UPLB ICS Peak One

This study presents Project LUPA, a Progressive Web App that unifies two previously separate systems for managing soil profiles and soil physical and chemical characteristics under Project SARAI. The system allows users—guests, registered users, and administrators—to view and manage soil data. Developed using Next.js, MongoDB, Node.js, Leaflet, and Cloudinary, the app supports location-based data input via interactive maps and includes a basic content management system for registered users. Deployment was carried out using Vercel, with IndexedDB integration enabling offline access. Evaluation using the System Usability Scale with 30 users (web and mobile) resulted in an average SUS score of 84.5, indicating excellent usability. The results show that Project LUPA successfully brings together separate soil data systems into one user-friendly and accessible tool for people in agricultural sectors.

This study presents the development and evaluation of PALMA, a mobile application designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of logging tenant entry and exit times in dormitory settings at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and similar accommodations. Traditional manual logging systems were identified as inefficient and prone to errors, underscoring the need for an innovative solution. By integrating palm image authentication technology, PALMA offers a streamlined and secure method for authenticating user identities, eliminating the cumbersome search for names on lengthy lists and significantly reducing the administrative work-load associated with report generation. Usability testing revealed a high System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 86.83, indicating strong user satisfaction. Qualitative feedback emphasized the application’s innovativeness, convenience, and user-friendliness, while also identifying areas for potential enhancements such as faster scanning, improved cloud performance, and additional offline functionalities. The study concludes that PALMA improves operational efficiency for tenants and dormitory administrators and highlights the promise of adopting biometric technologies in residential management. Recommendations include expanding PALMA’s deployment to a broader range of dormitories, enhancing its features to better address user needs, and optimizing the matching algorithm to improve efficiency and reduce the reliance on guards manually selecting from the top five potential matches.

This study presents the development and evaluation of Iskonnect, a mobile freelancing application designed to connect University of the Philippines Los Ba˜ nos (UPLB) students and other UPLB-affiliated freelancers with potential clients within their community. Developed using Flutter, the application enables student freelancers and customers to interact through features such as user-type-based registration, service and project post- ings, in-app messaging, advanced search and filtering, activity tracking, and mutual review and rating systems. A total of 30 participants, comprising both freelancers and customers, were involved in the usability evaluation using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and qualitative feedback. The application achieved an “Excellent” usability score of 85.975, reflecting high effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. Positive feedback highlighted the app’s intuitive interface, messaging features, and advanced search functionality, while suggestions focused on improving onboarding, integrated payment system, and expanding platform reach. The results affirm Iskonnect’s potential as a localized freelancing platform that addresses the unique needs of UPLB students and other members of the UPLB community while fostering real- world skill development through digital means.

Sedentary behavior, which refers to activities per- formed while awake, such as sitting, reclining, or lying down with low energy use, is increasingly prevalent and is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. While many mobile health (mHealth) applications focus on either physical activity or mental wellness, few offer an integrated approach. To address this gap, TranquilGo, a mobile application, was developed for the UPLB community to promote walking activity while supporting mental well-being. The developed app was evaluated using the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ) with open-ended user feedback. The results yielded a mean usability score of 6.56 out of 7, suggesting that users found the application highly usable based on their responses. This supports TranquilGo’s potential to encourage regular use, which is crucial to effectively promote physical activity and mental well-being.

SchoolSafe is a web-based attendance monitoring system designed to improve student security and guardian communication at San Miguel Heights Elementary School. The system integrates fingerprint biometric authentication with auto- mated SMS notifications to address the limitations of traditional attendance tracking and ensure timely parental awareness of student presence. The platform supports role-based access for administrators, advisers, and security personnel, and includes features such as centralized log management and automated attendance capture. Usability was evaluated using the System Usability Scale (SUS) across different user roles. The system received an overall average score of 94.18, placing it in the “excellent” category. Simulated student users provided the highest rating of 97.75, while administrators and teaching staff rated the system’s usability between “good” and “excellent.” These results demonstrate that SchoolSafe achieves its goals while offering a user-friendly experience.