Program to Evaluate Alternative Energy Sources

May08-03

Group Advisors

Brad Smith Dr. John Lamont Graig Schadle Prof. Ralph Patterson Mukul Sabharwal Mr. Steve Larsen Ethan Wilder

Problem Statement

• Current Residents may be Unsatisfied with Energy Provider

• No Knowledge of Alternatives• Need a Tool to Help Research and Plan

Solution

• Web Application• Simple Form• Information• Takes User Data• Provides Feasible Sources• Costs

Block Diagram

Requirements

• Implement Dec07-03• No Downloading• Simultaneous Usage• User Friendly Web Application• User Inputs• Program Outputs

Key Specifications

• The Input Form shall Handle Alerts• The Load Database shall Provide Common

Loads• The Load Processor shall Handle Three

Different Scenarios• The Form Processor shall Handle All Non-Load

Data• The Web Application shall Provide Extensive

Help

Dec07-03

• Two Separate Parts to Input Form• Form Information• Load Information

• Eight Different Excel Outputs• Two Sources

• Solar• Wind

• Four Focuses Each:• Cheapest per Watt from Manufacturer

• Cheapest per Watt after Market

• Lowest Cost

• Most Efficient

Form Information• Handled by Form Processor• Two Types of Input:

• Direct Questions From Excel• “Allowable Tower Height in Your Area?”• “Do You Want Battery Backup?”

• Formula Inputs• “Maximum Demand”• “Energy Conservation Questions”

Load Processor Flow Chart

Output

PHP-Excel Bridge

• Problem• PHP has No Native API for Excel 2007• Excel 2007 Excel 2003 Breaks Some Functionality

• Three Solutions• Write Native Drivers for Excel 2007 (Since it’s

Basically XML)• Using CLR Automation• Expose ADO.NET Layer for Excel 2007

• All Solutions Work• The API this Bridge Exposes Remains the Same

Internet User Inputs Info Validates Input

ExcelBridge

Input API

MS/Excel API

HTML Output

Dec07-03 Excel Engine

Excel Bridge Interaction

Internet User

Profile Manager

Hold Ups• Server Delayed Three Weeks:

• Server Can't/Won't Support MySQL + PHP

• Have to Write Alternative DB • File Based

• Encapsulated by Object

Prototype

Testing

• System Requirements• Browser Testing• Form Testing• Profile Testing• Multiple User Testing• Speed Testing

• Alpha – Given to Advisors/Team• Beta – Given to People Unrelated to Project

Testing: Browser

• Test If Site Works on Three Major Browsers (Req. 2.4.9)• Mozilla Firefox Version 2

• Dynamic Table Issue - Fixed

• Internet Explorer: 7 and Above• Sidebar Issues – Fixed

• Safari Version 3

Testing: Form and Profile

• Form• Movement Testing (Req. 2.4.5)

• Jump To Page • Next and Back Buttons

• Error Testing• Numeric Values• Form Completion

• Profile• Creation Testing• Loading Testing• Memory Testing

Testing: Excel Bridge

• Multiple User Testing (Req. 2.4.2)• Five Simultaneous Users

• Speed Testing (Req. 2.4.1)• Under Five Minutes to Output

• Memory Testing (Req. 2.4.10)• No Memory Leaks (No Leftovers)• Under 50 MB

Test Results

• Works in All 3 Browsers• File Storage Within 50MB• Multi-User Support• Runtime < 5 min

Total Hours Worked

Mukul, 253

Ethan, 235.5Brad, 229

Graig, 229.5

Earned Value Analysis

Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled Budgeted Cost of Work Performed Actual Cost of Work Performed

Problem Definition Predicted Hours Budgeted Costs % Complete Budgeted Costs Actual Hours Actual Costs

Technology Consideration and Selection 32 $ 320.00 100 $ 320.00 22 $ 220.00

End Product Design 200 $ 2,000.00 100 $ 2,000.00 356 $ 3,560.00

End Product Implementation 136 $ 1,360.00 95 $ 1,292.00 153 $ 1,530.00

End Product Testing 136 $ 1,360.00 86 $ 1,169.60 86 $ 860.00

End Product Documentation 42 $ 420.00 100 $ 420.00 38 $ 380.00

Project Reporting 51 $ 510.00 80 $ 408.00 43 $ 430.00

Total 597 $ 5,970.00 $ 5,609.60 698 $ 6,980.00

Budgeted Costs % Complete Budgeted Costs Actual Costs

Poster: $ 60.00 100 60 $ 105.00

Printing: $ 20.00 100 20 $ 60.00

Total: $ 80.00 $ 165.00

Cost Performance Index for Man-hours 0.803667622

Schedule Performance for Man-hours 0.939631491

Cost Variance $ (1,370.40)

Schedule Variance $ (360.40)

What We Learned

• Teamwork• Time Management• Deadline Management• Reporting

Conclusions

• Began with a Previous Project Built for Customers with Technical Knowledge

• Developed it into a User-Friendly Web Application

• Website Provides Links for Further Information

• Has Become a Tool for Information on Alternative Energy Sources

Questions?