Students Information Biometrics Attendance System (SIBAS)
Feasibility Analysis
OUTLINE
1.
2.
3.
Technical Feasibility
1.1.
Understanding of Project Scope
1.2.
Functional Areas
1.3.
Technologies Used
1.4.
Project Size
1.5.
Development Size
1.6.
Size of Users
1.7.
Variation And Integration Difficulty With The Previous System
1.8.
Other Key Technicalities
Economic Feasibility
2.1.
Tangible Expenses Were Incurred With Development
2.2.
Operational Costs That Are Incurred To Keep The System Running
2.3.
Tangible Benefits Of SIBAS
2.4.
Intangible Costs And Benefits Incurred From The System
Organizational Feasibility
3.1.
How SIBAS Fits With The Business Strategy And Values Of PAU
3.2.
Project Champions
3.3.
System Users
3.4.
Compatibility And Acceptance
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TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY
UNDERSTANDING OF PROJECT SCOPE
The developers demonstrated a comprehensive grasp of the project's scope, which centered
around implementing a user-friendly biometrics attendance system. The primary objective was to
streamline attendance registration for students through seamless fingerprint scanning and facial
recognition.
FUNCTIONAL AREAS
User Authentication and Access Control
- Description: This functional area involves the implementation of user authentication
mechanisms, allowing lecturers, course coordinators, deans, and heads of departments to sign in
securely using their email and password.
- Key Features:
● Email and password authentication.
● Role-based access control to restrict functionalities based on user roles.
Biometric Enrollment and Verification
- Description: This area focuses on capturing and storing students' biometric data (fingerprint and
facial recognition) for attendance verification.
- Key Features:
● Biometric data enrollment for students.
● Real-time biometric verification during attendance marking.
Class Management
- Description: Handles the opening and closing of classes by lecturers, giving them control over
attendance sessions.
- Key Features:
● Lecturers can initiate and end attendance sessions.
Attendance Recording and Tracking
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- Description: Core functionality for recording, tracking, and managing attendance data.
- Key Features:
● Real-time recording of student attendance using biometrics(fingerprint and facial
recognition).
● Lecturers can remove students from the attendance list.
● Automated tracking of students' attendance history.
Attendance Reports
- Description: Generates comprehensive reports for various stakeholders to review attendance
details.
- Key Features:
● Course coordinators can view attendance details for each course.
● Deans can access school-wide attendance reports.
● Heads of departments can view department-specific attendance data.
● Lecturers can view attendance data for courses they teach.
Eligibility Management
- Description: Allows deans to manage student eligibility based on attendance percentages.
- Key Features:
● Deans can mark students as eligible based on attendance.
Printing Eligible Student Lists
- Description: Enables course coordinators to print lists of eligible students for various purposes.
- Key Features:
● Course coordinators can generate and print lists of eligible students.
TECHNOLOGIES USED
● Programming Language: Java was the primary programming language used for the
development of the desktop application. Python was the programming language used to
develop the facial recognition algorithm.
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● Integrated Development Environment (IDE): Apache NetBeans served as the integrated
development environment for coding and project management.
● Database Management: MySQL was employed as the database management system to
store and retrieve attendance data efficiently. SQLite was also used as a secondary
database for data caching to improve the efficiency of the system.
● Biometric Devices: Digital Persona fingerprint scanners and logitech cameras were
integrated to capture and verify student fingerprints and faces respectively during
attendance.
● Version Control System: Git was the version control system used for tracking changes
and collaboration among developers.
Developers were proficient in these technologies which was crucial for the successful
development and implementation of SIBAS.
PROJECT SIZE FOR SIBAS
Development Team:
● Number of Developers: A team of 4 developers.
● Roles: Developers, Database Administrators, UI/UX Designer, Project manager.
DEVELOPMENT TIME
The project’s development spanned from March 2023 to October 2023 (7 months),
encompassing planning, development, testing, and implementation phases.
SIZE OF USERS
● Students: Over 550 students across all departments in SST.
● Lecturers: Over 30 lecturers responsible for managing attendance.
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VARIATION AND INTEGRATION DIFFICULTY WITH THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM
● Previous System: The former system relied on manual attendance, where students signed
in on a piece of paper, and the course coordinator manually recorded the attendance.
● Variation: The biometrics attendance system brings automation by utilizing fingerprint
authentication and facial recognition, eliminating manual processes and reducing the
potential for errors.
