Technical Proposal IA1

Technical Proposal IA1

1. Criteria

   • Prescribed
     • Use at least two open datasets
       • Dataset 1 – Coastal Data System - Waves (Cairns)
       • Dataset 2 - Marine Science Australia - Current Queensland Wave Conditions
       • User can select between datasets
     • User should be able to select criteria that are specific to their needs
       • Show data within given timeframe
       • Can present data in graph
     • A web application must include wave height and other variables across many destinations in Queensland
       • Estimated Wave Period
       • Estimated Wave Height
   • Self-determined
     • Solution accommodates user persona
       • Persona enjoys surfing at night
         • Solution supports dark mode for easy night time viewing
       • Persona wants to surf entirely alone
         • Solution has Live Cam of each break
       • Persona does not remember directions very well
         • Solution links the break's location to google maps
     • User can save and check different locations
       • Each location can be favourited
       • Favourited locations are presented in a list
       • Locations each contain general info about waves

2. Constraints/Limitations

   • Website Design
     • Aesthetic Features
       • Lack of expert UX design team
       • Solution may not look professional
     • Programming
       • May not be fully equipped to create solution
       • Languages
         • Python must be used to develop flask app
         • SQL must be used for databasing
       • Solution must cater for different types of data input
   • Time
     • Leads to less effective solution

3. Resources

   • Development Tools
     • IDE. eg. VS code, Thonny
     • Language: python
     • Flask
     • SQL
   • Stack Overflow for help

4. Coding Environment

   • Key Algorithms
     • Live Data Retrieval
       • Retrieve data from dataset
       • Process data to contain only relevant information in a consistent format
       • Insert the new data into SQL database
     • Displaying wave data to user
       • Get request parameters from user
       • Create SQL SELECT statement based on user's request
       • Send data to main.py
       • Display data when loading webpage
     • Favouriting wave location
       • User presses favourite button
       • Program gets id of selected location
       • id of location is added to user's favourites via SQL INSERT INTO statement
   • Required App Data
     • Wave height (m)
       • Datatype: float
     • Wave period (s)
       • Datatype: float
     • Time period
       • Datatype: datetime
     • Information source
       • Datatype: string
     • Location
       • Datatype: string
   • Data Storage/Retrieval
     • SQLlite
     • Python Flask module
       • Retrieval
       • Data insertion

5. Data Sources

   • Dataset 1
     • Pros
       • Data given as machine-readable csv file
       • Near-realtime update frequency
     • Cons
       • Contains data for only single location
       • Data omits wave speed
     • Features
       • Wave height
       • Wave direction
       • Wave period
       • Water surface temperature
   • Dataset 2
     • Pros
       • Data is updated every few hours
       • Data includes relevant information (wave height, wave period)
     • Cons
       • Presents data as images of graphs
         • Must be scanned to be turned into wokrable values
       • Only includes data upto 4 day period
       • Data omits wave speed and other useful data points
     • Features
       • Wave height
       • Wave frequency
       • Frequent updates

6. User Interface

   • Useability Principles
     • Accessibility
       • Example: text-to-speech
     • Effectiveness
       • Example: Restricting user options using drop down boxes or input templates.
     • Safety
       • Example: ask user for confirmation before purchase
     • Utility
       • Example: provide user with receipt after purchase
     • Learnability
       • Example: incorporating intuitive symbols and help icons
   • Features from Existing Solutions
     • Text-to-speech
     • Dark mode
     • Streamlined presentation of data for user
       • General score of the quality of each wave
       • Live video cam of the break
       • Wave height
     • Customer support + FAQs
     • User is asked for confirmation before finalising action

7. User Persona

   • Name: Surfer Dave
   • Motivations
     • Likes to surf at night
     • Likes to surf by himself
     • Bad with technology, however will use a service that is easy to understand
     • Bad with directions, benefits with integration of Google Maps
   • Frustrations
     • Dark mode is not possible
     • Solution is difficult to use and learn
     • When he does not know where to go
   • Name: Surfer Barbie