Alex Robinson

Bachelor's Thesis: Airbnb Smart Management & Security System

Technologies: Python | Flask | SQLite | Web (HTML/CSS/JS) | C++

Project Overview

This project was created for my bachelor’s Thesis. I designed and developed a full-stack web application with IoT integration to provide a centralised platform combining booking management and physical access control for short-term rental hosts. The systems’ main objective was to improve efficiency and strengthen security by streamlining many of the current workflows and automating property access.
The system was created after identifying the fragmented workflows and processes that small short-term rental hosts would encounter such as, the use of multiple tools and in-person key handovers and it quickly became obvious that a centralised dedicated system would solve many of the real-world challenges around guest access and booking management.
I was very motivated and driven to develop this system as I knew I would be challenged, and I love being able to provide real-world value through technology.
The smart management and security system consists of a web dashboard and physical microcontroller-driven hardware in a custom designed 3D printed enclosure. It represents my most complex end-to-end solution to date where I blended multiple technologies to create a unified, functional prototype.

Project Highlights

• Developed a full-stack web application for short-term rental hosts to manage guests, property access, communication and monitor logs. • Integrated microcontroller hardware (Arduino and ESP32) to develop a smart lock control prototype with sensor feedback. • Developed automated workflows for check-in, check-out and temporary property access permissions. • Applied Scrum methodology, collaborating in a team with daily stand-ups and iterative revisions. • Implemented a structured relational database.

Core Features

Centralised booking management: Hosts can view, create, modify all bookings in one place. The bookings automatically control guest property access. Automated Time-Bound Access Codes: Temporary access PIN codes are generated for each guest booking. The access codes are automatically activated and deactivated based on the booking date and time. This fully removes the need for manual key handovers. Real-Time Access Logging: Access attempts with the system are logged in the database, these include Timestamp, associated guest, access granted/denied. Integrated IoT physical Smart Lock System: Arduino Nano to handle guest interaction with keypad, display, buzzers, LEDs. ESP32-CAM to wireless communication and image captures. Serial UART + REST API are used for secure communication with the server. Guest Dashboard: Simple user-interface for guests to view their booking details and make hassle-free requests to communicate with the host. Host Admin Dashboard: All-in-one user-interface, providing full control over bookings, users, PIN codes, Access logs and System Configuration. User Authentication System: Web application has role-based access for guests and admins, and passwords are hashed and stored securely. Automatic emails for account setup and notifications are implemented. Real-Time Alerts & Doorbell Integration: Server is notified when physical doorbell press is triggered. The event is logged in the database and can be viewed in the Host Admin Dashboard. Ticket System (Guest Requests): Guests can make submit requests regarding the stay and monitor the requests status via the Guest Dashboard. Hosts are notified via email of the request and can manage the request via the Admin Dashboard. Database-Driven Security Features: Relational Database with constraints to ensure data integrity, supporting CRUD operations. 3D-Printed Hardware Enclosure: Fully designed and developed in blender multiple iterations of the custom hardware enclosure to house the hardware components. Full-Stack Implementation with Live Deployment: The system was deployed on a server for demonstration with real-time synchronisation between the physical hardware and the backend through REST APIs.

Technical Specifications

Backend: Created in Python with Flask REST API. Modular business logic for time-based PIN activation, booking states, and email notifications. Database: An SQLite relational database was used for this prototype, as it is lightweight and does not require a server, it can be easily replaced with a full database server for production purposes. The database stores users, bookings, access codes, event logs and support tickets in tables and is manipulated using CRUD operations to ensure relationships and reliability. Hardware: Two microcontrollers were used in this prototype, an ESP32-CAM for its network capabilities and camera to communicate with the backend server and an Arduino Nano for all guest interactions such as, keypad input, doorbell, LEDs, buzzer, LCD display. All the hardware is enclosed in a 3D-printed shell custom designed in Blender. Frontend: The interface is a web-based application developed using Flask with HTML templates, CSS and JavaScript. The user interface provides a Guest and Admin (Host) Dashboards for booking related management, support tickets and system configuration. Security: The web app uses role-based authentication and bcrypt password hashing. The physical hardware access is based on time-based access codes. There are also email-based password resets. Automation Workflow: Once a host adds a new booking, the automation starts. The system creates the guest account and a confirmation email with their unique access PIN is sent. The access PIN is automatically activated only during the booking dates. The hardware also periodically syncs valid access PINs, while any real-time events are reported and logged on the server.

