In the PoE project, you will develop a C# .NET Framework software application to streamline municipal services in South Africa. The application aims to provide an efficient and user-friendly platform for citizens to access and request various municipal services.

Scenario:

A South African municipality is seeking to improve citizen engagement and service delivery through the implementation of a comprehensive municipal services application. The application should enable residents to:

• Report issues and request services.
• Access information about local events and announcements.
• Receive updates on the status of their service requests.

Note to Students:
Ensure that your application is fully functional and meets all outlined specifications. Additionally, consider the objectives outlined above as key indicators of the success of your Municipal Services Application. Aim to create a user-centric experience that adds value to the lives of citizens in your municipality..

Part 1 — Municipal Services Application for South Africa (Report Issues) (Marks: 100)

Learning Units: LU1 – LU2

This part has two tasks – Research (20 marks) and Implementation (80 marks).

Task 1: RESEARCH (20 Marks)

The municipality is interested in incorporating user engagement features into the application. Conduct online research on user engagement strategies suitable for a municipal services application, especially in the South African context. Refer to the following article to start your research:

Hart, Tim G. B., et al. “Innovation for Development in South Africa: Experiences with Basic Service Technologies in Distressed Municipalities.” Forum for Development Studies, vol. 47, no. 1, 20 Aug. 2019,pp. 2347.
https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/73688/1/Hart_etal_FDS_2020_Innovation_for_development_in_ South_Africa_experiences_with_basic_service.pdf. [Accessed 24 June 2024]

In a Word document:

• List five user engagement strategies considered during your research.
• Provide a 500-word explanation of the chosen user engagement strategy and justify why it was selected. The line spacing on the page should be 1.5. The font should be Times New Roman or Arial fonts. This should be at an 11 or 12-point size for readability.

Remember to reference the sources used.

Note: If the explanation exceeds 500 words, any content beyond this point will not be marked.

Task 2: IMPLEMENTATION (.NET Framework Window Application) (80 Marks)

The municipality requires a C# software application to facilitate citizen reporting of issues and service requests. The application should be user-friendly and provide a seamless experience for residents to engage with municipal services.

Requirements:

1. On startup, the application shall present the user with three tasks:
a. Report Issues (to be implemented).
b. Local Events and Announcements (to be implemented later).
c. Service Request Status (to be implemented later).
2. Only the “Report Issues” task will be implemented initially; disable the other two options.
3. Upon selecting “Report Issues,” the application shall prompt users to provide details about the issue, including location and category.
4. Users should be able to attach images or documents related to the issue.
5. Implement the chosen user engagement strategy to encourage active participation.

Technical Requirements:

• Utilise appropriate data structures to store user-reported issues and relevant details.
• Create a readme file explaining how to compile, run, and use the programme.

Guidelines for Report Issues Functionalities
User Interface Specifications:
1. Main Menu (Form):
• The main menu should be presented upon startup, providing the following options:
a. Report Issues (to be implemented).
b. Local Events and Announcements (to be implemented later).
c. Service Request Status (to be implemented later).
2. Report Issues Page (Windows Form):
• After selecting “Report Issues,” create a new Windows Form that includes the following elements:

a. Location Input (Textbox): A textbox for users to input the location of the reported issue.
b. Category Selection (Dropdown or ListBox): A dropdown or list for users to select the category of the reported issue (e.g., sanitation, roads, utilities).
c. Description Box (RichTextBox): A RichTextBox control allowing users to provide a detailed description of the issue.
d. Media Attachment (Button for File Dialog): A button enabling users to attach images or documents related to the reported issue. Implement OpenFileDialog for efficient media attachment.
e. Submit Button (Button): A clearly labelled “Submit” button that users click to finalise the report.
f. Engagement Feature (Label or ProgressBar): Integrate a dynamic engagement feature, such as a label displaying encouraging messages or a ProgressBar indicating the progress of the reporting.
g. Navigation Buttons (Button): Include navigation buttons (e.g., “Back to Main Menu”) for users to easily return to the main menu or navigate to other sections of the application.

Design Considerations:
1. Consistency:
• Maintain a consistent colour scheme and layout throughout the application to enhance user familiarity.
2. Clarity:
• Ensure that labels, buttons, and instructions are clear and easily understood by a diverse user base.
3. User Feedback:
• Implement feedback mechanisms (e.g., MessageBox for success messages, error alerts) to keep users informed about the status of their reporting.
4. Responsiveness:
• Design the interface to be responsive, accommodating various screen sizes and resolutions

Additional Requirements:
1. Form Interactions (Event Handling):
• Implement event handlers for button clicks and user interactions to ensure seamless functionality.
2. Data Handling (Data Structures):
• Utilise appropriate data structures (e.g., list for storing issues) to efficiently manage and organise the reported issues.
Note: If the code does not compile and run, no marks will be awarded for any application functionality.

