AIR CARGO

TRACKING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

Air cargo tracking system is an online system for transporting various goods

from one place to another and also viewing the customer about the current

status of cargo or shipment to know if it is either on transit or delivered to the

appropriate destination.

This topic entails the computer application in the courier services in our

economy considering the trendy nature and advancement in the use and

application of computer in our major industries emphasis is drawn mostly to

the courier industries (multi-nationals).

BRIEF HISTORY

(kayler, 2000), said that expert system is an intelligent program that uses

knowledge and inference procedure to solve problems that

are difficult enough to require human expertise for their solution. It is a

knowledge based program that provided expert quality solution to some

problem in a specific domain. Expert is also a program that captures

elements of human expertise and performs reasoning tasks that normally rely

on specialist knowledge.
(Marsten, 1980), International Air Transport, emphasizes that the requirements

of all cargo carriers and combination vary widely. As more high capacity

aircraft are phased into route structures, the ratio of

air cargo carried in passenger aircraft to that carried in cargo aircraft will

also change. (Robertson, 1995), Cargo Tracking System, Is one of the first

persons to propose the tracking system for an airport, Robertson recommends

taking notice of the potential of airport to aid regeneration of depressed

areas, rather than their more widely recognized economic impacts.

(Sleigh, 1999), urban and regional development, empirically

examined the benefits of urban areas enjoy as a result of a major airline

selecting a given region as the major points for its hub and spoke services. (Smith,

1999), airport and airline operations, bring airports bring airport and

airline operations more squarely into the main stream study of urban and

regional development levels because it is acknowledge based producer services

that tends to seek out markets that offer high level of air service connectivity to

other places.

(Volton, 1999), Air transport management, point out that there is

certain group of employment which depends more on our air transport than

others. Employment seems to be the most used economic indicator in

research or the regional economic impact of airport.

(Lin, 2003), Cost effect on carriers, compares the economic

effect of brand-spoke networks with centre to centre directs on the carriers

operations. This study focused more on the effects on carriers rather than on
the whole public and thus the effects are evaluated by the carriers cost.

(Marley, 1989), Objective of air cargo tracking system, says the goals

of some of these processes reflected what was wanted, not what was possible.

Goals that cannot be obtained from a risk assessment determine the acceptable risk

level.

(McGregor, 1990), Risk of air cargo tracking system, says what risk, or

how much risk, is acceptable depends on how a person or agency perceives that

risk. Risk levels are value judgments that are characterized by variables

beyond the systematic evaluation information.

(Theimer, 1997), International air freight tracking, in a freight and

routing system, each individual package is provided with a tag physically

attached there to the tag include a radio or infrared transceiver and a

microprocessor at important nodes at geographical locations with the

distribution system. The tags are also capable of being electronically acquired,

or alternately can emit distress signals when they do not reach a particular location

at a particular time.

(Harrison, 2004), A hand book on Air Way bill, Federation Aviation

Administration defined Air way bill as a shipping document used by the

airlines for all freight. It serves as a contact for carriage and includes carrier

condition of carriage such as limits of liability and claims procedures. The

air way bill also contains shipping instructions to the airline, a description of

the commodity and applicable transportation charges. The airline industry

has adopted a standard formatted air way bill that accommodates both

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domestic and international traffic.

(Mary, 2000), A brief History of the Air Cargo System, said here that

it is necessary in the air cargo industry to provide sufficient space to

accommodate the maintenance of fixed or mobile equipment, and the maintenance,

parking and refueling of powered ground equipment.

In case of (Codd, 2000), views about the database concept gave his

description as follows:

In a relational database management system date are perceived as tables

without structures and the operation of the system permits the user to create

new and virtual tables from the existing ones. In a non-relational system the

user sees data structure (such as hierarchical tree) as well as the tables.

Operators permit the user to change either the date or the date structure. As

the relational concept represents a mathematical system, all practical

relational system are limitations of (E.F Codd) pure system to some extent.

SQL SERVER RETROSPECT

A relational database such as SQL server contains multiple tables that are

related together. A database can also contain views, stored procedures, functions,

indexes, security information and other elements.

