Sample CS Capstone Projects

from 2005 - 2009

2005
Simulate a Radio Interface
The team built a message simulator to test radio communications with munitions systems.
The simulator used RS232 communications and ran on PCs. It included a user interface
that allowed users to construct and send messages as well as log and display all message
traffic. The system included support for error checking (ACK/NAK, CRC) of messages.
The interface could be configured for baud rate, com port, parity, # of bits, # stop bits,
etc.

Election Results Visualization

This team built a system for use on the website of a news/communication company. The
system displays election results in a visual manner and supports selecting from multiple
race results. Results for a county can be displayed on a precinct level map in a color
coded manner. Color shading was used to indicate results (e.g. red to white to blue
shading for a two party race, white to dark green for a yes/no referendum) and actual vote
counts are also shown for each precinct as that precinct is scrolled over.

Automated Test Suite for Denial of Service and Intrusion Attacks

This team built an extensible framework for an automated suite of test cases that ran on a
Linux platform and simulated Denial of Service and Intrusion attacks. The tool included
a GUI interface to select and run tests. Around 50 different network attacks were
included with the system. An audit log and error log are produced as the system runs.

Automation Data Collection

This team designed data collection code to gather information from equipment on a
manufacturing floor. A baseline group of PLC code samples was produced for the
collection of data. Code timing (infeed, cycle, outfeed, idle, etc.) and error routines was
developed.

Factory Floor User Interface

This team designed and prototyped a user interface that presented live and historical
information from the equipment on a manufacturing floor. The design was for a web
based solution that used a SQL database that contained the data related to machine
performance.

Proposal and Job Setup System

This team designed and developed a PC based sales proposal and job setup program for a
heating company that allows the comfort consultant to efficiently and effectively produce
a job specific price quote for the customer on the first appointment. The system
included BTU calculations and furnace suggestions as well as pictorial tours showing
what is involved in a furnace replacement. A job set-up document can also be produced
immediately upon the closure of a sale. A database keeps track of all prices, eliminating
confusion. The database also helps with sales management tracking.

Test Prioritization
This team developed processes, reporting and supporting utilities around code coverage
and test prioritization tools (from an internal company research team) that provided the
best test coverage for each software check-in. There was a base-line component that
would run nightly and run each test, collect coverage data and save traces for each test.
The developers side included a Windows application for automatically selecting the tests
a developer should run.

Ensuring Data Integrity

This team developed a program that would run nightly to do integrity checks of critical
manufacturing data. The Engineering (relational) and Manufacturing (Oracle) databases
previously needed to be periodically manually verified to be in sync.

Web-based Tutorial/Learning Tool

This team developed an on-line tutorial and training tool for use in a university setting.
The tutorial was based on policies and procedures for safe computing practices. A
database of questions was also created with questions randomly selected for an on-line
quiz. The results of the quiz could be emailed to the person who took the test and a
teacher or supervisor.

Identity Preservation in a Grain Mill

This team developed a system to track the product (grain) throughout the growing portion
of the process. The ability to add and update all aspects of field information (plant and
field variables, chemicals applied, harvest information) can be managed on-line by direct
farmer input or by a system administrator. Data can be exported to Excel spreadsheets
and all updates and inserts into the database are tracked. A website was established and
set up for use by the cooperative.

Web-based Survey Software

This team developed a web-based application that runs on top of a survey processing
engine and allows users to create and maintain surveys for use on their web-sites.
Multiple surveys and various kinds of questions can be created and edited (e.g. multiple
choice, drop down choice, text choice, file choice). The survey processing engine was
previously built by the sponsoring company.

Code Generation Utility

This team developed a utility that auto-generates C# code based on code that exists
within a company proprietary prototype development environment today. The system
reviews C# code and associated metadata then analyzes it to see what areas can be
generated, rather than having to have developers create it. For example, it will generate
the required business entities and database mappings.
2006
Web-based Survey Tool
Web based survey tool to collect and manage SEI training evaluations for one company
as well as to be used for vendor surveys for another company

Intrusion Monitoring System

Development of host based intrusion monitoring and prevention application software for
IBM eServer iSeries

Web-based File Viewer

Develop a web based file viewer to be able to view data from old Cobol applications

Marketing Study for New Product Offering

Perform a marketing study on new product offerings to create a Managed Services
offering that includes the areas of proactive network monitoring, data backup, security
and trending.

Sarbanes-Oxley Critical Function Auditing Tool

Critical Function Auditing Tool - design database tables, develop an admin tool to
maintain and create the data for the tables, define and transfer the security info for users
from current system to Oracle, create a tool using VB.Net to administer this system

Web-based Employee Directory

Develop a web based employee directory that can find employees in a hierarchy list, view
the list, add picture IDs, and update Active Directory from the source data

Server Network Performance Monitoring Tool

Develop a tool to monitor and report on the performance and efficiency of a number of
remote servers.

