UNIVERSITITEKNOLOGI MARA DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE OF WEB BASED CAR RENTAL SYSTEM USING DATA MATCHING TECHNIQUE
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UNIVERSITITEKNOLOGI MARA
DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE OF WEB
BASED CAR RENTAL SYSTEM
USING DATA MATCHING TECHNIQUE
FARIZA BINTIHAMZAN
2004107903
Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Information Technology
Faculty of Information Technology And
Quantitative ScienceSUPERVISOR'S APPROVAL
NAME : En. Ali bin Seman
SIGNATURE
DATE
COPYRIGHT © UiTMUNIVERSITITEKNOLOGI MARA
DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE OF WEB
BASED CAR RENTAL SYSTEM
USING DATA MATCHING TECHNIQUE
FARIZA BINTIHAMZAN
2004107903
Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Information Technology
Faculty of Information Technology And
Quantitative Science
December 2006
COPYRIGHT © UiTMDECLARATION
I hereby declare that the work in this thesis is my own work and ideas except for
quotations and summaries from other's woric which have been appropriately
acknowledge.
December 2006 Fariza binti Hamzan
2004107903
COPYRIGHT © UiTMACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillah, in the name of Allah the All Mighty, for giving me patience, strength
and abiUty to complete this thesis.
First and foremost, 1 would like to thank to Pn. Shuzlina binti Abd. Rahman
for her guides on how to do this thesis. A deep thanks to my supervisor En Ali bin
Seman for his supervision, assistance, idea, and patience in supporting my thesis
from proposal up to the completion of this project. Thanks to him for giving me the
opportunity to work under his supervision.
I would like to address special appreciation to my beloved family, seniors and
friends for their love, care, pray and support that gave me strength to study.
Last but not least, my sincere gratitude extends to all individuals who have
contributed either' directly or indirectly in ensuring the success of this thesis.
Thank you.
Ill
COPYRIGHT © UiTMTABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
DECLARATION ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv
ABSTRACT viii
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Background of the Project 2
1.3 Project Problem 2
1.4 Proj ect Obj ecti ves 3
1.5 Project Scope 3
1.6 Project Significance 4
1.7 Conclusion 5
CHAPTER 2 - LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 6
2.2 Web Based System 6
2.3 Data Matching Technique 8
IV
COPYRIGHT © UiTMContent Page
2.4 Car Rental Industry 11
2.5 Conclusion 12
CHAPTER 3 - RESEARCH APPROACHES AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 13
3.2 Knowledge Acquisition 15
3.3 Design 15
3.3.1 Interface Design 15
3.3.2 Database Design 16
3.3.2.1 ER Diagram 16
3.3.2.2 Data Dictionary 18
3.3.3 System Architecture 20
3.4 Implementation 22
3.4.1 Setting up Development Environment 22
3.4.2 Data Source Development 22
3.4.3 Engine Development 23
3.4.3.1 Data Matching 23
3.4.4 Hardware and Software 25
3.5 Testing 25
3.5.1 Result Analysis 26
COPYRIGHT © UiTMContent Page
3.6 Documentation 26
3.7 Conclusion 26
CHAPTER 4 - RESULTS AND FINDINGS
4.1 Introduction 28
4.2 Result and Findings 28
4.2.1 Reservation Flow 29
4.2.1.1 Reservation Instruction 29
4.2.1.2 Data Matching 31
4.2.1.3 Reservation Form 43
4.2.2 Search Reservation 45
4.2.3 Search Car 46
4.2.4 Payment 47
4.2.5 Search 49
CHAPTER 5 - RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Introduction 50
5.2 Conclusion 50
5.3 Recommendation 51
VI
COPYRIGHT © UiTMContent Page
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
Gantt Chart
Vll
COPYRIGHT © UiTMABSTRACT
Nowadays, there are online car reservations which give much benefit to user. The
existing of this online system, can. overcome the problem of availability and provide
convenience to. the user in renting, car. Yet users still need more convoiiaice system
such as helping them in recommending car to be rent based on dieir specific
requirements. Data matching technique is appUed to the system to fulfiU their needs.
The system will match the data entered by users to advice or recommend car to be
rented. The data includes the user budget, number of passenger and distance.
However, user may choose either to accept the recommendation or they can view the
car catalogue provided by tlie system to choose by tiieir own. Tliey can select their
preferred car fi-om the car catalogue. Reservation can be done through online and
users have to come to the service center to make payment and pick the reserved car.
This system is fimctioned in retrieving, creating, updating and deleting the data or
information depends on the security level and allows the organization to search user
information fi-om the database based on their identification card number. Besides
that, this system may produce reports such as payment receipt, renting information
and statistics of car renting by year, month, or week. The finding of this project is
the web-based car rental system with recommended car to be rent and the output that
will produce the information by following the user requirements. In conclusion, the
system may need some enhancement and improvement in the fixture.
