for the Car Rental
Industry. United States.

 
Souer, J., Weerd, I. v. d., Versendaal, J., & Brinkkemper, S. (2005).
Situational Requirements Engineering for the Development of Content
Management System-based Web Applications.

Troyer, de, O. M. F., & Leune, C. J. (1998). WSDM: a user centered design
method for Web sites. 30(Apr 1-7), 205 – 212.

Vaishnavi, V. and Kuechler, B. (2006). Design Research in Information


Systems.

Wah, K.C., Yoong, M.Y.M. and Keng, G.B. (2005). Journal of Kuala Lumpur
Royal Malaysia Police College, pp51-52.

Yixun GUO, Zhiduan XU, College of Economics, Xiamen University,


361005,Xiamen, China

Yazao Yang, Wenzhou Jin, Xiaoni Hao Institute of Intelligent Transportation


Systems and Logistics South China University of Technology
Guangzhou, P.R.China

 
APPENDIX A: QUESTIONAIRE

Please circle the statement, which is the most appropriate answer to you.

Section 1: users behavior: Attitude of users towards having an automated reservation website

to rent cars

Indicate your level of agreement with the following statements from 1 (total disagreement) to

5 (total agreement)

No Questions (Strongly (Disagree) (Neutral) (Agree) (Strongly

Disagree) Agree)

1 I can easily get access to the internet 1  2 3  4  5

2 I think having a website to rent cars would be more convenient 1  2 3  4  5

3 It is more convenient to book cars via the internet 1  2 3  4  5

4 I always face troubles booking cars through phone calls 1  2 3  4  5

5 I can always reach the renters through the phone 1  2 3  4  5

6 In case of emergency I can easily and quickly find a car 1  2 3  4  5

Please circle the statement, which is the most appropriate answer to you.

 
Section 2: users behavior: Attitude of users towards the current manual process for renting

cars

Indicate your level of agreement with the following statements from 1 (total disagreement) to

5 (total agreement)

No Questions (Strongly (Neutral) (Agree) (Strongly


(Disagree)
3 4
Disagree) Agree)
2
1 5

1 I rent cars very often          

2 I might rent a car at anytime of the day          

3 I have a specific type of cars that I would always want to rent          

4 I always book cars in advance          

I always face troubles regarding the time of taking or returning


5          
the car

6 The renting price always varies without prior notice          

7 I can always find my favorite car type available          

My booking sometimes gets cancelled by the renter without prior


8          
notice

9 I always get the car on time as I book it          

 
Please circle the statement, which is the most appropriate answer to you.

Section 1: customer behavior: Attitude of employees towards the customer behaviors

Indicate your level of agreement with the following statements from 1 (never) to 5 (always)

No Questions (never) (rarely) (sometimes) (often) (Always)

1  2  3  4 
    5 

1  We lose track of our rented cars 1  2  3 4  5

2  Fraud happens from the customer 1  2  3 4  5

3  In case of car accident customers take full responsibility 1  2  3 4  5

4  In case of awful car accidents, we can easily find our 1  2  3 4  5

abandoned cars

5  Customer return cars late and do not pay for the delay 1  2  3 4  5

Please circle the statement, which is the most appropriate answer to you.

 
Section 2: Employees behavior: Attitude of employees towards having an automated

management website

Indicate your level of agreement with the following statements from 1 (total disagreement) to

5 (total agreement)

No Questions (Strongly (Disagree) (Neutral) (Agree) (Strongly

Agree)
    Disagree)
2  3  4 
1  5

1  We are considering allocating a budget to have an automated car 1 2 3 4 5

management website

2  An automated car management website will positively ease everyday 1 2 3 4 5

tasks

3  A car reservation website will help us expand our market 1 2 3 4 5

4  a car reservation website would help us eliminate the confusion with 1 2 3 4 5

the customers

5  An automated management website will help provide accurate revenue 1 2 3 4 5

report

 
Section 3: employees’ behavior: Attitude of employees towards having web based GPS

tracking capability.

