ParkWise Parking Management System

A comprehensive Qt-based parking management application that allows tracking of parked vehicles, check-ins, and check-outs in a multi-level parking facility with real-time data persistence.

Overview

ParkWise is a professional parking management solution designed for multi-level parking facilities. It provides an intuitive interface for managing vehicle entry and exit, tracking occupancy rates, and maintaining a comprehensive log of all parking activities.

Features

• Secure Authentication: Login system with password encryption and multiple login attempts
• Comprehensive Dashboard: Real-time statistics on parking occupancy and vehicle traffic
• Efficient Vehicle Management:
  • Quick park-in with automatic spot allocation
  • Easy check-out with vehicle search
  • Vehicle tracking by license plate
• Multi-level Parking Visualization: Interactive map of parking spots across multiple levels
• Detailed Reporting: CSV exports of parking activities for record-keeping and analysis
• User Activity Tracking: Complete logs of system usage and administrative actions
• Modern UI: Clean, responsive design with intuitive navigation
• Data Persistence: Reliable storage of all parking data using SQLite database
• Error Handling: Robust validation and error recovery mechanisms

System Requirements

• Operating System: Windows 10/11
• Framework: Qt 6.x or later
• Compiler: C++17 compatible compiler (MinGW 64-bit recommended)
• Database: SQLite support (included with Qt)
• Storage: At least 100MB of free disk space
• Memory: Minimum 2GB RAM

Installation

Pre-built Executable (Recommended)

1. Download the latest release from the release folder
2. Extract the ZIP file to a location of your choice
3. Run ParkWise.exe to start the application

One-Click Launch (Simplest Method)

1. Double-click on LaunchParkWise.cmd to build and run the application
2. The script will:
   • Check if the application is already built
   • Build it if needed (showing build output)
   • Launch the application directly
3. For a desktop shortcut, create a shortcut to LaunchParkWise.cmd

System Installation (Administrative Privileges Required)

1. Right-click on scripts/install.cmd and select "Run as administrator"
2. The installer will:
   • Copy the application to Program Files
   • Create a desktop shortcut
   • Set up necessary folders
3. Launch ParkWise from the desktop shortcut

Uninstallation

1. Right-click on scripts/uninstall.cmd and select "Run as administrator"
2. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted
3. The uninstaller will:
   • Remove all application files from Program Files
   • Delete the desktop shortcut
   • Remove application settings from the registry

Building from Source

Using Qt Creator

1. Install Qt 6.x with MinGW 64-bit compiler
2. Open ParkWise.pro in Qt Creator
3. Configure the project with your Qt kit
4. Click Build > Build Project
5. Click Run to start the application

Using Command Line (Windows)

Run the included build script to compile and run the application:

scripts/runme.cmd

Usage Guide

First-time Setup

1. Launch the application
2. On first run, a default admin account is created:
   • Username: admin
   • Password: admin
3. Use these credentials to log in
4. It's recommended to create a new account through the sign-up option

Main Navigation

The application features four main sections accessible via the navigation sidebar:

1. Dashboard: Overview of parking statistics and recent activities
2. Park-In: Register new vehicles entering the facility
3. Check-Out: Process vehicles exiting the facility
4. Overview: Visualize parking spots and their current status

Managing Vehicles

To Park a Vehicle:

1. Navigate to the Park-In section
2. Enter the vehicle's license plate number
3. Select manual or automatic spot allocation
4. Confirm to register the vehicle

To Check Out a Vehicle:

1. Navigate to the Check-Out section
2. Enter the license plate number in the search field
3. Verify the vehicle details
4. Confirm to complete the check-out process

Data Management

All parking data is automatically saved to CSV files in the following locations:

• release/logs/cars_parked.csv: Record of all parked vehicles
• release/logs/cars_parking.csv: Vehicles currently in the facility
• release/logs/cars_checked_out.csv: Record of vehicles that have left

To clear all data and start fresh, run the included cleanup script:

scripts/cleanup.cmd

• This will remove all log files from build/debug/database/logs/
• Clears user credentials and other temporary data

Project Structure

ParkWise/ ├── src/ # Source code │ ├── core/ # Core application logic │ ├── database/ # Database interactions │ ├── resources/ # Application resources │ └── ui/ # User interface components ├── data/ # Data files ├── database/ # Database files ├── scripts/ # Utility scripts └── docs/ # Documentation

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Login Failures

   • Default admin credentials: username admin, password admin
   • After three failed attempts, the application will close
   • Password reset option is available on the login screen

2. Database Errors

   • Ensure the application has write permissions to its directory
   • If database corruption occurs, run scripts/cleanup.cmd to reset

3. Building Issues

   • Verify Qt 6.x is properly installed
   • Check that MinGW 64-bit is in your system PATH
   • Ensure all dependencies are properly installed

Data Reset

If you need to reset all application data:

1. Close the application
2. Run scripts/cleanup.cmd
   • This will remove all log files from build/debug/database/logs/
   • Clears user credentials and other temporary data
3. Restart the application

License

This project is proprietary software developed for academic purposes.

Distribution

To create a distributable package:

1. Build the application using scripts/runme.cmd or Qt Creator
2. Run scripts/package.cmd to create a ZIP file containing all necessary files
3. The resulting ZIP file can be distributed to end users
4. Users can either:
   • Extract and run LaunchParkWise.vbs directly
   • Run scripts/install.cmd as administrator to install system-wide