Vlll
COPYRIGHT © UiTMCHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Web-based applications are distributed systems that can be accessed using a Web
browser. During recent years the extent and scope of their use has grown rapidly,
significantly affecting all aspects of our lives. Industries such as manufacturing,
travel and hospitality, banking, education, and government are Web-enabled to
improve and enhance their operations. E-commerce has expanded quickly,
cutting across national boundaries. Even traditional legacy systems have
migrated to the Web. The scope and complexity of current Web applications
varies widely: from small-scale, short-lived services to large-scale enterprise
applications distributed across the Internet and corporate intranets and extranets.
Although numerous Web-based systems are in use now and many of us
rely on them, the manner in which they are developed raises serious concerns.
They need to be reliable and perform well. To build such systems. Web-based
system developers need a sound methodology, a disciplined process and a set of
good guidelines. Due to the high amount of new demands, Web applications are
evolving continually and the complexity of these systems is increasing rapidly.
Therefore the use of arigorousmethod becomes more important.
For businesses in the car rental industry, advances in technology create
great opportunities. Increasingly cost-effective, reliable technologies for voice
and data exchange drive the growth of web-based sales channels and IP-based
call centers, enabling travelers to rent vehicles anytime and from virtually
anywhere. Yet at the same time, cost and competition create significant
COPYRIGHT © UiTMchallenges. Escalating fleet maintenance costs and declining residual values,
combined with growing competition, cut profit margins increasingly thin. For car
rental companies, controlling costs and optimizing efficiencies while leveraging
technology to meet customer demands are the keys to competitive advantage.
1.2 The Background of The Project
The existence of car rental services has overcome the problems of transportation
services. For those who unable to buy their own car or vehicle, car rent services
give many benefits for them to travel for any purposes. With advanced in
technology, it creates great opportunities to implement web-based car rental
system which improves and enhances the car rental service operations. Data
matching technique applied in this web-based car rental system helps users to
select the suitable car to rent based on the important requirements. Besides that,
web-based system increases the eflFectiveness and efficiency of the car rental
service organization in order to run their business operations and management.
13 Project Problem
The manual car rental system provides services only during office hour. So,
customers have limited time to make any transactions or reservation of the cars.
The existence of the online car rental systems nowadays has overcome the
limitation of the business operation hour. However, there is still a few number of
these online car rental systems in Malaysia and most of the systems offered
reservation service for tourists or traveler. Besides that, there are some customers
who faced a problem in choosing car to be rented which suitable with some of
the important requirements.
COPYRIGHT © UiTM1.4 Project Objective
The project objective is to develop a Prototype of Web-based Car Rental System
using data matching technique.
1.5 Project Scope
The project is developed for ZAZ Rent-A-Car SdiL Bhd. in Shah Alaia The
users of this application are customers who want to rent car, and the ZAZ Rent-
A-Car staffs. The system has a few functions which stated as below
1. Able to recommend car to be rented by the users based on the three
requirements wliich are budget, number of passenger(s) and distance.
2. Provide car catalog for users as an alternative for them to select car if
they want to choose car by their OWIL
3. Functioned in adding, deleting, updating and searching the data or
information depends on the security level.
4. Allows the organization to se^ch user information from the database
based on the user's identification card number.
5. Provide security access level of the system which is organization,
supervisor and clerk.
Administrator - allowed accessing all functions in the system.
Supervisor - allowed accessing all functions in the system except User
menu and Delete Customer menu.
COPYRIGHT © UiTMClerk - allowed accessing only Search menu and Payment menu.
6. Produce reports of payment receipt, renting information and car
reservation information.
7. This system provides rent services for National Car only.
1.6 Project Significance
Here are some of significances of the project:
1. Solving the existing problem of the car rental services that is done
manually.
2. Recommending car to the users to help them select car to berentedbased
on the important requirements that suitable for them.
3. The organization can search and update the information included in the
system fast and easy.
4. The organization may get the intended reports provided in the system.
5. The system has password protection to keep the data always secured.
6. The system can be relieved in any computer because the system is
reachable via Local Area Network (LAN) or Internet.
COPYRIGHT © UiTM1.7 Conclusion
This web-based car rental system is developed to be an interactive web-based
environment for car rental services that intended to overcome the problems faced
by users and car rental service organizations. On users' side, ZAZ Rent-A-Car
provides car recommendation service to help users to choose the suitable car for
them to rent based on their budget, the number of passenger, and their journey
distance. Besides that, users may view the car catalogue provided in this system.