● Integration Difficulty: Integrating the new system may pose some initial challenges due
to the shift from manual to automated processes. Training sessions and support will be
essential to ensure a smooth transition.
OTHER KEY TECHNICALITIES
● Maintenance and Upgrades: Regular maintenance checks and software updates will be
crucial to ensure system efficiency and security.
● User Training: Ongoing training programs for users, especially new students and
lecturers, to familiarize them with the system.
● Data Security: Implementing robust data security measures to protect sensitive attendance
information.
● Scalability: Ensuring the system can scale seamlessly with the growth in the number of
students and lecturers.
● User Training: Providing comprehensive training for students and course coordinators to
familiarize them with the new system.
● Data Accuracy: Regularly monitoring and ensuring the accuracy of attendance data
captured by the biometrics system.
● Feedback Mechanism: Establishing a feedback mechanism for users to report any issues
or suggestions for system improvement.
● Data Backup: Implementing a robust data backup strategy to prevent data loss in case of
unforeseen events.
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ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY
TANGIBLE EXPENSES WERE INCURRED WITH DEVELOPMENT
● Fingerprint Scanners:
○ Expense: Purchase of 13 fingerprint scanners for classrooms.
○ Cost: N45,000 x 13 classrooms in SST = N585,000.
● Logitech Cameras:
○ Expense: Acquisition of 13 Logitech cameras for capturing visual data.
○ Cost: N70,000 x 13 classrooms in SST = N910,000.
OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT ARE INCURRED TO KEEP THE SYSTEM RUNNING
FOR THIS SECTION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ESTIMATE PRICES THAT YOU FEEL
WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. AT THE MOMENT NO
OPERATIONAL COST HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR.
BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES FOR GUIDANCE.
N - - - ( means estimate price)
Maintenance and Technical Support
● Cost: Estimated annual maintenance cost for software updates, bug fixes, and technical
support.
● Annual Estimate: N - - -.
Equipment Upgrades
● Cost: Estimated annual cost for upgrading fingerprint scanners, cameras, or any hardware
components.
● Annual Estimate: N - - - (using the prices for hardware listed above, estimate and
research on how long a fingerprint scanner and camera can last before replacement,
which is not a regular expense).
Security Measures
● Cost: Estimated annual cost for implementing and maintaining security measures to
protect biometric data.
● Annual Estimate: N - - -.
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Backup and Disaster Recovery
● Cost: Estimated annual cost for implementing and maintaining backup and disaster
recovery solutions.
● Annual Estimate: N - - - (IT department already handles this).
License Renewals
● Cost: Estimated annual cost for renewing software licenses associated with the
attendance system.
● Annual Estimate: N - - - (Research on cost for copyright, patent and trademark in
Nigeria).
Energy Consumption
● Cost: Estimated annual cost for powering the necessary hardware components.
● Annual Estimate: N - - - (School already covers this, difficult to estimate).
TANGIBLE BENEFITS OF SIBAS
N - - - ( means estimate price)
Reduction in Manual Labor
● Benefit: The automated system reduces the need for manual attendance tracking by
Course Coordinators. The manual method meant the Course Coordinator had to process
over 6,000 attendance sheets with over 550 students manually per semester, which is time
consuming and stressful.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings in staff salaries dedicated to
attendance-related tasks: N - - Paper and Printing Cost Savings
● Benefit: The transition to a digital system eliminates the need for paper-based attendance
sheets and reduces printing costs.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings in paper and printing costs:
- N 10,000 for 1 ream(500 sheets of paper)
- 14 departments in SST x 15 weeks x 5 days x 6 periods a day = 6,300 attendance sheets
with over 550 students in SST and an average of 50 students per class
- N - - - for printer ink
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Minimized Errors and Discrepancies
● Benefit: Automation reduces errors associated with manual attendance recording,
minimizing the need for corrective measures.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings in resources spent on addressing
attendance-related errors: N - - -.
Efficiency Gains in Reporting
● Benefit: The system's reporting capabilities streamline the generation of attendance
reports, saving time and resources.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings in man-hours spent on manual report
generation: N - - -.
Reduced Administrative Overheads
● Benefit: The system's automation reduces administrative overhead associated with
attendance management.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings in administrative costs: N - - -.
Improved Compliance and Accountability
● Benefit: Enhanced compliance with attendance policies contributes to a more accountable
educational environment.
● Monetary Value: Estimated annual savings through improved accountability: N - - -.
