A regional environmental agency has tasked you with developing a cross-platform application to enhance their monitoring of local environmental conditions. The agency is focused on monitoring air quality, water quality, and weather conditions to ensure public safety and adherence to environmental regulations.
The agency utilises a widespread network of sensors that collect data on air pollutants, water pH levels, and meteorological data. This data is vital for the agency to make informed decisions and effectively address environmental issues.
There are three categories of environmental data to be monitored:
- Air Quality: Requires real-time monitoring and analysis to identify trends or sudden changes.
- Water Quality: Continuous updates and detailed reports on chemical and biological content are necessary.
- Weather Conditions: Live tracking and forecasting are essential to anticipate and respond to environmental changes.
An initial requirements elicitation session has identified the following user stories that the application should include:
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As an Environmental Scientist, I want to -
- Manage sensor accounts and configure settings.
- View and analyse historical environmental data.
- Receive real-time alerts on threshold breaches, displayed on an interactive map.
- Generate comprehensive reports on environmental trends.
- Use a map to view real-time sensor statuses and alerts geographically.
- Locate and navigate to sensors in the field for maintenance or inspection purposes.
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As an Operations Manager I want to -
- Monitor the operational status of sensors.
- Schedule maintenance and ensure timely checks.
- Verify the accuracy and integrity of collected data.
- Address and report sensor malfunctions or anomalies.
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As an Administrator I want to -
- Manage user access and roles within the application.
- Maintain high levels of system security and data protection.
- Update sensor configurations and firmware.
- Oversee data storage and implement backup strategies.
- Requirements and support
The app will be built in C# MAUI to enable cross-platform operation.
Data management will be handled by a central SQL Server database. Example datasets for sensors, environmental measurements, and user accounts will be provided.
The project will be managed using GitHub for code control and task management.
If you use AI tools to help with your work, you must:
- Explain how the use of the tools fits into your overall workflow
- Explain how you ensured high-quality results from your selected tools
- Be prepared to answer questions on your use of AI tools in your presentation
- Support will be provided during the scheduled practical classes in the second half of the module.
Development tasks Each team member must complete at least three separate development tasks related to the user stories provided, one for each of the roles
- Environmental Scientist
- Operations Manager
- Administrator.
For each task, you must
- Document the requirement elaboration in a GitHub issue in consultation with the rest of the team. (LO4)
- Create or update UML diagrams to visualise the application design. All documentation must be version-controlled. (LO1)
- Develop the application features using .NET MAUI, with a focus on code quality and user experience. (LO1)
- Implement unit tests for all public methods. (LO3)
- Document the quality of your code using appropriate metrics. (LO2)
- Generate HTML documentation to describe your code. (LO4)
- Use a systematic workflow for branching, pull requests, and code reviews. (LO2)
- Respond promptly to code review feedback and implement necessary changes. (LO2)
In addition you must:
- Describe how the team's branching strategy supports both critical bug fixes and new feature development. (LO4)
- Take an active role in code reviews for peers to ensure code quality and adherence to project standards. (LO2)