While for the organization side, ZAZ Rent-A-Car able to produce report of
reservation made by the users and also prints the receipt as the payment proves.
To access the administrator page, ZAZ Rent-A-Car provides security access level
for authorized administrator only. The three levels of the authorized users are
clerk, supervisor and the administrator.
COPYRIGHT © UiTMCHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
This chapter provides the literature review that is related to the project
development. It reviews about the existence of other systems. The sources are
merely taken from books, articles, journals and also sources from Internet.
2.2 Web-based System
Web-based system understands as server components of distributed applications
which use the HTTP protocol to exchange data between servers and clients
(browser). By this definition, the principal problem of Web-based system
development becomes apparent.
From business perspectives. Web-based systems can be classified as
follows (Kaiser, 2000):
i. Business platform
For e-economy business models like electronic auctions or process
portals, certain Web-based systems become the backbone of their
operations.
li. Sales and purchase channel
For traditional business models like mail-order resellers, banks,
insurance companies, or producing industries, certain Web-based
systems are used to support an additional sales and / or purchasing
6
COPYRIGHT © UiTMchannel (e-commerce), vMle other channels and basic operations
are supported by traditional systems.
iiL Self-service
In any business, certain Web-based systems can be deployed
internally to decentralize selected support processes.
iv. Information management
In any business, certain Web-based systems sufyport creation,
integration, analysis, and distribution of information, particularly
for supporting management processes.
Web-based applications are distributed systems that can be accessed using a Web
browser (Rezazadeh and Butler, n.d.). During recent years the extent and scope of
their use has grown rapidly, significantly affecting all aspects of our lives.
Industries such as manufacturing, travel and hospitality, banking, education, and
government are Web-enabled to improve and enhance their operations. E-
commerce has expanded quickly, cutting across national boundaries. Even
traditional legacy systems have migrated to the Web. The scope and complexity
of current Web applications varies widely: from small-scale, short-lived services
to large-scale enterprise applications distributed across the Internet and corporate
intranets and extranets. Although numerous Web-based systems are in use now
and many of us rely on them, the manner in which they are developed raises
serious concerns. They need to be reliable and perform well. To build such
systems, Web-based system developers need a sound methodology, a disciplined
process and a set of good guidelines. Due to the high mnount of new demands,
Web applications are evolving continually and the complexity of these systems is
increasing rapidly. Therefore the use of a rigorous method becomes more
important.
COPYRIGHT © UiTMThere are several important characteristics for web-based applications, which can
be characterizedfromboth the user and the system side: (Tian, 2003)
i. User-focus and massive user population (user side)
Web users are the focal point of all web applications, from traditional
services such as information search and retrieval, to newer applications
such as e-commerce and web-based computing. The user population is
extremely large and continuously growing, quite unprecedented as
compared to the user population of traditional computer and softv«ire
systems.
ii. High complexity system (system side)
The pervasive nature of the web, its overall large size, distributed
resources, and multi-layered structure, all contribute to the extremely high
complexity of \wb-based systems and applications.
2J Data matching
Data matching is the computerized comparison of two or more sets of records
which relate to the same individual (Rogerson, 1997). It is primarily used as a
method for combating fraud. There is increasing use of data matching by both
public and private organizations in an attempt to reducefraudulentactivity which
has been estimated to run annually into billions of pounds in the UK. The relative
cheapness and availability of sophisticated processing means that data matching is
likely to increase even more rapidly. There are a number of examples of data
matching being undertaken by government agencies. The DSS has estabhshed a
Housing Benefit Matching Service aimed at detecting benefit fraud. The Audit
Commission uses data matching across local authorities regarding benefit claims,
education awards and activities of local authority employees. The Social Security
COPYRIGHT © UiTMAdministration (Fraud) Bill provides for wider sharing by central and local
government and the Post Office for fraud prevention or detection purposes.
There is a difference between the methods of ftaud detection used in the
past and data matching. Traditional investigation is triggered by some evidence of
a wrong doing by an individual, such as tax evasion or bogus benefit claims. Data
matching is not targeted at individuals but at entire categories of people. It is
initiated not by the suspicion concerning an individual but because the profile of a
particular group is of interest. This leads to three issues of concern.
Based on Cook (2003), data matching is the process of linking information about
the same (or similar) members of two or more imit record data sets, usually on tfie
basis of information held in common, to produce a further (matched) unit record
data set.
