Capstone Thesis
Capstone Thesis
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ULAF: University Lost and Found with Image Search and ID Scanner
A Capstone Project
Presented to the
In Partial Fulfillment
IT Capstone Project 1
By:
Batara, Jezreel A.
Gamino, Erwin S.
March 2023
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
The Central Luzon State University recently has been hearing about the students’
belongings that are being forgotten and was found inside and outside the University Campus.
Most of the found items are being posted in the Central Luzon State University Facebook
group which is called ‘CLSU SILESYUANS 2021’ where the finder searches for the owner
of the missing items. But despite of the help of the CLSU Facebook group, it can be hard if
the items are already found or if it is not because of many of the students are also posting
inside the Facebook Group. Because of the unorganized process on posting the lost items
inside the CLSU Facebook Group, the researchers had an idea to make the University Lost
and Found App (ULAF) to help those lost items owners to find their belongings and to those
who are finding the owner of the items they have found.
The University Lost and Found App (ULAF) is a mobile and web application created
for Central Luzon State University (CLSU) to assist students and staff members in reporting
and tracking lost and found items on campus. The development, implementation, and
potential advantages of the app for the university environment are the subject of this thesis
paper.
The application is being developed in response to the university's increasing lost and
found inventory. Students and employees frequently lose their possessions, including wallets,
phones, laptops, and other valuable items, which can be inconvenient and frustrating.
Additionally, many items go unclaimed or remain lost forever due to the current system for
CLSU's University Lost and Found App (ULAF) aims to address these issues by
offering a more streamlined and user-friendly system for reporting and tracking lost and
found items. Users can easily report lost items, provide detailed descriptions, and receive
updates on the status of their lost items using the app. Users can also search through a
In this research paper, we will go over the various stages of app development, such as
the design and implementation of the user interface, database management, and integration
with existing university systems. We will also conduct user testing and evaluation to assess
Overall, the ULAF has the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the
university's lost and found system while also reducing the difficulties and distress
experienced by students and staff members who have misplaced valuable items. This app will
be essential to the university's technological infrastructure and significantly benefit the CLSU
community.
The current system for reporting and tracking lost and found items at Central Luzon
State University (CLSU) is manual and time-consuming. This system creates a cluttered and
disorganized lost and found office, and it frequently results in lost items going unclaimed or
remaining lost indefinitely. Furthermore, students and staff members frequently experience
inconvenience and frustration when reporting lost items and retrieving them.
People nowadays have always misplaced their valuable things like smartphone,
school ID, wallet and etc. And they don’t know when and where they lost it. The only things
they will remember are where did they go before losing their things. Finding your lost things
- The person can own the item or search for the owner (it always depends on the
people)
The primary objective of this study is to design, develop, and implement the
University Lost and Found (ULAF) app, which will provide a more efficient and effective
way of reporting and tracking lost and found items at CLSU. This study specifically seeks to:
Identify the current problems and challenges of CLSU's lost and found system;
Design and develop the ULAF, including the user interface, database management
Conduct user testing and evaluation to determine the app's usability and effectiveness.
Determine the effect of the ULAF on the efficiency and effectiveness of CLSU's lost
Analyze the ULAF app's potential benefits to the university community, including
students, faculty, and the lost and found office in the USF.
friendly lost and found system at CLSU, reducing the inconvenience and frustration of losing
valuable items within the campus. We also hope to contribute to the development of
innovative and efficient technological solutions for universities and other institutions.
SCOPE
The scope of the thesis paper is to design, develop, and implement the University Lost
and Found (ULAF) app for Central Luzon State University (CLSU). The study will focus on
identifying the current problems and challenges of the existing lost and found system at
CLSU and creating an app that will provide a more efficient and effective way of reporting
and tracking lost and found items within the campus. The ULAF will be designed to cater to
the needs of CLSU students, staff members, and the lost and found office in USF.
1. User-friendly interface: The app will have a simple and intuitive user interface that
makes it easy for users to report lost items, search for found items, and track the status
2. Lost item reporting: The app will allow users to report lost items by providing basic
3. Found item searching: The app will allow users to search for found items by
providing basic details such as item category, location, and date found.
