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My last meeting with my supervisor was on the 30/04/2020. We discussed about the project; difficulties and approaches I was facing and how I can further solve them. 

However, I discovered and improved a lot since then and completed my Kanban board tasks and milestones set in place. 

I am completed with the project and now working on the Report for the project. 

The improvements to the project made are: the user can look for flight updates or search for another flight through the APP. 

The project also shows a map with multiple venues within the university to which they want to go. The map shows the user current location which gets constantly updated. The venues are displayed as Pins on the map, when tapped on them they show the name of the place. When further Tapped on it, it shows multiple routes with directions on it. It shows the estimated time as well.

The App’s main implementations are now completed. 

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This is the map I have drawn which shows the edges and the vertex. Ice calculated the distance just need to calculate the heuristic and then I will be implementing the A* search algorithm.

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From 08/04/2020 to 18/04/2020

To implement the A* Search Algorithm I have calculated the distance between the neighbouring coordinates using this website “https://andrew.hedges.name/experiments/haversine/”. 

After calculating the distance between the neighbouring coordinates the second thing required is the heuristic value, which estimates the movement cost to move from that given square the grid to final destination. There are 2 methods with which a heuristic can be calculated 

1-Exact Heuristic: can be calculated using the distance formula. 

2-Approximation Heuristics: 

There are further 3 methods which depends on the direction you can go in. 1-Manhattan Distance which allows 4 directions (right, left, top and bottom). 2-Diagonal Distance which supports 8 directions e.g. like a King in a Chess Game. 3-Euclidean Distance Infinite direction meaning can go in a direction. 

 I have chosen the Manhattan Distance to calculate the heuristic value as the map I have drawn it only show a max of each node going in 4 directions only. 

However, once the heuristic is calculated I will be implemented the A* Search Algorithm on to the application. 

In meantime, I am also working on the current location feature.  

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After doing an experiment for a better design and functionality purposes the application looks like this in the video below.

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Updates from 23/03/2020 till 05/04/2020.

On 23/03/2020 we had our last online class for Final Project. Our course head addressed that we will have online Vivas and showcase for the Final Projects. He advised us on implementing the core features of the application and if the testing of the application is place restricted for e.g. for me I have to be at university to test it. I should include in the report how I was going to carry those tests out and what were the expected results going to be. As I cant do some core testing due to COVID-19. 

On the 27/03/2020 I had the final draft report due. it is unmarked but you get feedback from your supervisor on it. However, on my Supervisor’s advice and the current status of the project I couldn't carry out a lot of testing so I only completed part of it. 

Lastly, I video called my supervisor and we discussed the design and the functionality of the application. We came to a conclusion that we should change some design. 

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Week 09/03/2020 to 15/03/2020

It has been very difficult time for a student like me and my university being in london. As everyone know the Virus Pandemic and how fast it has taken the globe in its effect. Transportation has been affected. However, I still continued with the project and made progress which can be seen in the video above.

Week 16/03/2020 to 20/03/2020

This week schools have been closed and don’t know when they will reopen. All exams this academic year have been cancelled. Transportation especially TFL is limited as well.

However, I drove to university on 18/03/2020 and got coordinates for the application. I had a Skype call with my supervisor today and thankfully all is going according to the milestones and gantchart. I have a draft report of 5000words due in on 27/03/2020. The testing section will be a beief at the moment as I’m still working on the application. I will be emailing Chris to ask him advice on some coding skills. Then in the next weeks I will be creating a graph with the coordinates collected and implementing the A* algorithm.

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This weeks update 02/03/2020 to 08/03/2020

I met my supervisor on the 03/03/2020. I reviewed the user interface of the application with him. Upon the given feedback I changed the position of some content.

Also added the language and live chat buttons.

I also discovered stack view in Xcode which is very helpful and keeps things in a container so they don’t go all over the place. Also I didn’t had to add as much constraints as I did last week.

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Last week 24/02/2020 to 01/03/2020

Last week Kanban tasks were completed. However I got stuck with the screen orientation for the application.

I’ve also changed the background colour and the logo picture as it wasn’t prefered by a lot of people.

I’ve also added a lower section to the home page where all the sub links sit.

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It’s Reading Week

This week update is that I’m building the application. I’m trying to do tasks according the Kanban.

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That’s the Kanban work

Couldn’t meet with supervisor this week due to storm in london affecting train lines. However, ive forward the work for feedback.

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This week update is finalising the layout of the app.

I have used Kanban to visualise all my tasks to complete the application.

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Last week update. Went through Kanban Agile framework.

Another difficulty I came across with my project is the GPS feauture. I was going to travel to Dubai International Airport for the inside view of the terminals and its concourses; to get a flat map. However, due to university is going on a strike, I had to make changes to my plan and now will be implementing either Heathrow Airport map or Gatwick map.

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Last week update

1- Added more stuff to System Requirement Document.

2- Found another advanced GPS feature for the application; the user can point/hover over a location and it will provide a route for them.

3- Discovered a better and effective path-finding algorithm which is A* Search Algorithm.

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For last week and this week I have been looking for the appropriate tutorials to watch so I can start coding. 

This week my search has finally finished and I have started watching the Swift 4 tutorials on the YouTube by “CodeWithChris” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMRqhzcHGw1ZqzYnpIuQAn2rcjhOtbqGX

The link above given is where I am learning from. 

Secondly I am still investigating on how and why the layout of Dubai International Airport is done in this particular way as none of the international Airports are designed and structured like this before. 

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Quick update on what I have done since the 13/12/2019.

My supervisor gave me milestones and some tasks to complete in this time period. 

One was the detailed research on the deigning of the Dubai International Airport which included detailed description of the terminals and the concourses; the location of gates, facilities, departures, arrivals, parking and so on. 

Second task I was given was to start practicing coding in Swift 4. I have started that too and currently practicing it while learning it on YouTube. 

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The path finding algorithm and the investigation of terminals

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This weeks meet-up with my supervisor we discussed what path finding algorithms could we use in my application so it finds the quickest path and displays a mapped route to the user. The algorithm we came across is the Dijkstra Algorithm which I also learnt last year in my Algorithms & data structures module.

We also came across the interception of Terminals and concourses underneath them, learning that they are separate and linked in a unique way. I am going to investigate each Terminal individually; studying the Map of the Dubai International Airport and what each terminal contains. 

My supervisor also asked me to write a document on the System Requirement and Technical Specification for my application.