There are different types of Data Matching and Data Linking (Cook, 2003)
i. Exact Matching
In exact matching a match is made w^ere there is complete agreement
between key variables such as National Insurance Number. The proportion
of data that will be matched by exact matching will depend directly upon
the quality of the base statistical sources, in many cases it may be
desirable to combine exact and probability matching.
ii. Judgmental matching
Judgmental matching is done where there is not exact agreement between
key variables, but clerical or computer examination enable;s a possible
match to be made. This may be computer aided or assisted by computer
printouts.
COPYRIGHT © UiTMiii. Probability Matching
Probability matching enables matches to be made where there are small
discrepancies in the data say as the result of a misspelt name or error in
date of birth. During probability matching both statistical sources is
grouped using one or more blocking variables such as postcode. Specific
key variables from each record in the statistical sources are then
compared, weights are allocated depending on the level of agreement and
these are totaled to produce an indication of the overall level of
concordance. Matches are then made by comparing the highest total
weight to a specified threshold.
iv. Statistical Matching
With Statistical Matching the matching of similar rather than identical
units is not only acceptable but is expected. Statistical Matching is
therefore frequently used where the base statistical sources have few or no
common records, making the matching of identical records impossible for
the majority of the data. Statistical Matches are made of the basis of
similarity of characteristics rather than uniquely identifying information as
with exact and probability matching. Given that Statistical Matching is a
form of imputing information about data subjects onto a statistical source
containing base data on those data subjects, it raise no issues for this
protocol.
v. Data Linking
Data linking is the creation of associations between data held in two or
more different statistical sources. The associations may allow access to
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COPYRIGHT © UiTManother statistical source or may be used for simultaneous updating. The
association is removed once the statistical reason for its creation ceased to
exist. Data linking does not result in a matched statistical source and there
are no additional issues raised for this protocol provided that the two base
statistical sources continue to be secured separately.
The term data matching covers two related but distinct functions of computerized
databases. One is the comparison of a given individual's details (e.g. on an
application form) with one or more databases (e.g. to check that the address
supplied is valid). The other is to perform a 'side-by-side' comparison of two or
more (large) databases, to detect trends, anomalies, potential duplicates, etc. In
practice, data matching is achieved in three main ways - data sharing, data
matching agents and data bureaux (Anon, 1997).
2.4 Car Rental Industry
Using Web Services, Dollar Rent A Car created an interlace to expose its existing
mainframe-based reservation system for access by existing and potential business
partners. So far, this capability has resulted in millions of additional rate requests,
thousands of new reservations, millions of dollars in additional revenue and
significant transaction fee savings (Rubin, 2002).
Through deep industry expertise, an extensive portfolio of interrelated services,
and cost-effective global delivery, Perot Systems provides application and IT
solutions that help businesses in the car rental industry control costs, optimize
efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, and accelerate growth. The proven
methodologies, adherence to best practices, and stringent quality management
systems ensure world class quality and reliability. And by leveraging our global
delivery capabilities, they ensure that solutions are delivered on time and within
budget.
11
COPYRIGHT © UiTMFor businesses in the car rental industry, advances in technology create great
opportunities. Increasingly cost-effective, reliable technologies for voice and data
exchange drive the growth of web-based sales channels and IP-based call centers,
enabling travelers to rent vehicles anytime andfi-omvirtually anywhere (Anon,
2005).
Yet at the same time, cost and competition create significant challenges.
Escalating fleet maintenance costs and declining residual values, combined with
growing competition, cut profit margins increasingly thin. For car rental
companies, controlling costs and optimizing efficiencies while leveraging
technology to meet customer demands are the keys to competitive advantage.
2.5 Conclusion
In conclusion, this chapter views other studies on the topic itself It is important in
order to define the Web Based system. This chapter also describes the vv«b-based
system development, data matching technique and the car rental industry that used
in this research.
12
COPYRIGHT © UiTMCHAPTER 3
RESEARCH APPROACHES AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter provides the method and approach vsdiich have been used for the
system development. A detailed explanation of each phase in developing this
project will be discussed.
A methodology is important for managing and controlling a research
in order to achieve the specified objectives within a given time. In order to
complete this research, there arefivemajor phases involved.
Each phase involved in this project have significance in achieviag the
objectives of the project. This project begins with knowledge acquisition
phase and finished with the documentation of result. As mentioned in the
objective of this project, data matching technique is applied to provide car
recommendation service to the users.
13
COPYRIGHT © UiTMAssociate information
Knowledge Study and Research about car reservation
Acquisition problems
Observation & Internet
Data Collection
reading
Design the prototype User Interlace &
Design
interface and database Database
System Architecture Inference Engine
Database
Coding and Prototyping
Implementation Prototype
using PHP
Develop data matching A set of recommended
technique car
Testing Testing prototype Result Analysis
I
Documentation Final report
Figure 3.1 Methodology and Research Approach Diagram
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