4. Administrative dashboard: The app will provide an administrative dashboard for lost
and found office personnel to manage the lost and found items, including updating
5. Analytics and insights: The app will generate reports and data analysis that can be
used to identify patterns and trends in lost and found items, such as frequently lost
items, popular locations of loss, peak times of loss, and indefinitely unclaimed items.
6. Integration with existing systems: The app will be integrated with existing systems
within CLSU, such as the student and staff databases, to ensure the accuracy and
of reporting and tracking lost and found items within CLSU, reducing the inconvenience and
LIMITATION
While the ULAF aims to provide a more efficient and effective method of reporting and
tracking lost and found items at CLSU, the study has some limitations, which include:
The research is limited to the creation and implementation of the ULAF at CLSU and
The study is limited to CLSU students, staff, and the lost and found office using the
ULAF app. External parties, such as visitors or unaffiliated individuals, will not be
Limited user adoption: The app's success will be determined by the willingness of
CLSU students and faculty to use it. Some users may be wary of new technology,
Limited network coverage: The app will require internet connectivity to function
properly. However, some areas within the campus may have limited network
The study is constricted by the timeframe and resources available for research, which
implementation of the ULAF to ensure that its functionality and usability meet the needs of
The ULAF significantly improves efficiency, user experience, data analysis, security,
privacy, and reputation for Central Luzon State University's lost and found process.
This app will enable lost items to be recovered and returned to their owners more quickly and
will also make it easier to report and track lost and found items, enhancing the user
The ULAF will generate data analysis and reports to help CLSU identify patterns and
trends in lost and found items. This data can be used to make educated decisions about how
to improve the lost and found process, such as identifying problem areas and implementing
targeted solutions.
In addition, the ULAF can also lead to cost savings for CLSU by reducing the need
for manual processes and paperwork. With an automated system, staff can focus on other
essential tasks, and the app can provide a more accurate and reliable record of lost and found
items. This app can lead to better resource allocation and decision-making based on data
analysis.
advanced and user-friendly institution. This app will attract more students and staff to the
The review of related literature plays a crucial role in any research study as it provides
a foundation for the development of the research question, identifies gaps in the existing
literature, and helps to establish the significance of the study. The literature evaluation will
serve as a guide for the development of a complete and successful lost and found system that
can cater to the demands of the university's community in the context of the Lost and Found
In a study by Suchana, K., et. al. (2021), every day, people become disoriented, which
is a pretty normal occurrence in contemporary culture. Every day, children, the elderly, and
those with mental illnesses go missing. This article describes the creation of web apps that
can give information and services to both a missing person's loved ones and individuals who
discover the lost person. Those who have lost a loved one may use this built online
application to register using their email address and upload all information about the missing
individual, including images, in the lost area. Individuals who locate someone may also
register using their email addresses and submit whatever information they know about the
There is a search window where individuals may look for a lost or found person by
name, age, height, location, skin color, and other criteria. There is also a contact mechanism
that allows you to contact the person who has lost or found someone by phone, email, or by
connecting with their social media profile. People nowadays report missing or found persons
to the police, place advertisements on television or in newspapers, and post information on all
social media sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp. Yet, this web tool offers a more efficient
and improved method of locating and connecting with lost and found individuals.
According to Chin, Y. (2020), the UTAR lost and found management system project
was established in order to offer a uniform, centralized method of handling lost and found
goods at UTAR. The project objectives are to examine the existing lost and found difficulties
at UTAR as well as the features of similar systems, and to design a cross-platform lost and
found management system to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of handling and
organizing lost and found goods at UTAR. According to the results of the poll, the user
preference for online applications and mobile applications is about similar. As a result, a
cross-platform application was created that users may access via a web browser or mobile
app.
The system for lost and found by iNetTutor (2021) will transform the laborious
procedure of looking for missing items into a totally digital one. Because there is a chance
that a manual search or transaction would create a delay or, in the worst case, fail, the manual
process is viewed as inefficient. There is a good chance the consumer won't be able to get
their possessions back. The system may be used by users to seek for missing properties.
Businesses in the hotel and travel industries as well as other customer-facing firms can
benefit greatly from this approach. By this technique, their clients may quickly ask them
about their lost property, and they can subsequently return the missing items to their owners.
According to Abdulah, A., et. al. (2021), lost and found management is a system for
managing and tracking goods that have been discovered and lost. Although anybody can use
it, this website was created with university students, professors, and visitors in mind.