As a database, SQL server is all about efficiently storing data within tables

built from rows and columns. At the center of SQL server is the SQL server

engine, which processes the database commands. The process Turns inside

windows and understands only connections and SQL commands. Enterprise

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manager, query analyzer, every SQL server enabled graphical user interface

(GUI), application user interface (API), and application makes a connection

to SQL server and sends SQL statements to SQL server for processing. As

robust as the engine is, SQL server is much more than just the engine; it

includes a set of tools for administrating the server and preparing queries; add-

tools for converting and moving data, and for performing data warehousing

and analysis; and services for managing the connection at both the server side

and the client side.

SQL server is base on the ANSI· SQL 92 standard. SQL is "de facto"

standard for stating relational database queries. Nearly every database

product is based on some variation of SQL, even if the SQL is not visible to

the end user.

SQL server is a complete database system, and fully mastering its scope can

take years in terms of features, commands, subsystems, components, possibilities.

SQL server is one of the largest and most complex software products on the

market. Fortunately, Microsoft has gone the extra mile to improve the "out-of-the-

box experience" by making SQL easier to use and administer than other

client/sever database system (including previous version of SQL server). The

server administration can be so simple that were set up using administrative

wizards and have not required administrative attention in over two years, yet

they are still running great. Nonetheless, the sheer number of SQL sever

facilities Can easily overwhelm a new developer.

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PROCESSING CONCEPT

The daily activities and records of every organization are clearly

documented and so it is the mode of operation and processing of activities

that varies from place to place around the globe.

Keeping of record and track of data is useful for posterity and effective

administration purposes. Data is dynamic and volatile and its nature calls for

prosper processing technology and methodology in relation to the data.

Below we shall discuss some data processing concept in this section:

Batch Processing

This involves enormous data that are processed at the same time, in large

scale operations. Those that entered into the computer or terminals that are

not connected to the main environment involves two or more users entering

the same time interval, here there are many terminals and different people

working on each terminal. These terminals are connected to the mainframe (printer,

software etc) the resources in batch processing are shared by the various users.

Interactive Processing

Interactive processing involves immediate processing of information entered

into a computer to provide immediate output of some kind and maintain files

that needed updates, most microcomputers are Pc's (personal computers)

allows for data to be keyed in and completed on the spot or in transaction.

Thus type of data entry is called on cure operation and the software is loaded

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in each of the computer system, there is direct access to program which aims

at checking short coming of queue prevalent in batch processing (central computer)

to communicate with other computer systems located around a far away from it.

(Odiari, 2003), conversely, several computers connected to a central computer

that controls the activities of the other computers.

Basically three types of computer network system exist via star network,

Ring network and Hybrid network. Star network involves a system in which

each of the several computers are linked directly to a central computer while

in Ring network, the computer performs its own communication activities

within the ring it must be inter-connected to each other hybrid networks to

produce a higher efficiency.

AIRWAY BILL

Air way bill (A WB) or air consignment note refers to a receipt issued by an

international carrier company for goods and an evidence of the contract of carriage,

but it is not a document of title of the goods. Hence, the A WB is non-negotiable.

The A WB has a tracking number which can be used to check the status of

delivery, and current position of the shipment. The number consists of a three

digits a line prefix issued by IATA (1) and a 8 digit number. The first three

copies are classified as originals. The first copy is retained by the issuing

carrier or their appointed agent, the 2nd copy by the receiving carrier or the

appointed agent, the 3rd copy is used as proof of delivery (POD). The goods in

the air consignment are consigned directly to

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the party (the consignee) named in the letter of the credit (L/C). Unless the

goods are consigned to a third party like the issuing bank, the importer can

obtain the goods from the carrier at destination without paying the issuing

bank or consigner. Therefore, unless a cash payment has been received by

the exporter or the buyers integrity is unquestionable; consigning goods to

the importer is risky.

For air consignment to certain destination, it is possible to arrange payment

on a COD (cash on delivery) basis and consign the goods directly to the importer.

The goods are released to the importer only after the importer makes the

payment and complies with the instructions in the A WB.

