UUM COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(SZRZ6014)

TUGASAN 3
Disediakan Untuk:
Dr Phat a/l Awang Deng

Disediakan Oleh:
Siti Aslinda Binti Mahat
851654
Kumpulan J1
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Introduction

The collection of fees for fee-based activities using unattended collection stations (or auto pay) has

long been practiced. In particular, in connection with the collection of fees at an

automobile parking lot, armored boxes having slots through which fees may be deposited have long

been used. In some small town, the individual parking spots in a parking lot are numbered, and a

corresponding numbered slot in the armored box is provided. Usually, a user parks his car in a

numbered slot, and deposits the appropriate fee in the slot corresponding to the

chosen parking spot. Where else there might be local authorities which implement coupon system

and auto pay for parking payment. Enforcement of the prescribed charges requires parking lot

personnel to travel to the fee collection box, remove a padlock securing the cover of the

armored fee collection box, and to manually ensure that the proper amount has been paid for each

of the occupied parking spots. Although the system employs mechanical components that are simple

in design and relatively inexpensive, they suffer from a number of disadvantages.

Problem Statement

The purpose of the project is to reduce if not solve the problem faced by both parties (user and local

authorities) regarding the parking disbursement. Currently, some local authorities such as Majlis

Perbandaran Kota Bharu still using the meter, Majlis Perbandaran Nilai applying receipt system,

while Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah with the conventional coupon. The problems with meter

might be the tank full with coins and notes, plus sometimes the actuator cannot validate the coins or

notes.

The second conventional method for payment is the implementation of receipt. The situation, when

an enforcer jotted the vehicle registration number altogether with the amount which need to be

disbursed, but the user simply cannot identify the local authority’s payment counter, usually hard to

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find for citizens’ foreigner. The situation can be found in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. The solution, users

were required to go to local authorities’ office for make payment.

Other than that, coupon method is one of the widest implementation across Malaysia. The problem

arises when the coupon counters are unallocated, as stated in the Berita Harian, the letter and

email dated June 18, 2010, entitled “Sistem letak kereta MBI (Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh) menyusahkan

rakyat” (Appendix A). While in the other article dated February 16, 2011, proclaiming that “MBMB

(Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah) tak lantik ejen jual kupon letak kereta” (Appendix B).

Furthermore, sometimes no personnel at the counter. That’s the entire problem that will be faced

by the user.

Actually, those problems not only faced by users but also with the local authorities’, when the

citizens refuse to pay for the service, which leading to a shortage of local authorities’ main income,

to serve the best for its people. Ways have been identified to coax them to settle the compound,

but as the core is to create one simple-but-friendly method for the users to disburse the charge,

integrated with all local authorities across Malaysia.

Figure 2.1 is an advertisement from Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) to attract the user to

pay their compound. As for June 2011, MPSJ had distributed almost 1,278,388 compounds,

equivalent to RM100, 478,670 million. The 'Flat Rate' campaign with a special rate of RM10 will be

given to all traffic offenses started July 1, 2011 - 31 August 2011

(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Majlis-Perbandaran-Subang-Jaya/154381784623583, 2012).

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Figure 2.1: Advertisement from MPSJ

As in nutshell, many problems arise neither for users nor local authorities. So, this project will

develop a new payment method for current parking.

Objective of Product Development

The main objective of this work is to construct a mobile platform for parking disbursement. While

the specific objectives of this work are:

i. To identify the requirement for parking problem faced by users.

ii. To design and develop MOBIPARK system that can be interacting with the customer via the

mobile internet that supports the use of hand phones.

iii. To evaluate the prototype using usability testing

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Scope of Product Development

This research focuses on mobile services for Malaysia local authorities, in particular, the

development of mobile internet for parking services using internet facility. This mobile internet will

be able to serve all Malaysian citizens wherever they staying at anytime to do parking services in

Malaysia local authorities parking area.

For the time being, MobiPark uses www.mobipark.org as a website domain for the prototype and

PHP software to make this website work. MobiPark system is divided into 3 types of users, which is

the main administrator, the person who can control users, officers, and local authorities. Next is an

officer, who will review the status of vehicles who parked the cars in PBT parking spaces. Lastly is

that user, the person that will use PBT parking spaces.

The Uniqueness of the Product

Currently, most local authorities’ are using a less effective method to users and officials of local

authorities themselves for parking payment transaction. But, MobiPark provides integration

schemes for users and enforcer by using a mobile phone to achieve the overall system, which

provides ease and easy transactions, but reliable. Like eWallet, users are free to pay or use any of

the systems at anytime, anywhere as long as they had internet connection whether via Wi-Fi, 3G or

GPRS to run MobiPark on their own mobile phone.

Usability of the Product

MOBIPARK can be efficiently be used throughout any of local authorities’ at any state in Malaysia

without requiring user to bring coins along or to find coupon agent or payment counter that can

make them feel a burden. The practicality came from the effectiveness of the method to pay asides

from its reliability; reduce cash transaction, while user only ought to use what they have.

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Description of the System

The project consists of mobile phone internet service to browse the MobiPark system for users.

First-time users are requires registering for the system to make her/his own account. And for

enforcers, they need to register with their admin to activate the MobiPark system. The system will

be developed using J2ME, may all the mobile phone which supports MOBIPARK.

Chapter Summary

As most of the technical part was discussed, MOBIPARK has a bright future in the market as one of

eWallet suite, as the target user/target market has been clearly defined. Soon after the prototype is

out to be testing, the researcher will conduct a survey to impart the theory in this chapter.

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