Frequently, we hear about many situations when someone has misplaced a valuable item and
someone else has discovered it. Typically, those who recover anything give it to the
department head, who then places it in waiting for the individual who lost it, however
occasionally the person who lost their item is unaware of this. As there is no proper platform
available, the department head wishes to restore lost objects to their owners but is unable to
do so. This makes it difficult for the students, staff, and visitors to locate their missing
belongings. An online and mobile application of a lost and found management system has
In the study of Castro, E., et. al. (2022), when someone loses their possessions, they
are always anxious, and looking for the goods may be quite demanding and difficult,
especially for students. Notifications about missing objects are frequently posted on notice
boards in each department, but because the messages are updated frequently, they don't stay
up for very long, thus many ignore them. By recording and managing its data, lost and found
systems may assist with these types of problems thanks to modern technology. A survey on a
7-Point Likert Scale was presented to students and administrators to gauge the effectiveness
of the AUFound system. The system will significantly assist the area by raising awareness,
providing correct data, and enhancing the manual method, it has been determined after
Some of us may have forgetfulness, while others may experience robberies, in which
case it might be challenging to recover lost items. Important papers, diplomas, cell phones,
tablets, computers, wallets, keys, baggage, and jewelry are just a few examples of lost objects
that can be stressful and inconvenient. The degree of suffering also increases when a person
comes into closer touch with the lost item. When valuables, especially expensive ones, are
lost, choosing to follow customary procedures, such as submitting a formal form to the court
or visiting a missed and found office, may not be sufficient to ensure the return of the lost
It takes a lot of time, effort, and money to locate and recover lost and stolen property
Ahmad, Z., et. al. (2015). According to a 2013 survey, annual losses from missing items were
estimated to be $176.9 109. The poll also revealed that people search for abandoned property
for about 0.5 hours every week Mac (2017). Fraud losses in the UK topped £ 1.2 billion in
2018, according to research by a UK finance firm. According to the business, 14% of all card
fraud losses in 2018 were attributable to missing and stolen card incidents Saed (2019).
Scholars came up with a number of solutions to the issue. Consequently, the emphasis
information and enabling all users to post complaints (without restriction). Because of this,
the research seeks to quickly register a complaint on the registry without actually calling a
police center (saving subscribers' time) and to quickly connect owners with lost and found
B. ALTERNATIVE STUDIES
University lost and found applications have grown in popularity in recent years, since
they provide a convenient way for students and teachers to report and search for lost things
on campus. Many studies have been undertaken to investigate the efficacy and usability of
such apps, as well as the factors that influence their adoption. This section investigates five
existing lost and found systems. The primary characteristics of these systems will be
REPOAPP
RepoApp Primary Features
Power Search - Search using keywords, categories, storage date ranges and other
Manage Lost & Found Items - Easily add and update items. Release items to
customer and capture the customer's information. Release expired items that have
gone un-claimed.
Integrate With Your Website - Allow customers to view available lost & found
items or allow customers to submit a lost item claim from your website. Customize
Manage Customer Claims - Capture and manage customer claims. Add notes and
RepoApp Evaluation
The RepoApp is a web-based lost and found system that allows users to view lost and
found information, send email notifications, auto-match items, and release unclaimed items.
The system aims to provide a more efficient and user-friendly way to connect lost items with
their owners.
One of the benefits of RepoApp is its user-friendly interface, which allows users to
search for lost and found items using a variety of criteria. Furthermore, the auto-match
feature saves users time by matching items based on the criteria provided. The email notice
tool is particularly important for immediately contacting probable owners, which can lead to
contact potential owners. Some individuals may not check their emails frequently or may not
have access to email, which could lead to missed opportunities to reunite lost items with their
owners. Additionally, the system's reliance on expired dates to release unclaimed items could
potentially lead to lost items being removed from the system before their owners have a
Overall, the RepoApp has several useful features that can assist in reuniting lost items
with their owners. However, the reliance on email notifications and expired dates to release
unclaimed items may pose potential limitations. Nonetheless, the system's user-friendly
RECLAIMHUB
ReclaimHub Primary Features
Image Upload - Upload photos of lost & found items to help return items to their
owners as soon as possible. Spend less time searching for an item and finding
specific details, with item images right where you need them.