No  Questions  yes   No 

1  Your company, in the past, used or had experience with vehicle    

tracking solutions 

2  Have you recently considered, or are currently considering, a    

vehicle tracking solution in your fleet operation 

3  Would you consider an Internet based, GPS tracking solution    

whereby you pay fees for hardware and communication costs

only once 

4  Would you prefer to purchase the equipment and the GPS service    

and then pay a set monthly fee for the online hosting service? 

 
Vehicle Track and Trace Questions

What do you consider the main advantages to be for your company in respect to

deploying a vehicle tracking solution?

1. Reduce the car loss

2. Determine the cars location at anytime

3. Trace frauds

Is there any additional functionality you would like from a vehicle tracking

solution?

a) ………………………………………………………………………………..

b) ………………………………………………………………………………..

c) ………………………………………………………………………………..

d) ………………………………………………………………………………..

 
Yes No
Indicators
(%) (%)

Companies’ experience with vehicle tracking solutions 20 80

If companies recently considered, or are currently considering, a 70 30

vehicle tracking solution in their fleet operation

If companies consider an Internet based, GPS tracking solution 53.3 46.7

whereby they pay fees for hardware and communication costs for

once

If companies prefer to purchase the equipment and the GPS service 83.3 16.7

and then pay a set monthly fee for the online hosting service only

Average of Perceptions 71.6 23.7

Table 4.2 Respondents Perception on web based tracking capability

 
Questionnaire for car rental employees

Indicators (never) (rarely) (sometimes) (often) (Always)

(%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

We lose track of our rented cars 0 1 2 6 1

Fraud happens from the customer 1 2 4 2 1

In case of car accident customers take full responsibility 1 4 3 1 1

In case of awful car accidents, we can easily find our abandoned 4 2 3 1 0


cars

Customer return cars late and do not pay for the delay 2 2 4 1 1

Table 4.3 Respondents Perception of the car rental employees towards the

customers’ behavior.

 
(Strongly (Disagree) (Neutral) (Agree) (Strongly
Agree)
Questions Disagree)
(%) (%) (%)
(%)
(%)
1 1 3 2 3

We are considering allocating a budget to have an automated car


management website

An automated car management website will positively ease everyday 1 2 4 2 1


tasks

0 1 3 4 2
A car reservation website will help us expand our market

2 1 3 3 1
a car reservation website would help us eliminate the confusion with
the customers

An automated management website will help provide accurate 2 2 2 2 2


revenue report

Table 4.5 Respondents Perception on having a car web-based management system

 
Questionnaire for car rental employees

Questions (Strongly (Disagree) (Neutral) (Agree) (Strongly

(%) Disagree) (%) (%) (%) Agree)

(%) (%)

I can easily get access to the internet 7 8 9 3 3

I think having a website to rent cars would be more


6 8 12 2 2
convenient

It is more convenient to book cars via the internet 4 4 13 4 5

I always face troubles booking cars through phone calls 3 2 7 12 6

I can always reach the renters through the phone 5 5 7 6 7

In case of emergency I can easily and quickly find a car


12 5 5 4 4
through the phone

Table 4.5 Respondents Perception on having a car web-based reservation system

10 

 
I rent cars very often 14 5 4 4 3

I might rent a car at anytime of the day 5 6 7 6 6

I have a specific type of cars that I would always


4 4 9 6 7
want to rent

I always book cars in advance 7 9 4 5 5

I always face troubles regarding the time of taking or


5 5 7 7 6
returning the car

The renting price always varies without prior notice 8 7 5 5 5

I can always find my favorite car type available 8 8 6 4 4

My booking sometimes gets cancelled by the renter


5 5 4 7 9
without prior notice

I always get the car on time as I book it 5 8 6 6 5

Table 4.5 Respondents Perception on their regularity of renting cars

11 

You might also like