INTANGIBLE COSTS AND BENEFITS INCURRED FROM THE SYSTEM
Intangible Costs
● Resistance to Change: The implementation of SIBAS faced resistance from some
stakeholders who were accustomed to the traditional methods. The intangible cost is the
potential impact on morale and motivation during the transition.
● Training Time: The time spent on training staff and students to use the new system is an
intangible cost. While not directly monetized, the investment in training contributes to a
smooth adoption process.
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● Perceived Privacy Concerns: Intangible costs may arise from concerns about privacy,
especially regarding the collection and use of biometric data. Negative perceptions could
affect the system's acceptance.
Intangible Benefits
● Improved Accuracy: Although challenging to quantify, the intangible benefit of improved
attendance accuracy contributes to a more reliable record-keeping system, reducing
disputes and errors associated with manual methods.
● Enhanced Security: The use of biometrics adds an intangible layer of security, mitigating
the risk of attendance fraud where students fake attendance slips for exams. This benefit
is challenging to quantify but contributes to a safer and more controlled environment.
● Enhanced Record Accessibility: The system facilitates quicker access to attendance
records, reducing the time students need to inquire about their attendance status.
● Prevention of Forgery: By employing biometrics, the system mitigates the risk of
attendance slip forgery, ensuring the integrity of attendance data for exams and academic
assessments.
● Sustainability and Green Initiatives: Moving to a digital system aligns with sustainability
goals, reducing the need for paper and manual record-keeping. While not directly
monetized, this aligns with broader organizational values.
● Time Savings: While difficult to put an exact monetary value on, the time saved by
automating attendance tracking translates to increased efficiency for both students and
faculty.
● Enhanced Reputation: A modern and efficient attendance system contributes to PAU's
image as forward-thinking and technologically advanced. This intangible benefit can
positively impact PAU’s reputation.
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ORGANIZATIONAL FEASIBILITY
HOW SIBAS FITS WITH THE BUSINESS STRATEGY AND VALUES OF PAU
SIBAS aligns with the business strategy and values of Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) and the
School of Science and Technology (SST) by contributing to the university's mission of nurturing
competent, creative, and socially responsible individuals.
The implementation of SIBAS within the School of Science and Technology (SST) directly
aligns with Pan-Atlantic University's broader business strategy and core values. The key points
of alignment include:
● Professional Competence: The project enhances the professionalism of the academic
environment by introducing a sophisticated attendance tracking system. This aligns with
PAU's goal of nurturing professionally competent individuals.
● Creativity and Innovation: The use of biometrics technology demonstrates a commitment
to innovation and creativity in academic processes. PAU values creative solutions that
contribute to a dynamic and progressive learning environment.
● Ethical Decision-Making: The project incorporates ethical considerations by
implementing secure and privacy-conscious measures in handling biometric data. This
aligns with PAU's emphasis on morally upright decision-making.
● Positive Agents of Change: By introducing modern technology to streamline attendance
tracking, the project contributes to creating positive agents of change. It reflects PAU's
vision of producing graduates who can make positive contributions to society.
● Service to Society: The biometrics attendance system directly serves the educational
needs of students and faculty, enhancing the overall quality of service within the
university. This aligns with PAU's commitment to service to society.
PROJECT CHAMPIONS
The dean of the School of Science and Technology(SST), the Head of Department of Computer
Science, some key lecturers, course coordinator, university board, and IT department personnel
collectively endorsed and actively supported SIBAS.
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SYSTEM USERS
● Faculty Members: Lecturers, Course Coordinators, HODs and Deans are the primary
users of the system. They appreciate the streamlined attendance tracking process,
reducing manual effort and providing real-time insights into student attendance.
● Students: Students use the system to register their attendance, appreciating the efficiency
and accuracy compared to traditional methods.
COMPATIBILITY AND ACCEPTANCE
● Course Coordinator: The system aligns with their vision for leveraging technology to
enhance academic processes. Its compatibility lies in its user-friendly interface and
potential to significantly reduce administrative burdens related to attendance tracking and
eliminating attendance sheets.
● Faculty Members: The project is acceptable to faculty as it simplifies attendance
recording, allowing them to focus more on teaching. Training sessions and ongoing
support will ensure user acceptance.
● Students: The system's compatibility with students stems from its convenience,
eliminating the need for manual attendance sheets. Also from the convenience of viewing
attendance records which is more efficient and faster than the manual method.
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