RentIn: A Boarding House Finder Using TOPSIS Method

A Thesis by

RJ Kislew M. Getes
Glenn A. Abacahin

Submitted to the Department of Information Technology

College of Computing and Information Sciences (CCIS)
Caraga State University – Main Campus

In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

April 2023
 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Boarding houses are the top choice for students and individuals who are looking for
affordable and convenient accommodation, but finding the most suitable place to stay can be a
challenging and time-consuming task especially for those who are unfamiliar and new to an
area (Hamzam et al., 2022). To resolve this issue, several online platforms and applications have
been developed to provide information about available boarding houses nearby (Anwar and
Purnama, 2022). However, most of these systems lack personalized and comprehensive
boarding houses recommendation systems that consider the preferences and needs of students
(Gunawan, 2021). This study is motivated by the research gaps in the field of boarding house
finders specifically, in the use of multi-criteria decision-making approaches and the TOPSIS
method in the context of finding suitable boarding houses for students (Das et al., 2021).

The inadequate use of multi-criteria decision-making techniques when looking for

suitable student boarding places is one of the main research gaps. Multi-criteria decision-making
techniques take into account several criteria when making decisions, and they can be used to
provide students recommendations that are more thorough and precise (Thakkar, 2021).
Despite their widespread use in various fields, there is a lack of their application in the context
of boarding house finders.

The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method's
lack in the implementation in boarding house recommendation systems represents another area
of research that has to be filled. Even though TOPSIS has been used in various fields such as
supplier selection and project selection, the TOPSIS method has not received much study
attention in terms of the boarding house recommendation system (Zulqarnain et al., 2020).
Moreover, there is a lack of studies that have used the potential of the TOPSIS method to
develop personalized and comprehensive boarding house recommendation systems. Existing
studies have often focused on providing information about boarding houses, but have not
developed decision-making models that take into account the preferences and needs of
students (Das et al., 2021).
 This study aims to develop a boarding house finder using one of the most popular
Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods which is the Technique for Order Preference by
Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. By using TOPSIS method in a boarding house
finder, this can provide an objective approach to evaluate and rank the boarding houses based
on multiple criteria.

1.2 Problem Statement

The increasing number of students of Caraga State University – Main Campus coming
from neighboring provinces means a high demand of boarding houses for the students to stay.
Despite the availability of online platforms that provide information on available boarding
houses, looking for a suitable place to stay is difficult and has been the problem of the students
who are not familiar with the place. They tend to roam around the place to look for a boarding
house or just follow the recommendation of their trusted acquaintance that limits the options
and might not suit the student’s preference. Most existing boarding house finders lack a
personalized(?) recommendation system that takes the preference of the student. This research
gap is compounded by the inadequate use of multi-criteria decision-making techniques that
could potentially provide a thorough recommendation to students. In addition, the use of the
TOPSIS method in the boarding house recommendation system is unexplored, with several
studies investigating its potential for developing comprehensive recommendation systems.
Therefore, the main problem of this study is how to develop

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.3.1 General Objective

To develop a boarding house finder using TOPSIS method for the students of Caraga
State University, Main Campus.

1.3.2 Specific Objective

1. To identify the criteria to be used in the evaluation of boarding houses.

 2. To apply the TOPSIS method to evaluate and rank the available boarding houses based
on the identified criteria.
3. To develop a web-based application that allows users to search and compare boarding
houses based on their preferences.

1.4 Significance of the Study

The proposed boarding house finder provides a solution to the problem of finding a
suitable boarding house for the students of Caraga State University that meets the preferences
of the students. This will help students in making informed decisions and reduce time and effort
in finding a suitable place to stay. The proposed web-based application will make it easier for
the students to find and compare different boarding houses.

1.5 Research Questions

1. What are the criteria that should be considered to evaluate the boarding house?
2. How can the TOPSIS method be implemented to evaluate the boarding house finder that
considers multiple criteria?
3. How effective is the TOPSIS method in ranking the boarding houses based on the user’s
preference?
4. How can the boarding house finder be improved to meet the needs of the user?

