1.1 Introduction
Passenger loading system can be found in transport companies, which focus mainly on loading or unloading of passengers. The Passenger loading system can be used in vehicle seat reservation, seat number verification, and vehicles available for transport. The passenger is required to have a little knowledge on how to operate the computer, for seat booking purpose using automated loading system, needs. Hence one's ignorant on how to operate the computer tends to load to being unable to register for his journey.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Transportation is a very important concept involved in human life to ensure comfort and to reduce the level of stress in our daily lives. People today needs transportation to travel to their different destinations. In which these transportation companies uses manual approach to run their transportation Business. These manual approaches or loading system at the end tend to bring conflict and or even promote the level of conflict.
Hence due to these conflict and other problems an automated passenger loading system has to be introduced to promote and encourage these transportation company, and also lessen the work done manually, since a computer is been provided where each or any passenger that comes goes straight to it and enters the necessary information needed. Such information like, the fare, the passenger's name, Destination, address and phone number, sex and load weight if available e.t.c.
The computer hence specifies the Bus number where the passenger goes straight to pay and sit at the sit specified to him by the computer. The automated system is just aimed at replacing the manual approach with an automated i.e. computerized method by developing software that will simply carry out these works.
The challenges encountered that led to the execution of the research work is that, the manual approach, a lot of problem or negative development arises and hence an automated system is being develop to reduce these problem, and some problem are being involved in these automated loading approach includes: lack Of Finance, Indepth Knowledge Of Computer, and Increase In Price. This research work is based on providing adequate information about passenger transport records. At the end of this project, the research work, the software will be able to provide accurate passenger's records from the database.
1.3 Statement of the Problem
Investigation revealed that the existing system speed of processing data manually is low and prone to errors, current process is stressful to end-users and a lot of activities done manually were very uncomfortable. As a result of these manual approach, a lot of problem or negative development arises and hence an automated system is being develop to reduce these problem, and some problem are being involved in these automated loading approach includes:
- Lack of Finance: For these automated passengers loading system to be made complete a lot of money is involved, and lack of this money will lead to the inability to carryout these projects successfully.
- In-depth Knowledge Of Computer: For any passenger to be able to book on these automated loading system, him/her needs a little knowledge on how to operate the computer. Hence one's ignorant on how to operate the computer tends to load to being unable to register for his journey.
- Increase in Price: Since the automated system makes use of computer, for this to be made firm a computer is needed for operation. And these tend to increase the transport fee in other to meet up with computer requirements.
- Power Failure: Since the computer uses light or electricity to carry out its operation. The failure to provide this electricity means that the computer will not carry out its operation. Hence failure in power is also another problem involved in it.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to design and implement an Automated Passenger Loading System using Chisco Transportation Company Owerri, Imo State as a Case Study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To design a software that will provide and to promote the level of the passengers loading through the use of machine or computer instead of people doing the loading i.e. using the computer to have control that will work without the need of a person to do it.
- To develop a software on a personal computer in such a way that when a passenger enters the park. It goes to the computer and type in the following; Destination, Full names, Address and phone number, Sex, and Loading if any? Yes or No.
The computer haven received the various information display the bus number of the bus and specify the sit number on which the passenger would be assigned to.
1.5 Significance of Study
The significance of this study is to replace the manual loading system with a computerized loading process for the transportation companies.
Hence less the time wasted in the park by passengers in search of buses for their movement. Also to promote the activities of the transportation companies through computer reducing the stress and struggle of passengers and eliminates the unnecessary delay of passengers and reduce the conflict that arises in the park.
Also, it is aimed at ease the access to record since the computer automatically updates every information entered in it.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of these study focus on the loading system of passenger by the transportation computer just as Chisco Transportation Company, this scope is covered from developing an application software that will carry out the operation with the content just as can be seen in his above in 1.4.
In the scope of this study I don't intend to make provision for scratch card for the payment of the fee because these will make the process tedious and delay the passenger's time. In tend to stop after the payment for the fee of the traveling and the movement and location of the various buses to the passengers.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
Automated: The use of computers or machines in place of people.
Computer: An electronic device which is capable of accepting data through it's input unit and given its result through its output unit.
Software: These are program that controls the operation of the computer system.
