Final year project proposal

MyTravel Guide: A Personalized Google Maps

Companion for Travelers
Maleeha Farooqui | 1002060644

Maliawaris1456@gmail.com

Supervisor: Dr. shayla

A. Background

"MyTravelGuide: A Personalized Google Maps Companion for Travelers" is a project that aims
to provide tourists with a user-friendly and personalized trip planning experience. The project
builds user interfaces with the React.js framework and combines them with the Google Maps
API to give accurate and up-to-date location information.

The project's aim is to solve the difficulties that tourists encounter while planning and arranging
their travels, such as navigating foreign territories, discovering local attractions and hotels, and
managing their money. Many existing travel apps give basic information about famous locations
and activities but fall short of offering a full and personalized vacation planning experience.

The "MyTravelGuide" initiative aims to address this issue simply by providing users with a
customized dashboard displaying relevant information about their present location, such as
weather, traffic, and surrounding attractions. Users may also set and remember their preferences
for future travels, such as favorite attractions, preferred means of transportation, and financial
limits, using the dashboard.

The "MyTravelGuide" project is responsive and accessible, which means it can be used on a
wide range of devices and platforms and is simple to use for those with impairments or restricted
access to technology. The project also prioritizes user privacy and security and adheres to all
applicable data protection laws and regulations.
The "MyTravelGuide" project's overall goal is to give tourists a thorough and personalized trip
planning experience, as well as motivate more people to travel and easily discover new places.

B. Problem Statement
Traveling to new or unexpected areas may be thrilling but sometimes intimidating,
particularly when navigating an unfamiliar country. Many visitors use Google Maps to find
their way around, but the application itself can be intimidating and difficult to customize.
Furthermore, many visitors may wish to identify local activities, restaurants, or lodgings
which suit their needs and budget.
Existing travel applications frequently give basic information about famous places and
attractions but fall short of offering a thorough and personalized vacation planning
experience. They also have problems with outdated information, bad user interfaces, and a
lack of ratings and suggestions.
As a result, there is a demand for a travel app that solves these concerns while also providing
a dependable, user-friendly, and personalized trip planning experience. "MyTravelGuide: A
Personalized Google Maps Companion for Travelers" seeks to address this issue by
providing users with a customizable dashboard that shows relevant information about their
present location, such as weather, traffic, and surrounding attractions. Users may also set and
remember their preferences for future travels, such as favorite attractions, preferred means of
transportation, and financial limits, using the dashboard.
Furthermore, the project has a search option that allows users to easily identify nearby
attractions, restaurants, and hotels that match their interests and budget. Users may filter and
sort results based on location, rating, price, and other factors, and full information about each
result, such as reviews, images, and contact information, is displayed.
The problem statement for "MyTravelGuide" is to give passengers a personalized and user-
friendly vacation planning experience by solving challenges such as overwhelming and
difficult-to-personalize navigation and discovery experiences. The project's goal is to create a
comprehensive solution that goes beyond basic information and gives users tools for
planning and organizing their travels, such as itinerary planning, booking administration, and
budget tracking. The initiative also intends to give users access to user evaluations and
suggestions, as well as to make it simple for them to share their own experiences and
recommendations with others.
 "MyTravelGuide" can assist users plan and manage their vacations more effectively and
enjoyably by solving these concerns and delivering a complete and personalized travel
planning experience, encouraging more people to travel and explore new areas.

C. Aim
The aim of the "MyTravelGuide: A Personalized Google Maps Companion for Travelers"
project is to give travelers with a personalized and user-friendly travel planning experience
by solving the difficulties they encounter when planning and arranging their travels. The
project's goal is to create a comprehensive solution that goes beyond basic information and
gives users tools for planning and organizing their travels, such as itinerary planning,
booking administration, and budget tracking. The objective is to inspire more people to travel
and discover new places with confidence and comfort.