Submit the following items for this part:
1. A Word document containing your research.
2. Source code for the application.
3. The readme file with instructions for how to compile, run, and use the software.

Important! You will build on this application in Part 2 and the PoE. So, keep a copy of your code in a safe place!

Part 2 — Municipal Services Application for South Africa (Collaboration) (Marks: 100)
Learning Units: LU1 – LU4

Introduction:

In Part 2, you will continue developing the Municipal Services Application for South Africa. The focus is on advanced data structures and algorithms, including stacks, queues, priority queues, hash tables, dictionaries, sorted dictionaries, sets, and an additional recommendation feature based on user searches.

Scenario:

The Municipal Services Application aims to be a comprehensive platform, integrating various features for citizens to access local events and announcements efficiently.

Task 1: Implementation (100 Marks)

2.1. Develop a C# application:

a. Main Menu (Form) (30 Marks)
– Implement a Windows Form with an organised menu presenting the following options:
– Report Issues (implemented in Part 1).
– Local Events and Announcements (to be implemented in this part).
– Service Request Status (to be implemented in Task 3).

b. Local Events and Announcements Page (Windows Form) (70 Marks)
– Upon selecting “Local Events and Announcements,” create a Windows Form with the following features:
– Display upcoming local events and announcements in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
– Implement a search functionality allowing users to efficiently find events based on categories and dates.
– Utilise advanced data structures, such as sorted dictionaries, to optimise event organisation.

Technical Requirements for Local Events and Announcements Page (40 Marks)
Mark allocation breakdown:

Stacks, Queues, Priority Queues (15 Marks):
• Implement stacks, queues, or priority queues as needed to manage event-related data structures effectively.
Hash Tables, Dictionaries, Sorted Dictionaries (15 Marks):
• Utilise hash tables, dictionaries, or sorted dictionaries for organising and retrieving event information.
Sets (10 Marks):
• Incorporate sets to handle unique categories or dates efficiently.

Additional Recommendation Feature (30 Marks):
Implement a recommendation feature based on user searches:
• Analyse user search patterns and preferences.
• Use an appropriate algorithm or data structure to suggest related or recommended events.
• Present recommendations in a user-friendly manner within the application.

Introduction:

Task 3 focuses on the final implementation of the Municipal Services Application, emphasising the integration of advanced data structures and algorithms, including basic trees, binary trees, binary search trees, AVL trees, red-black trees, heaps, graphs, graph traversal, and minimum spanning trees.

Scenario:

The Municipal Services Application is designed to be a comprehensive platform for residents, encompassing features such as reporting issues, accessing local events, and tracking service requests.

Implementation (100 Marks)

3.1. Develop a C# application:
a. Implement a Windows Form that presents users with a menu for selecting:
• Report Issues (implemented in Part 1).
• Local Events and Announcements (implemented in Part 2).
• Service Request Status (to be implemented in this task).

b. Service Request Status Page (Windows Form) (100 Marks):

When choosing “Service Request Status,” create a Windows Form with the following features:
• Display a well-organised list of submitted service requests, including their status.
• Allow users to track the progress of their service requests using unique identifiers.
• Utilise advanced data structures such as graphs, binary search trees, or heaps to manage and display service request information efficiently.

Technical Requirements (50 Marks):

Basic Trees, Binary Trees, Binary Search Trees, AVL Trees, Red-Black Trees (20 Marks):
• Implement these tree structures effectively for organising and retrieving service request information.
Heaps, Graphs, Graph Traversal, Minimum Spanning Tree (30 Marks):
• Utilise these structures to manage complex relationships and optimise the display of service request status.

Implementation Report (20 Marks):
• Compile a detailed readme file explaining how to compile, run, and use the programme.
• For each implemented data structure, provide an in-depth explanation of its role and contribution to the efficiency of the “Service Request Status” feature, including relevant examples.

Project Completion Report (20 Marks):
• Write a comprehensive report detailing the completion of the entire project.
• Discuss the challenges faced during the implementation of Task 3 and how they were overcome.
• Share insights into the key learnings acquired throughout the project, including new skills, problem-solving approaches, and programming techniques.

Technology Recommendations (10 Marks):
• Suggest additional technologies or tools that could enhance the functionality or performance of the Municipal Services Application.
• Justify the recommendations based on potential benefits and compatibility with the project.

Answers on Above Questions on Programming

Answer 1: The five user engagement strategies that are considered during my research for a suitable municipal service application are real time notification to users regarding the services and announcement by Municipal authority, mobile accessibility in the form of application in order to allow users to conveniently access the services using their smartphone, content localisation on the basis of different regions and languages across South Africa so as to provide users with easy accessibility of content in different local languages.