Implementation of Secured User-Centred Architecture for Bus Booking System Integrated with Unstructured Supplementary Service Data and Web Platforms

Abstract

Globally, lots of people commute to various destinations using road transportation almost on daily basis. Noticeably, purchasing bus tickets has been over the counter at some bus terminals in developing countries including Nigeria. This ticketing procedure is slow and obstinate, resulting to rowdiness at bus parks. Interestingly, previous researches have focused on different challenges that surround booking bus ticket. However, sufficient attentions have not been paid to a secure architecture that offers flexible booking platform and enhance passenger experience. Thus, as its main goal, this study evolved a secure system architecture that is based on three fundamental components namely security, customer experience and dual booking platforms powered by web and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) technologies. The secure conceptual architecture, which represents our main contribution, was designed with software engineering tools such as block diagram, use case and flowchart to enable commuters with or without internet service seamlessly book for tickets. Subsequently, the architecture was implemented with Hypertext Pre-processor (PHP), MySQL and Spring application framework. Again, the system was implemented with technologies like QR code, encryption, USSD, eWallet and blockchain. The developed system functioned as designed and its adoption will certainly enhance service delivery, customer satisfaction, security and financial wellbeing of commuters and transport companies.