Future Development

There are a many potential improvements and features which could be integrated in future implementations such as, booking website APIs integration to automatically import bookings into the system, removing another manual step previously required by the host. Multiple property management could also be explored and implemented to improve host experience.

Invoice Management Web App

Technologies: Python | Flask | SQL | HTML

Project Overview

During my university internship, I developed a full-stack Invoice Management Web App in a team environment. The project simulated a real-world business scenario, giving hands-on experience with database design, backend development, and Scrum-based workflow management. The app manages customers, suppliers, products, invoices, and transactions, with detailed relational data and inventory tracking. The system was designed to streamline administrative workflows for small businesses by centralizing customers, suppliers, products, and invoice processing into a single, organized platform.

Project Highlights

Developed a Flask web application integrated with MySQL, handling customer, supplier, and invoice management.
Designed and implemented a relational database schema with normalized tables, foreign keys, and entity relationships for data integrity.
Built modular workflows for product inventory, transactions, and contact management.
Applied Scrum methodology, collaborating in a team with daily stand-ups and iterative revisions.
Maintained version-controlled development, adapting database and application structures based on feedback.

Core Features

Customer Management: Add, edit, and organize customer records with validated relational links.
Supplier Management: Maintain supplier details, including contacts and transaction history.
Inventory Tracking: Manage product data, stock levels, and price updates.
Invoice Generation: Create and update invoices with automated totals and linked entities.
Database Integrity: Normalized MySQL schema with foreign key constraints for reliable data.
User Interface Structure: Modular pages for each workflow to improve navigation and reduce complexity.

Technical Specifications

Backend: Modular Flask routes with template inheritance for maintainability.
Database: MySQL with a normalized relational schema.
Security: Role-based access control and hashed passwords.
Development Workflow: Scrum-inspired iterative approach, frequent revisions of schema and app features.

Real-Time Chatroom Web App with User Authentication

Technologies: Python Flask | SQLite3 | HTML/CSS | JavaScript | WebSockets (Socket.IO)

Project Overview

This project is a clean, full-stack, real-time chatroom web application developed using Python Flask with WebSocket (Socket.IO). I implemented user authentication, persistent chatrooms, and an SQLite3 database to store the user accounts, chatrooms and chatroom metadata. The goal of the application was to explore WebSocket-based communication while providing a secure functional login system.

Project Highlights

• Implemented real-time messaging using Socket.IO and simple HTML. • Structured, Modular backend with separate files for routes, models, and utility functions. • Designed a lightweight SQLite3 database for storing user accounts, chatrooms, and connected users. • Created a simple responsive UI with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Core Features

• Multiple chatrooms for users to choose from based on topics or interests. • Real-time bidirectional messaging between connected users in a chatroom without page reloads. • Designed a lightweight SQLite3 database for storing user accounts, chatrooms, and connected users. • Active chatroom user tracking to count connected users. • Home page renders all chatrooms available to join with active user count. • Distinct chat message bubble, your own messages on the right and other messages on the left. • User joining and leaving notification messages in the chatroom.

Technical Specifications

Backend: Built with Flask, Flask-SocketIO, and organised into multiple modules to improve app maintainability. The user class in the models module includes CRUD operations for interacting with the database. Frontend: HTML/CSS for the simple user interface with JavaScript for the dynamic chat updates. Database: SQLite3 database was implemented for storing the user accounts, chatrooms, and connected users. Security: Session-based user authentication for all flask routes to ensure users are connected securely and for the apps functionality. Passwords are hashed before being stored in the database.

Future Development

This app was only created to learn and will not be deployed but during development I thought about many features and potential improvements which could complement the application well but were beyond the set scope of the project. For example, GUI improvements for visual aesthetics as the application is very simple as most development was focused on functionality; The implementation of account types to allow authorised users to create, delete and manage rooms and admin roles for moderation, as well as many more.

Library Management System (.NET Windows Forms)

Technologies: Visual Basic .NET | Windows Forms (.NET Framework)

Project Overview

The library management system is a multi-form desktop application I built during university using Visual Basic in Visual Studio. It was created as a university coursework project and was not built for deployment. The system provides a user interface to manage and track users and books for a borrow-return workflow. The application only uses an in-memory DataGridView database as I had developed it before I had experience with SQL and database integration. The application allows users to add, edit, and remove books and users from the system as well as providing the essential library features such as book checkout, return, extend return, and viewing a book’s status.