Legal Citation Data Mining Tool

Create a Citation Mining Tool Interface to enable team members without SQL skills to
run reports and perform analysis.

Web-based Competitive Analysis Tool

Develop a tool to automatically search competitors websites to determine what they are
charging for products making sure to not be detected doing the search.
2007
Sports Score Database for Communications Company
Create a web application that allows registered users to input sports scores (and related
statistics) into a standardized database from which other media outlets (radio stations, TV,
newspapers) can pull this stored information. In keeping with this, an administrator can
alter posted scores, create sports schedules, manage sports, manage teams, and the like.

Database Search and Update Utility

Create a Web Application for searching and updating the Bermuda Information Database.
The Bermuda Information Database contains information on how the Bermuda system is
called and configured for various content types. The Web Application will have a
password protected maintenance utility that will allow users to update the database. The
database was built in standard Microsoft Access and XML, but will be migrated to Oracle
during the development of the Web Application.

Web-based product review recording system

The scope of the project is to develop a web-based collection of work product reviews.
This system will improve the customers world by setting a standard for product review
procedures with a central storage place for viewing results later.

Intrusion Monitoring System phase 2

Development of host based intrusion monitoring and prevention application software for
IBM eServer iSeries. Modify the system to be a server-side application, improve the
performance and add several new features.

Update a freeware database refactoring tool

Develop additional functionalities for Database refactoring tool useful for developers
working in agile methodology. The sponsoring company had already developed a
refactoring tool with minimal functionalities using Java. Using Agile methodology this
team had to add more functionality to the existing tool.

Competitive Benchmarking Tool

This project developed a process and web based system to consistently support
competitive bench marking in all products groups and support teams. Products include
snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, etc.

Web-based Trouble Logging System

Develop a web interface to replace an existing paper based trouble log system. The web
interface will allow the remote users to submit a trouble log directly into the system
rather than having to mail it in. The system will also allow the company to monitor and
track the progress of all of the trouble logs by going to one place. In addition, since the
data is being stored in a database, the data can be accessed over many years to help track
the usage of the trouble log system in general.

Production Line Monitoring System

Develop a web-based application for production line monitoring. This application
displays status of batches and parts in the process of producing a final product. This
application is intended to make it easier for observer or shift manager to keep track of
work progress on the production floor.

Embedded Computing Research

Provide software development help with research in nanomaterials and nanotechnology.
As a part of its Conformal Computing program, it is exploring how to leverage the power
of multi-processor parallel architecture for large displays and eventually build a tera-scale
experimental architecture.

The vision therefore is to use such hardware architecture for simple to complex computer
graphics applications. Simple computer graphics applications may comprise static
graphics algorithms: flood fill, displaying circle, line etc. Complex computer graphics
applications may comprise displaying 3D objects, texture mapping, volume rendering,
animations and so on.

2008
OneNote 2007 and Team Foundation Server (TFS) Integration
Provide an integrated solution where developers using OneNote 2007 during their Agile
development Scrum meetings could make updates to TFS work items such as
requirements, bugs and tests, directly in OneNote.

Customer Request Repository

Build a secure web-based tool that can access the company employee or customer
requests for changes or additions to products. Allow the customer to easily collect,
categorize and prioritize these requests as well as do searches and report generation.

Test System for a Claims Processing Automation System

Build a system to help automate the testing of an automated claims processing system.
The system should allow for test data entry and modification, test process control and the
comparison of original claims data and final claims data from the test.

Cell Phone Application Development

Using the Open Handset Alliance Android development environment, develop prototype
cell phone applications. The team built applications for a Message Scheduler, sending
Email from the phone, Gtalk Instant Messenger interface, Google Calendar interface,
Access to Driving Directions and a Reverse Geo Coder to get the address of a phone.

Open Interface to Company Applications Based Web Services

Convert current applications interfaces from HTTP requests with XML responses to one
based on Web Services. Build sample application interfaces and user access routines to
demonstrate to developers and users how to take advantage to this kind of interface in the
future.
Role-based Training System
Develop a system to manage training data such as courses and employee training records,
required courses per role and grades. Allow users to see their own training history and
what courses are available, supervisors to view their employee training records, and
implement an administrator function to allow for adding/deleting courses, assigning
courses to roles and roles to employees and keeping track of supervisor/employee
relationships.

Active Directory Automated Updating and SharePoint Learning Management

System
Build an Active Directory update utility that will take data from the Payroll database and
run automated updates every week and create reports on the update. Also, create a
SharePoint application to manage employee training data.

