Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study Technology played a vital part in our society which helps everyone to easily adopt environment to an ever-changing world. One example of technology is the computer. According to Thakur (n.d.), computer is an advance electronic device that takes raw data as input from the user and process these data under the control of set of instructions (called programs) and gives the result (output) and saves the output for future use (What is Computer, n.d.). Today, computers are used in every field and made the day to day tasks very easy. Computers are also used in many companies that help every employee easily and effectively finish their works such as reports and presentations. In the age of booming technology, running a business without computer and/or information technology is like trying to breathe without lungs. According to Charlie (2012), the business process is under the Information Technology revolution, which is transforming the way in doing business. The way the basic operations like decision making, customer services, operations, marketing strategies, financial management, human resources management, etc. are being reformed with the use of computer (Computer in Business, 2012). Technology has an advanced remarkably that those who are using computers in their businesses are at advantage and those who are not using computers in their businesses are at disadvantage against their competitors. Businesses had been affected by the rapid advancement of technology in which most of them is adopting the latest technologies in their businesses. Manually operational businesses had changed into automated or computerized operation because of some disadvantages in manual systems. Kumara (2012) presented some disadvantages of the manual systems to computerized systems. Less productivity, slower processing, risk of errors, less accessibility wherein paper files can easily be mislead, difficultness in alterations (making corrections), the quality of output is less consistent and paper based systems are very bulky were some of the presented disadvantages in using manual system (Manual System vs. Computerized System, 2012). Almost all businesses are dependent on technology on all levels from research and development, production and all the way to delivery. Small to large scale enterprises depend on computers to help them with their business needs ranging from Point of Sales system, information management systems capable of handling all kinds of information such as employee profile, client profile, accounting and tracking, automation systems for use in large scale production of commodities, package sorting, assembly lines, all the way to marketing and communications (Importance of Technology in Business, n.d.). The dependency of businesses on technology leads them to adopt information systems which will help in their business.
One of these businesses were the joint venture of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Sunway Information System Sdn Bhd and Malaysian-based e-Lock Corporation Sdn Bhd (e-Lock) that provide a security solution using WebALARM which is used to prevent website tampering features such function as monitoring (surveillance), automatic recovery, alerts and content update management (Hitachi Systems, Hitachi Sunway Information Systems and e-Lock Announce Cooperation To Provide Web Security Solutions Using WebALARM in Japan and Southeast Asia, n.d.).
Another company is the Department of Health which uses the Philippine Health Information System (PHIS) and leading hospitals in the Philippines partner with Exist that adopts its Hospital Information System which make the admission, discharge, ordering and billing easily.
Indeed, the rapid changes of technology affect on people’s day to day life. The developers concluded that through the use of computer technology, society, specifically businesses, became progressive in the fact that the productivity of the employees are faster and more effective than using manual system.
Without technology, the idea of globalization wouldn’t become a reality. It has become very important that it has become a huge industry itself from computer hardware manufacturing, to software design and development, and robotics (Importance of Technology in Business, n.d.). And because of high technology, some areas and companies around the world that experience heavy traffic congestion took advantage to the development of technology for which companies used systems or software to lessen if not eliminated the congestion in an area.
A proposal of a real-time information system for Dagupan City, Pangasinan helps people in the area to get information about traffic flows like traffic congestions, road conditions such as road blocks and detours, traffic accidents and provide choice of optimal or alternative paths from origin to the desired destination easily. Through the proposed system, commuters and people at home will be easily informed about the current flow of traffic in the area. It will help people to decide if they will continue their travel or not and to help them to easily distinguish alternative routes to be taken to avoid congestions. Places all over the globe adopted some traffic systems that helps lessen the congestion in their areas.
The Geographical Information System (GIS) in Karachi, Pakistan is one example. Reviews of research on Geographical Information System (GIS) have stated that using GIS in Karachi will help the city in determining the high risk geographical areas for road safety and injury prevention (Razak, Khan, & Jalal, 2011).
Another example is the Beijing Real-Time Traffic Information System in China which is intended to collect, process, analyze, display and store real-time traffic status information from various independent systems in and around the city. The application will be used to control and streamline the traffic as part of China’s preparations to host the 2008 Olympics (Beijing Real-Time Information System, China, n.d.).