Project Highlights

• Created a desktop application with multiple forms for managing library books and users. • Designed a user-friendly interface for app navigation utilizing TabControl for separating Books and Users. • Custom separate forms for important functions such as book checkout, returns, book return extension, and more. • Integrated validation rules for book checkout dates.

Core Features

Book Management: Users can add, edit, remove, view the status of, and search for books within the DataGridView database.
User Management: Users can add, edit, remove and search for users within the DataGridView database.
Checkout & Return Workflow: Books can be checked out (for up to one month), and returned with the option to extend the return date. Book availability status is also updated based on if the books is checked out.
Search System: Users can search for keywords to find the desired entry in the database. The feature is available for books and users with the result being highlighted ready for other potential user actions.
Book image support: Book cover images can be optionally added for better visual identification.

Technical Specifications

Backend: Developed with Visual Basic (VB.NET) in Visual Studio. Frontend: Windows Forms UI. Database: No external database was used, the data is stored using in-memory DataGridView components. I did not have experience with SQL database integration at the time of development.

Future Development

As the application was part of a coursework project, focusing more on demonstrating the core functionality, it would need significant work if it was to be deployed, such as UI improvements, external database integration, user role implementation, significant functionality refinement and more data input, and output validation. Another potential future development could be a dedicated server for the backend and database to allow multiple desktop clients to run simultaneously and offload most processing to the server side.

Fuel Cost & Trip Estimator (C# WinForms)

Technologies: C# | WinForms | File-based storage

Project Overview

The Fuel Cost & Trip Estimator was developed as a coursework project for university. It is built using C# and WinForms and was designed to learn and showcase core C# programming concepts and Windows Form development. The application is designed to assist users in calculating fuel consumption, trip costs, and efficiently plan trips all within an intuitive user interface. The application uses persistent storage of data through external text files and demonstrates practical experience creating Windows desktop applications with forms, calculations and file-based persistent storage.

Project Highlights

• Developed a C# WinForms desktop application for fuel cost calculating. • Integrated persistent storage of data for fuel prices, currency selection and trip history with external text files. • Designed a simple and clean user interface to ensure ease of use while making calculations. • Users can set fuel prices and select currency’s using multiple forms.

Core Features

Trip Fuel Cost Calculator: Users can calculate the cost spent on fuel on a trip based on the distance travelled, amount of fuel consumed, and fuel cost. The calculator returns the Fuel Economy (km/L), Fuel Consumption (L/100km), and the trips expense.
Trip Cost Estimator: Users can estimate the cost of a trip based on a given vehicle’s fuel consumption, the distance to travel and fuel cost.
Fuel Type Selection: Users can select either Diesel or Petrol radio buttons during calculations. Each fuel type has assigned prices which are configured in settings and are saved and loaded on app launch.
Fuel Price Display: Current fuel prices are displayed in the app footer.
Settings Management: Configurable prices for fuel types, and currency selection forms.
History Panel: All calculations are shown in the history panel for tracking and are saved externally and loaded on launch.
Data Storage: The application uses persistent storage; all data is saved in external text files.
User Interface: Simple, intuitive design to ensure ease of use

Technical Specifications

Backend: Developed with C# and Windows forms in Visual Studio. Frontend: Windows Forms UI with multiple forms and TabControl for separation between the Fuel Cost Calculator and the Trip Cost Estimator. Database: No traditional database used. External text files are used for persistent storage; the data is loaded on app launch.

Future Development

The application was designed for learning purposes and not to be deployed. In a second version of the application, implementation of APIs could be utilised for automatic fuel price updates, as well as displaying the use of graphs to display analytical information of fuel prices and trips; and migration from storing data in text files to an external database.

Guess the Number Game

Technologies: Java (Swing)

Project Overview

This project is a simple guess the number game developed in class during a Java module at university. This is a simple game using Swing. A random number is generated between one and 100, the user must guess the number within the five lives. After each guess the user is given a hint, either, informing that the user guessed too high or too low. After each incorrect guess a stick figure is progressively drawn, the game is lost when the stick figure is fully drawn.