ASCII Message Simulator to test Satellite Communications

Develop a tool to generate ASCII text messages for network delivery as TCP/IP messages
simulating satellite communications. This simulator supported logging, error injection,
creation of test messages with predefined spacing and error rates, importing of TCP
streams as new message profiles, stored data using XML and allowed using the tool in an
automated fashion.

Automated Unified Data Collection from a Virtual Automated Call Distributor

(ACD)
Develop a system to automate the real-time collection of unified date from various
databases associated with a virtual ACD. The system needed to be extensible for adding
more functionality and easy to build reports from. The reporting needed to be up to the
minute and also required saving data for long-term information reporting to track trends.

2009
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Skin Viewer Application
Develop a Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application (Skin Viewer) that
allows users to create sets of controls that can be used to build applications that have a
common look and feel. For example, each division of a company could easily build
websites that have a unique look and feel.

Time Recording Utility

Develop an application to track timesheet information incorporating approval workflow
and integration with a commercial project management tool (Jira) as well as the billing
system (Quickbooks).

Data Reduction Tool

Develop a tool that will convert binary log data into a human readable format. The tool
has to be able to separate different message fields, unpack the data, apply scaling factors
and graph selected field values against each other. An associated tool is also needed to
easily define message formats and save the message format information in an XML
structure. This XML structure will be used to define how to parse the binary log files.
Evaluate the Usability of the IBM WebSphere sMash Toolset
Create a set of sample web applications that address a specific business problem, select
the most appropriate then develop a prototype of that application using sMash and report
on the ease of use or and any problems encountered.

Replace Specialized FTP Interfaces with Standard Web Services Calls

Develop software to replace specialized FTP interfaces with standard Web Services calls.
Integrate the associated changes on both the client and server sides.

User Security Auditing Tool

Develop a tool to populate a central database with application user security information
(i.e. who has access to which applications) and a set of tools to report this information in
various forms.

Asset Management System

Develop an asset management system that unifies data from several sources. A second
phase automates the current lease exchange process.

Digital Signature System

Develop a digital signature system using DSA-digital signature algorithm signatures.
The system includes adding CRCs and SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm) when building
the message. A second phase adds encryption of the final file.

Mobile Phone Planning Poker Application

Develop a planning poker application to run on mobile phones running the Android
system. The application is multi-user using a peer to peer model and is integrated with
Google Docs.

XML Parsing Tool

Develop a tool to parse SML files so that comparisons can be made between old and new
versions of files.

JMX Aggregator/Proxy
Develop a tool that exposes custom attributes which are based off values of one or more
backend JMX data source.

2010
Facebook Applications
Develop Facebook applications, web based and desktop, to demonstrate how these kinds
of applications can be built included producing documentation on how to build these
applications.

Course Management/Testing Application

Develop tools to allow the user to create questions/tests, students to take tests and
administrators to manage the system and create reports.

Web Based Network Configuration Application

Create a web based tool that allows a network accelerator to be configured for various
conditions. This task included building activity log files, managing multiple interfaces
and providing online help functionality.

Generalized Data Reduction Tool, Phase II

This project built on the previous years work by adding graphing capabilities, cleaning
up the user interface, handling header blocks, exporting message definitions to Word
documents, etc.

Cloud Based Customer Dashboard

Develop tools to collect call event data from a cloud based ACD deleting data when calls
complete and aggregating data to be used on a dashboard that displays system status.

Acoustic Imaging Application

Build an application that processes acoustic data coming into an array of receivers and
identify the source of the sound (first single source then multiple sources). Create a
parallel processing version of the algorithms using Cilk++ running on a multi-core
platform.

Performance Driven Compensation System

Develop an application to manage a performance driven compensation/bonus system.
This system also needed to provide support for year-end performance evaluations.

Web Based Image Management System

Develop a system to manage software images replacing an older version. Includes the
ability to view and compare side-by-side two different images.

Framework for Mobile Applications

Develop two prototype systems (running on Android and Blackberry platforms) that
access web services provided by the sponsoring company.

Statistical Process Control Recording and Charting System

Build an application that is used in a manufacturing environment to automate the
recording of data (from networked scales) and analyze this data according to SPC rules
for the station to determine whether or not samples are out of range.

Workflow Automation of the Software Promotion Process

Develop a workflow automation application (using ShareVis and InfoPath) to manage the
process for moving software status (e.g. development to test to alpha to beta to
production)

Data Reduction Tool (different customer than one above)

Build a tool that can analyze data coming from any device and display the messages in
human readable form. This was done by building a wizard to enable easy message
definitions, an XML parser to convert messages into human readable form and a
sophisticated user interface that made it very easy to filter and display messages.