D. Objectives
A. To give users a personalized dashboard that shows helpful information about their
present location, such as weather, traffic, and surrounding attractions, as well as the
ability to configure and remember their preferences for future travels.
B. To develop a search function that enables users to quickly locate nearby points of interest,
eateries, and lodging that suit their needs and price range, and to provide them the ability
to filter and sort search results based on location, rating, price, and other factors.
C. To ensure that sure the application is both responsive and accessible, which means it can
be used on a range of platforms and devices and is simple to use for those who have
impairments or restricted access to technology.
D. To prioritize user security and privacy and to abide by all applicable rules and laws on
data protection.
E. To test, monitor, and constantly enhance the application based on user input and cutting-
edge technological advancements in order to make sure it is operating correctly and
efficiently.
E. Justification
How the project will meet the requirements of my course:
 This project satisfies the specifications of my course's web development or software
engineering part. The project can provide me with actual experience in front-end
programming and API integration because it combines the Google Maps API and builds user
interfaces using the React.js framework. The project also covers crucial subjects like user
experience, accessibility, security, and deployment, which can aid in my quest to gain a
comprehensive grasp of best practices for web development.
Why the topic interests me:
My passion in travel and tourism is really strong. The "MyTravelGuide" initiative intends to
offer tourists a personalized and user-friendly trip planning experience that may assist them
in overcoming the difficulties of traversing uncharted territory, discovering local attractions
and lodgings, and managing their budget. The capacity to travel to new places with ease and
confidence may significantly enhance one's personal development and educational
opportunities, as well as the tourist sector and local economies.
What I will gain from the project:
I can acquire hands-on expertise in front-end programming, API integration, user experience,
accessibility, security, and deployment in web development and software engineering. I may
also learn more about the travel and tourism sector, especially about traveler habits,
preferences, and difficulties as well as how technology might help with them. Working on a
project like "MyTravelGuide" can also give me useful portfolio material and practical
experience that will help me stand out on the job market or develop my career.
F. Scope
Following is a description of the scope broke down into relevant sections: -\
1. End users: Travelers who wish to plan and arrange their journeys more effectively and
enjoyably are the application's intended end users. The program may be utilized on a
range of devices and platforms and can be accessed through a web-based interface.
2. System Features: The following are the key features and functions that will be
developed for the system:
 Dashboard that is customized to provide pertinent data about the
present area, like the weather, traffic, and surrounding attractions.
  Customization of user preferences for upcoming travels, including
favorite landmarks, go-to forms of transportation, and financial
limitations.
 Use the search option to identify local eateries, lodging, and activities
that suit the user's needs and budget.
 Search results may be sorted and filtered according to location, rating,
price, and other factors.
 Display of comprehensive information about search results, including
comments, images, and contact details.

3. Technical requirements: The application's front-end will be built with React.js and
will interface with the Google Maps API to offer accurate and up-to-date location
information. Using an automated deployment method, the application will be
delivered to a safe and dependable hosting platform, such as AWS or Google Cloud
Platform.
4. Areas not covered: The following areas will not be covered in the project:
 Itinerary planning and booking management
 Budgettracking
 Social media integration
 Language translation for non-English speaking users

G. Approach and Deliverables

a) Development Approach:
The "MyTravelGuide: A Personalized Google Maps Companion for Travelers" project will
be developed using an agile methodology. Agile development places an emphasis on
flexibility, collaboration, and continual improvement, making it ideal for web development
projects that require many revisions and user input. The project team will work in sprints of
two to four weeks, prioritizing the additions and functions that bring the most value to end
customers.

b) Research Approach:
The project's research strategy will include collecting requirements from end users and
stakeholders, as well as performing user testing and surveys to gain feedback and evaluate
the application's efficacy. In addition, the project team will perform market research to better
understand the competitive environment and discover upcoming trends and technologies that
may be included in the application.

c) Methods and Tools:

 Requirements gathering: Interviews, surveys, and focus groups will be used to
gather requirements from end users and stakeholders. This will help to ensure that the
application meets the needs and expectations of the target users.

 Design: Wireframing and prototyping tools, such as Sketch and Figma, will be used
to develop the application's design. The design will be based on best practices for user
experience and accessibility.

 Development: The application will be developed using React.js for the front-end and
will integrate with the Google Maps API to provide accurate and up-to-date location
information. The project team will use version control tools, such as GitHub, to
manage changes to the codebase andensure code quality.

 Testing: Unit tests, integration tests, and acceptance tests will be used to ensure that
the application is functioning correctly and efficiently. The project team will use
testing frameworks, such as Jest and Enzyme, to automate testing.

 Deployment: The application will be deployed to a secure and reliable hosting

platform, such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform, using an automated deployment
process, such as AWS CodePipeline or Jenkins.

d) Justification:
The methods and tools chosen are in line with best practices for software development
and are appropriate for web development projects. Agile methodology promotes
 flexibility and collaboration, which is critical for a project like "MyTravelGuide" that
requires regular revisions and customer feedback. The usage of wireframing and
prototyping tools aids in ensuring that the design of the application is user-friendly and
accessible. The usage of React.js and the Google Maps API offers a solid basis for the
creation of the application, while version control tools and testing frameworks aid in
ensuring code quality and efficient testing. Finally, automated deployment techniques aid
in ensuring that the application is deployed fast and reliably, reducing downtime and
guaranteeing a consistent user experience.
H. Major Milestone

Task Name Start Date End Date Duration

Planning
Determining the
4th May 7th may 5 days
Project Title
Conduct Feasibility
7th May 9th May 2days
Study
Writing the
9th May 30-May 22 days
Proposal
Submitting First
Draft of Proposal to 3oth May 30thMay 1 day
Supervisor
Submitting the
2nd june 2nd june 1 day
Finalized Proposal
Proposal
2nd june 2nd june 1 day
Presentation

I. Constraints and Assumptions

Constraints

 Limits on the amount of API queries allowed per day or month, which may affect the
number of search results or data available for each location.
 Changes in API endpoints or answer formats that necessitate application code upgrades
are examples of technical restrictions with the Google Maps API or other APIs.
  Compatibility concerns with various web browsers or devices, which may necessitate
more testing and development.
 Time restrictions for project completion may necessitate prioritizing of some features or
functionality over others.
 Limited resources or tools for developing and operating the program, such as server
space constraints or access to third-party libraries.