Custom Categories - Whether you run a small shop, music festival, or international
airport, you can choose the right categories for all types of items that maybe lost or
found at your venue. We've curated a list of many commonly lost & found item
Self-Service Widget - By placing our widget on your website, your customers can
simply and easily report their items to you, reducing time spent by your staff on the
phone, email, or face to face. But should your customer still contact you directly,
you can simply add a new lost item through your control panel.
means less time and stress for all. We make it easy for you to match items with their
owners, and notify them you've found their precious lost item.
Powerful Reporting - Produce quick reports across all your lost and found data.
Discover which locations or events produce the most lost items. Find out which
items are due to be disposed, or find out the percentage of items returned to their
owners.
Instant Notifications - We save you the digging around looking for a newly reported
lost item. If you've already found it, we'll match the items so all you have to do is
confirm the match, and the owner will be notified to collect their lost item.
ReclaimHub Evaluation
ReclaimHub is a web-based system that provides numerous features to help with lost
and found items management. Image upload, custom categories, a self-service widget, an
auto-matching system, robust reporting, and rapid notifications are among the features
available.
One of the most important elements of ReclaimHub is the image upload tool. This
enables for the rapid detection of missing things, which can aid in the swift reconnection
of those items with their owners. Custom categories enable businesses and events to
quickly categorize lost and found goods based on their own requirements. Another
important feature is the self-service widget, which allows consumers to report lost
One potential disadvantage of ReclaimHub is that it relies on users to report lost items
using the self-service widget. Some clients may be technologically illiterate or lack
computer access, resulting in ignored reports. Also, the auto-matching technology may
not be accurate and may match objects wrongly, causing delays in recovering missing
businesses and events in successfully managing their lost and found things. While there
may be some disadvantages, such as depending on customers to use the self-service
widget and the danger of inaccurate matches, the overall benefits exceed the risks.
FOUNDHERO
Item Management: The app allows users to manage their lost items by creating
Users can also add and track multiple lost items in the app.
Search and Retrieval: The app has a powerful search feature that allows users
to find their lost items by searching based on keywords, locations, and other
relevant criteria. The app also provides a way for users to retrieve their lost
to report lost items, and a notification system that alerts users when someone
help each other find lost items by posting about them in the app. Users can
Social Sharing: The app has social sharing features that allow users to share
their lost items on social media platforms to increase the chances of finding
them.
User Profile: The app has a user profile feature that allows users to manage
their lost items, rewards, and other information. Users can also connect with
Security: The app has robust security features to protect users' personal
information and lost item data. The app also verifies the identity of people
who find lost items before allowing them to contact the owner.
FoundHero Evaluation
The lost item management website FoundHero is an ideal solution for people who
frequently misplace their items. Users can manage their lost belongings, search for them
using various criteria, report them to the community for assistance, and communicate
with individuals who recovered their lost stuff using the platform's capabilities. The
search feature is a big asset, allowing users to locate misplaced things using a variety of
search parameters. Users can also contact the person who recovered their lost belongings
to reclaim them, making the platform's retrieval process simple and quick. Furthermore,
who can assist them in locating their misplaced belongings. The platform's social sharing
tool is also useful, allowing users to share their misplaced goods on social media sites,
boosting the likelihood that they will be found. The platform's security measures are
particularly important, as they ensure that users' personal information and lost item data
The FoundHero platform's reliance on the community to locate lost objects is one
possible downside. Although this method fosters community and encourages people to
help one another, there is no guarantee that users will receive aid. Also, the platform's
social sharing capability may be ineffective for users who do not have a huge social
Overall, the FoundHero platform is a fantastic option for people who frequently
forget their belongings. The platform's capabilities allow users to manage their lost
belongings, locate them using various search parameters, and retrieve them in a simple
capabilities foster solidarity and inspire people to help one another. The platform's
security features also secure users' personal information and lost item data. Although the
platform's reliance on the community and social media may be a hindrance, its benefits
make it a great tool for individuals wishing to manage and retrieve lost items.
CROWDFIND
View lost and found information - From the site, users may view all lost things. The
list only includes item photos and item categories. Users can look for a specific item
by date or keyword.