1.6 Conceptual Framework

 Figure 1. Use case diagram

Figure 1 indicates the activity of the admin, user and boarding house owner in the
system. It shows the different interactions and uses cases for the different actors in the system.
The admin manages the overall system, including approving new boarding houses and
managing tenant information. Users/tenants can search for and view available boarding houses,
and contact boarding house owners for more information. Boarding house owners can add new
listings and manage their existing listings. By categorizing the use cases, it becomes easier to
understand the different interactions between the actors and the system and to identify the
features and functionality that are necessary for the successful operation of the web-based
boarding house finder system.
 CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Introduction

This chapter presents an overview of the literature related to the research objective (1)
identification of criteria for evaluating boarding houses, (2) application of TOPSIS method with
the topics: (i) Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), (ii) Multi-Criteria Decision Making Models,
and (iii) TOPSIS Method and its Application, and (3) development a web-based application that
allows users to search and compare boarding houses based on their preferences.

2.2 Criteria for Evaluating Boarding Houses

Several studies have identified the criteria that students consider in selecting a boarding
house. A study conducted by Afma et al. (2019) identified that price, location, facility, security
and environment are the factors that the students consider in choosing a boarding house.
Similarly, a study made by Pradana et al. (2019) found that security, price, location, facilities,
environment and service are the factors that students used to evaluate in selecting a boarding
house.

In addition to these criteria, the studies of Hati and Sari (2020) and Oktavallyan et al.
(2021) have also identified that building condition, service and reputation are some factors that
need to be considered in selecting a boarding house.

2.2 Application of TOPSIS

2.2.1 Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM)

An important topic of operation research that examines decision-making processes that

people encounter regularly is called multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM). Scholars have
created a variety of MCDM tools that depend on the way the decision-making problem behaves.
In the MCDM process, participants select the top options based on pre-established criteria. This
method has been used in a variety of contexts, including those related to the economy, society,
and environment (Majumder et al., 2020). By using particular criteria to evaluate multiple
possibilities, MCDM aids in appraising complex real-world situations. It simplifies complicated
problems into simpler parts and, after putting all the parts together, presents a complete view of
the situation. It is crucial to define and take into account precise criteria in advance, especially
when dealing with complex challenges. Decision-makers can assess multiple factors through the
use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) processes (Ghaleb et al., 2020).

2.2.2 Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Models

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods provide the necessary tools for

decision-makers in selecting the most appropriate one among multiple alternatives in case of
multiple conflicting criteria (Çelikbilek and Tüysüz, 2020). Various MCDM methods such as AHP,
GRA, ELECTRE, PROMETHEE, TOPSIS, etc. have emerged in the recent past and it has their
own advantages and disadvantages. According to the type of data and the number of
decision-making processes involved, MCDM approaches are categorized. Certain MCDM
techniques are appropriate in certain circumstances, but other applications completely avoid
utilizing them (Muruganantham and Gandhi, 2020).

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) allows for an organized approach to

decision-making by breaking down difficult decisions into smaller components (Önüt and Soner,
2020). The Grey Rational Analysis (GRA) is a technique for making decisions that is based on
the grey system theory and offers a way to model issues that involve uncertainty and
incomplete knowledge (Xu et al., 2019). The ELECTRE (ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la
REalité) is a well-liked MCDM model that is used to rank alternatives by taking various factors
into account. It is a non-compensatory outranking method, which means that it does not allow
trade-offs between criteria, instead evaluating each alternative based on how much it meets or
surpasses each criterion. The PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization METHod for
Enrichment Evaluation) is a well-liked MCDM model that is used to rank alternatives by taking
various factors into account. Being an outranking method, PROMETHEE evaluates each
alternative to every other alternative depending on how well they perform in relation to each
criterion. Following that, the model creates a preference score for each choice using the
pairwise comparisons. The TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal
Solution) a popular MCDM model, TOPSIS rates options according to how close they are to ideal
solutions and how far they are from undesirable ideal solutions (Mardani et al., 2019).