Assumptions

 Users prefer a visual interface for exploring areas and searching for and displaying points
of interest on a map.
 Users are familiar with Google Maps and are at ease looking for and navigating on the
map.
 Users may save destinations for future reference and utilize the favorites list as a trip
planning tool.

 Users' technical skills may vary, thus the program should be straightforward and simple
to use for a wide variety of users.
 Users may want to share their vacation plans or favorite spots with others; therefore the
app should provide social sharing options or connectivity with other platforms.
 Users may have privacy concerns about their location data, so the application should be
transparent about how data is collected and used and include appropriate privacy settings.

J. Resources
To complete this project, I will need the following resources:
 Google Maps API for location data
 React.js for building the user interface
 Optional Yelp API for additional location information
 Hosting service for deployment, such as Heroku or Netlify
 Code editor for writing and editing code
 Git and GitHub for managing code and collaborating
 Design tools for wireframes and mockups
 Testing tools for ensuring functionality.
 K. Major risks

Risk Possible Fall-back Position

Technical risks: It's possible for the

Check the API often for changes, and test the application's
Google Maps API or other APIs to
compliance. If API updates are made, make sure the
change suddenly, leading to
application still works by using API versioning and
compatibility problems or unanticipated
fallbacks.
failures.

Security risks: The application may be

To prevent attacks, use secure coding techniques like
vulnerable to security threats, such as
parameterized queries and input validation. To secure user
SQL injection or cross-site scripting
data, deploy security measures like firewalls and encryption.
attacks.

Performance risks: If the code is not

optimized for performance or if the Test the code's performance frequently, and speed and
program receives a lot of data from efficiency should be improved. Reduce the demand on the
APIs, it may perform poorly or load API by using caching and other methods to enhance speed..
slowly.

User acceptance risks: The app didn't

To make sure the app satisfies user demands, conduct
meet users' demands or expectations,
usability testing and user research. Regularly ask people for
which might lead to poor adoption or
input, then act on it to update and enhance your website.
unfavorable reviews.

Track the progress and costs of the project often, and make
Resource risks: The project could take
any adjustments to the project plan to stay on schedule.
longer, cost more, or demand more
Think about managing the project and assigning activities a
resources than expected, which might
priority based on their significance and effect using agile
cause delays or budget overruns.
development approaches like scrum or kanban.

L. Project plan

1. Planning Phase:
 Define project scope and objectives
 Conduct stakeholder analysis
 Develop project plan and schedule
 Identify and assess project risks
  Create project budget
 Develop project communication plan
 Develop project requirements document
 Develop user personas and user stories

2. System Development Phase:

:
 Set up development environment and tools
 Develop the user interface using React.js
 Integrate Google Maps API and other APIs as needed
 Develop data models and server-side functionality as needed
 Conduct unit and integration testing
 Deploy the application to a hosting service, such as Heroku or Netlify
 Conduct user acceptance testing
 Conduct load testing and performance tuning
 Address any bugs or issues that are discovered
 Launch the application to the public
 Monitor and maintain the application, including bug fixes, updates, and security
patches
 Collect and analyze user feedback, and make updates and improvementsas necessary
 Perform regular maintenance tasks, such as backups and software updates

3. Report Writing Phase:

 Write project documentation, including project plan, requirements document, user
documentation, and technical documentation
 Create user manuals and training materials
 Conduct final project review and evaluation
 Submit final project report
M. References
1. Kothari, T.; Xiang, Z.; Fesenmaier, D.R. The impact of a marketing information system: A
case study of Smart-Baltimore. Inf. Technol. Tour. 2008, 10, 59–74. [CrossRef]
2. Battino, S.; Balletto, G.; Borruso, G.; Donato, C. Internal Areas and Smart Tourism.
Promoting Territories in Sardinia Island. In Proceedings of the International Conference on
Computational Science and Its Applications, Melbourne, Australia, 2–5 July 2018; Springer:
Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2018; pp. 44–57.
3. Buhalis, D. Technology in tourism-from information communication technologies to
eTourism and smart tourism towards ambient intelligence tourism: A perspective article.
Tour. Rev. 2019, 75, 267–272. [CrossRef]
4. Wan, C.B. Flourishing through smart tourism: Experience patterns for co-designing
technology-mediated traveller experiences. Des. J. 2018, 21, 163–172. [CrossRef]
5. De Lange, M. From real-time city to asynchronicity: Exploring the real-time smart city
dashboard. In Time for Mapping; Manchester University Press: Manchester, UK, 2018; pp.
238–255.
6. Balletto, G.; Borruso, G.; Donato, C. City Dashboards and the Achilles’ Heel of Smart
Cities: Putting Governance in Action and in Space. In Computational Science and Its
Applications–ICCSA 2018; Gervasi, O.,Murgante, B., Misra, S., Stankova, E.N., Torre,
C.M., Rocha, A.M.A.C., Taniar, D., Apduhan, B.O., Tarantino, E.,Ryu, Y., Eds.; Springer:
Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2018; pp. 654–668.