Automated reporting - The system may automatically create reports from the
dashboard. These reports can include the number of things that have been matched,
Email notification - The users will receive a confirmation email once a claim form is
submitted. If they receive a message from the admin or their claim is accepted, they
confirmation email. They will receive an email notification from the system if they
Chat function - Administrators can directly contact with customers in the system for
CrowdFind Evaluation
CrowdFind is a lost and found software that offers a simple and easy-to-use platform
for users to report missing things and administrators to manage the lost and found
process. The software includes various features that make it a valuable tool for both users
and administrators.
The advantage of CrowdFind is that users can browse all lost items on the
homepage, making it easier for them to find their lost item. The software also includes an
automated reporting feature that creates reports from the dashboard, including the
number of items matched and the most often lost goods, among other things. The email
notification tool keeps customers up to date on the status of their claim, and the
customizable claim forms encourage users to give unique information that can assist
administrators in verifying their lost item. Finally, the chat feature enables administrators
match their missing item. Also, there is the potential of false claims, which could result
CrowdFind is an excellent tool for managing lost and found things. Its features make
it simple for users to report lost items and administrators to handle the lost and found
process. While there are some possible limitations, including as dependency on user
input and the chance of false claims, the app's benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
FIDOFINDER
Pre-registration - While the canines are still safe, users can pre-register them. The
system will update the dogs in the safe list. If their canines go missing, users can
mark the status as "lost." The person who located the dogs can change the status to
Verification - Some users may share their phone number so that others can reach
them right away. The phone number can be viewed by clicking the "View Phone
Number" button.
View lost and found information - Users can view all lost and found canines with
images. The listings will only display photos. Viewers should zoom in on the image
to see more details like as color, breed, gender, and so on. People can look through
applications. After installing the mobile application, they should sign in to their
FidoFinder Evaluation
verification, and a display of lost and found information. It also sends reminders to help
dog owners rapidly locate their lost dogs. This system contains advantages and
disadvantages that must be weighed in order to establish its effectiveness and use.
One of FidoFinder's main advantages is its pre-registration feature. Owners can have
piece of mind knowing that their dogs are classified as safe, and if their pets go missing,
the status can simply be changed to "lost," saving time and making it easier for those
verification ensures that the correct contact information is provided to those who find
lost dogs, increasing the likelihood of the dogs being reunited with their owners.
FidoFinder has one downside in that it relies on users to update their dog's status. If
the owner forgets to update the status of their dog or does not have internet connection,
the dog's information may be inaccurate or out of date, leading to delays in locating the
missing pet.
Another downside is that in order to receive alerts, users must authorize notifications
contact information, see lost and found information, and receive notifications about the
status of their pets. Although there are certain drawbacks, the platform's benefits exceed
them. Overall, FidoFinder is a great tool for dog owners looking to secure their pets and
C. SUMMARY
The literature analysis and alternative research on Lost and Found applications for
universities have provided useful insights into the design and functionality that can make
such apps efficient in reuniting lost things with their owners. The necessity of user-friendly
interfaces, photo uploading capabilities, and automatic matching algorithms to improve the
user experience and raise the likelihood of successfully recovering lost things are among the
key conclusions from the literature review. The research also revealed the need for strong
marketing strategies and collaborations with relevant stakeholders to boost the visibility and
The implications for future study in this field include the need for more detailed
investigations on the specific needs and preferences of university students, faculty, and staff
about Lost and Found apps. Future study can also look into the potential integration of
artificial intelligence and machine learning technology in Lost and Found apps to improve
matching capabilities and return item accuracy. Furthermore, investigations on the potential
hurdles to the adoption and usage of Lost and Found apps in universities and how these might
In conclusion, the literature analysis and alternative studies have provided significant
insights into the design, functionalities, and potential issues of university Lost & Found apps.
The findings and implications can be used to design a personalized Lost and Found app for
Central Luzon State University that can efficiently reunite lost things with their owners
D. REFERENCES
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Chin, Y. (2020, January 01). Utar lost and Found Management System. Retrieved March 19,
Inettutor (2021, February 27). Lost and Found Information System Capstone Project.
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Castro, E., David, K., De Silva, K., & Roxas, L. (2022, March 7). AUFound: Retrieval of
misplaced personal belongings ... - IEOM society. Retrieved March 19, 2023, from
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