2.2.3 TOPSIS Method and its Application

Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a

multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method developed by Hwang and Yoon in 1981, is used
to identify, evaluate and rank a set of alternatives based on multiple criteria (Çelikbilek and
Tüysüz, 2020).

According to (Dhanalakshmi et al., 2020), the TOPSIS approach is used as follows:

Step 1: Normalization of the evaluation matrix : it can be calculated by

normalization methods.

Step 2: Calculation of weighted normalized decision matrix by the multiplication of

normalized evaluation matrix with its associated weight .

where is weights of criteria and is normalized matrix.

Step 3: Identification of the positive and negative ideal solutions.

 The positive ideal solution B∗ for the best favorable alternative

The negative ideal solution B− for the least favorable alternative

Step 4: Calculation of separation measures.

is the separation from the positive ideal.

is the separation from the negative ideal.

Step 5: Calculation of the relative proximity: the relative proximity ( )

values are used to rank the alternatives.

Step 6: Alternatives are ranked according to the descending order of

TOPSIS is a simple ranking method in conception and application. This method attempts
to choose alternatives that simultaneously have the shortest distance from the positive ideal
solution and the farthest distance from the negative-ideal solution. The positive ideal solution
maximizes the benefit criteria and minimizes the cost criteria, whereas the negative ideal
solution maximizes the cost criteria and minimizes the benefit criteria (Yu and Pan, 2021).
TOPSIS makes full use of attribute information, provides a cardinal ranking of alternatives, and
does not require attribute preferences to be independent.

Several studies have used the TOPSIS method in developing decision-making systems
and most commonly used in selection systems, management systems, performance evaluation
and more. The study of Zulqarnain et al. (2020) used the TOPSIS method to select the best
medical clinic for disease diagnosis considering multiple criteria such as reputation, service
quality, medical facilities, and doctor expertise. The result of the study indicates that the TOPSIS
method is an effective and objective approach for selecting the best medical clinic.
 Rehman et al. (2020) also utilized the TOPSIS method to select wind turbines based on
multiple criteria including hub height, wind speed, and annual energy production to identify the
most compatible turbine in the given location. The TOPSIS approach shows to be robust and
effective compared to other decision-making techniques, emphasizing the importance of
selecting a turbine that maximizes energy generation from wind farms for a sustainable future.

Another study proposed by Abd Rahim et al. (2020) used the TOPSIS model to evaluate,
compare, and rank Malaysian construction companies based on their financial performance
using financial relations. The researchers found that TOPSIS effectively evaluated the financial
performance of the companies and consequently rank them. The research highlights the
applicability of TOPSIS in the financial evaluation of the construction sector in Malaysia.

In relation to the boarding house finder using TOPSIS, Juhri (2021) developed a
web-based cat boarding system intended to make the reservation process easier for customers
and staff. The researcher utilized the TOPSIS method to recommend boarding packages to
customers based on the user’s preference. The customer can also choose boarding packages for
their cats such as grooming service and provides updates on their cat’s stay while they are
away. The project aims to offer a user-friendly approach for customers and staff, improve
management efficiency, and help customers find a safe place for their cats.

In parallel with the Juhri’s study, Muslihudin et al. (2019) proposed TOPSIS as a decision
support system for the selection of kindergarten with the aim to help parents in making
informed decisions in choosing a kindergarten for their child. The proposed system utilizes
TOPSIS to rank the kindergartens based on the parents' preferences including location, tuition
fees, facilities, and quality of education. The results showed that the proposed system is
effective in providing a decision-making tool for parents in selecting a kindergarten and
highlights the importance of utilizing decision support systems in making informed decisions,
especially in critical areas such as education.

In conclusion, the use of TOPSIS is applicable in a boarding house finder since it

supports and serves as a decision-making tool for those individuals who are looking for a
boarding house by considering multiple criteria to meet the needs and preferences of the user.