Moreover, Philippines also adopt information systems to prevent traffic congestions in the country. An example of it is the Intelligent Transport for the Philippines. According to Doctrine (2011), the development of the application by the MMDA for use by the travelers in Metro Manila is definitely a step in the right direction and represents a breath of fresh air. The application will allow travelers to be informed of the traffic conditions (Intelligent Transport for the Philippines, 2011). Traffic information systems indeed an important tool for areas experiencing heavy traffic problems. Dagupan City, a quick progressive city in the province of Pangasinan also experiencing heavy traffic problems due to rapid increase of people having vehicles. Dagupan City is an independent component city in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. According to the census of May 1, 2010, Dagupan City has a population of 163, 676 people with an income classification of second class. Dagupan City covers a wide stretch of beautiful beaches, popularly known as Bonuan Blue Beach, along the Lingayen Gulf. Also, the city is among the top producers of milkfish (bangus) in the province (Dagupan City: The Home of the World’s Longest Barbecue, 2012). Dagupan City is not only well-known for its beautiful beaches and delicious milkfish but also for its traffic problems like traffic congestion. Gao (2005), states that road traffic congestion is a significant problem of modern society which has multiple impacts. To an individual traveler, congestion reduces the quality of life by consuming leisure time, increasing anxiety and wasting personal resources. To firms, congestion reduces the productivity of employees and increase freight transportation costs. To society as whole, congestion negatively affects environmental quality by causing more tail-pipe emissions and endangers traffic safety by raising drivers’ stress and fatigue (Optimal Adaptive Routing and Traffic Assignment in Stochastic Time-Dependent Networks, n.d.). According to the head of the public order and safety office (2007), other big cities experience worse traffic conditions than Dagupan City. Sagun (2007) said that the worsening traffic condition in the city has prompted some observers to compare the present Fernandez administration to that of its predecessor. They claimed that even during the holiday season, traffic was kept to its tolerable level during the time of former Mayor Benjamin S. Lim due to strict clearing of sidewalks and proper parking of vehicles (Dagupan traffic not far worse from other cities – POSO Chief, 2007). Indeed, traffic congestion and traffic jams also affect an area to slow down its progression. Dagupan City experiences heavy traffic especially during weekdays when everyone has to go to their schools and workplaces. Some employees of establishments park their cars on no parking areas that trigger travelling vehicles to wait to pass. Also, widening of roads that takes more than a month to be finish affects on the congestion. The developers have thought of solutions to solve the problems mentioned. Through the Traffic Information Network Assignment, the people travelling to the city will get information about the traffic flow currently occurring in the city. The Traffic Information Network Assignment is a web-based system that will provide people valuable insights into usage of road network like congestion-prone areas and under-used parts of a network. Also, it will help to predict the impacts of a change to the road network such as building or widening of road. Moreover, the proposed system will provide the public with information on detours and lane closures from construction or major events, traffic accidents or incident reports and optimal or alternative paths to be taken to avoid congestion.
Conceptual Framework The developers present the research paradigm which uses input-process-output concept to illustrate the relationship between the input and output of the study. The Figure 1.1 shows the conceptual framework of the study. For the proposed system, the inputs were defined as the problems in the existing system of Dagupan City, the features of the proposed system, the requirements of the system and the usability and acceptability of the system. In the process stage, the developers will be using the SCRUM Methodology with its phases: the Planning phase, the Sprint Cycle phase with its stages (the develop, wrap, review and adjust stage), and the Closure phase. After undergoing the processes, the output will be the Traffic Information Network Assignment for Dagupan City.

Statement of Objectives The study aims to develop and deploy a Traffic Information Network Assignment in the city of Dagupan to help improve the traffic management in each section in the area. Specifically, it aims to meet the following objectives: 1. To identify the problems in the existing system; 2. To determine the features of the proposed system; 3. To identify the requirements of the system and; 4. To test the usability and acceptability.
Significance of the Study This study will give quality and effective service to people and therefore leads to the high regard of the community as an improvement of its competitiveness. The success result of this study will be beneficial to the following: Dagupan City Community. The Traffic Information Network Assignment helps the city not to lose thousandths or millions of pesos because of lost productivity due to traffic congestions. The developed system helps the city to improve their competitiveness from other cities in the province of Pangasinan. Land Transportation Office (LTO). The system will help the management and the office to improve the traffic updates to inform the travelers and the drivers about the traffic flow. It will also help the office to improve its competitiveness from other branches of the system. Public Utility Drivers. The system will benefit the drivers to be informed about the road conditions such as road blocks, detours and construction of roads in the area.
Non-Commuters/Private Drivers. The system will be helpful to these groups of people in choosing optimal path or the fastest way in getting to their desired destination. Also, this will give them information about the current flow of traffic within the area.
Foreign Travelers. The system will inform the tourists about the condition of traffic in the city. It will also inform them about the optimal paths, road conditions and alternative ways on how to avoid traffic congestions.
Local Travelers. The developed system will inform the travelers about the road condition and traffic flow about the area for them to decide what path they will take or if they will continue to travel to the area.
Scope and Limitation In general, the study will be focusing on controlling traffic congestion, lessen time travel, suggest optimal paths and route choices for the travelers to choose which way to take to get to their desired destination. Also, it informed travelers about road conditions such as detours, block roads and flood-prone areas. Through the proposed system which is Traffic Information Network Assignment, the public will be informed about the current flow of the traffic in the area. The proposed system will provide these information thru the use of internet and provide optimal paths to be taken to avoid traffic congestions and road conditions such as road blocks. The study only limits its coverage in the city of Dagupan. The provided information about the traffic will be from the city or municipality itself and the choices of optimal paths or alternative ways only covered the barangays and each section in the city.

Definition of Terms The following terms and definition were defined operationally based on the system.
Traffic congestion. It is a condition on road networks characterized by lower speeds and longer trip times.
Traffic jam/Traffic snarl-up. The condition of vehicles that stops in a periods of time.
Optimal Paths. Alternative ways on which travel time is lessen or reduced; fastest way to get to the desired destination.
Detours. A roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route; the act of going or traveling to a place along a way that is different from the usual or planned way.
Traffic Information Network Assignment. A system which provides the people information about the traffic flow, road conditions, optimal paths or alternative ways in Dagupan City.