2.1.1 Development of Boarding House Applications

 Boarding house is the top option for individuals such as students and workers whose
residence is far from school or workplace since it is affordable and a convenient place to stay.
However, finding a boarding house can be challenging because there are many things to
consider including location, cost, facilities and more and the traditional way of finding a
boarding house takes a lot of time and effort (Hamzam et al., 2022).

In the present day, there are several studies that proposed the development of a
boarding house finder to address the problem. Home-Bro developed by Sahagun and Flores
(2019), the researchers made this study to aid the university’s lacking field in terms of support
to students regarding housing services. It also provides a service apartment locator that helps
the needs and likings of the students and it is connected into a database to help the university
to monitor current tenancy of the students.

According to the study of Consignado et al (2017) HAYBOL, is an apartment locator

application with the purpose of finding apartments and boarding houses near the user’s
location. This application also helps owners promote their businesses. HAYBOL provides a
search filter that gathers user requirements to meet their standards in selecting apartments and
boarding houses.

Similarly, the study of Abella et al (2017) developed a mobile application using Global
Positioning System (GPS) named Board Me App to help the students and tenants to find the
nearest boarding houses located in Sampaloc, Manila. It also provides the contact information
of every boarding house owner so that the user can contact the landlords for their other
concerns.
 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

This chapter presents the methodology used to develop the proposed boarding house
finder. This study will be conducted in three phases: (1) identification of criteria for evaluating
boarding houses, (2) application of TOPSIS method to evaluate and rank the available boarding
houses based on the identified criteria, and (3) development a web-based application that
allows users to search and compare boarding houses based on their preferences.

3.2 Data Collection

The data in this study will be collected through surveys and interviews with boarding
house owners and the students of Caraga State University - Main Campus who live in boarding
houses. The survey will be conducted face-to-face interviews or focus group discussion and
online using Google forms that will be distributed to the 50 students who are currently living in
boarding houses. The survey consists of the collection of information about the criteria that the
respondents consider when selecting a boarding house.
After the criteria is being defined, surveys and interviews will be conducted for the
boarding house owners that consists of the gathering of information of the boarding house
based on the identified criteria.

3.1. Data Analysis

Application sa topsis

3.1. Software Development

The boarding house finder will be developed using ()

3. Project Implementation Method

 Figure n. Waterfall Model

Waterfall model is the chosen model to develop the proposed boarding house finder.
Waterfall model is a step-by-step approach that progresses in a linear manner through all
phases such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment and
maintenance where each phase is needed to be done before moving on to the next phase.

3.3 TOPSIS Method

TOPSIS algorithm will be used to rank boarding houses based on the user's criteria by
calculating the distance between each alternative and the ideal solution, as well as the distance
between each alternative and the worst solution.
TOPSIS in a boarding house finder involves the following steps:
1. Defining the criteria: Outline the criteria that will be used to rank the boarding houses.
2. Weighting to the criteria: Weighting each criterion based on its relative importance to
the user.
3. Data normalization: The data are then normalized so that each criterion has the same
scale to ensure that no single criterion dominates the ranking process.
 4. Creating the decision matrix: The normalized data is then used to construct a decision
matrix. The decision matrix is a table that lists the values for each criterion for each
alternative.
5. Calculating the weighted normalized decision matrix: Each criterion is multiplied by its
weight, and then the results for each choice are added up
6. Determining the ideal and worst solutions: Determined based on the highest and lowest
values in the weighted normalized decision matrix.
7. Calculating the distance from the ideal and worst solutions: each alternative is then
calculated using a mathematical formula.
8. Calculation of the relative proximity: A different mathematical method is the n used to
determine how close each alternative is to the ideal answer.
9. Ranking the alternatives: The boarding houses are then ranked based on their relative
closeness to the ideal solution.
By using TOPSIS in a boarding house finder, users can quickly and easily identify the best
boarding houses based on their individual needs and preferences.

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