In air freight, the exporter (the consignor) often engages a freight forwarder

or consolidator to handle the forwarding goods. The consignor provides

supplier's letter of instructions which will authorizes the forwarding agent to

sign certain documents (e.g. the A WB) on behalf of the consigner. The

A WB must indicate that the goods have been accepted for carriage, and must

be signed or authenticated by the carrier or the named agent for or on behalf

of the carrier. The signature or authentication of the carrier must be

identified as carrier and in the case of agent signing or authenticating, the

name and the capacity of the carrier on whose behalf the agent signs or

authentication must be indicated.

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Master Airway Bill

International A WBs that contain consolidated cargo are called master air

waybills (MA WB). MA WBs have additional papers called hales air waybills

(HA WB). Each HA WB contains information of each individual shipment

(consignee, contents etc) with the consolidation. International A WBs that are

not consolidated (only one shipment in one bill) are called simple A WBs. A

house air waybill can also be created by a freight forwarder.. When the

shipment is booked, the airline issues a MA WB to the forwarder, who in

turn issues their own house our air waybill to the customer.

Airway Bill Number

The A WB Number has eleven (11) digits and three parts. The first three

digits are the airline prefix. The next seven digits is the serial number of the

A WB. The last digit is the check digit. The check digit is delivered by

dividing the seven digit serial number by number by seven. The remainder

determines the check digit. For example, serial number 8114074 divided by

715 1159153, remainder here is three (3). Therefore the serial number check

digit is 81140743.

Bill Of Lading

A bill of lading can be used as a traded object. The standard short form bill

of lading is evidence of the contract of carriage of goods and it serves a

number of purposes. It is evidence that valid of carriage or a chartering contract,

exists and it may incorporate the full terms of the contract between

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the consigner and the carrier by reference (i.e. the short form simply refers to

the main contract as an existing document, whereas the long form of a bill of

a bill lading (connaissement integral) issued by the carrier sets out all the

terms of the contract of carriage).

AIR CARGO SECURITY RISKS

Potential risks associated with air cargo security include introduction of

explosive and incendiary devices in cargo placed aboard aircraft, shipment of

undeclared or undetected hazardous materials aboard aircraft, cargo crime

including theft and smuggling, and aircraft hijackings and sabotage by individuals

with access to aircraft.

BENEFITS OF THE AIR CARGO TRACKING SYSTEM

managing related information and helps customers or clients to know the

current status of their data as analyzed as follows:

 Time saving: The cargo tracking system saves a lot time for the user

client of the program. Data entry analysis, searching and printing is

simplified and swift at the shortest period of time.

 Data Accessibility and Responsiveness: A database system provides

multiple retrieval paths to each item of data giving a user much

greater flammability in locating and retrieving of data can cross traditional,

departmental boundaries.

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PROCESS ANALYSIS

Having cargo delivered by air transport is one of the most convenient solutions

nowadays, especially if that cargo is supposed to cross borders, seas, even countries.

However, its important to know too that cargo transport via craft has risks. One is

also bound to lose that cargo if he does not take extra steps to ensure that is stays on

track and it is delivered where it is supposed to be delivered. The cargo gets hauled

into the carbine that holds all the other cargo. Once the air carrier gets into the

intended location, all the cargo will be thrown high up into a sort of mechanical

feeder which kind of presents all the cargo in the airline into the passengers of the

plane or to those waiting at the airport lobby.

Here there are chances or error being made by human. The one in charge of

transporting the cargo at the intended location might pick up the wrong packages or

the actual cargo might fall into the wrong hands or it might be intentionally diverted

into other hands all together. That is why it is deemed a blessing by most people who

rely on air cargo delivery that our cargo tracking systems have been devised.

Through air cargo system the client will be able to monitor not only the location of

his cargo in real time, he will as well be able to check if the cargo really gets to the

intended receiver at the right time.

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How Air cargo tracking works

There are various ways to track air cargo; one of the easiest methods is through the

airway Bill Number (AW B Number). In this system the client would have to know

which exact airline he has applied for the air cargo delivery service and then its

AIRWAY BILL NUMBER. Once he knows the airway bill number, he will just

have to go through the various air cargo tracking sites on the World Wide Web.

These sites would almost always take him to the air cargo tracking service of the

respective airline as long as he has the airway bill number of the air carrier.

Another method, which could be used along with the airway bill number, is the

tracking number system. In this system, the air carrier will give the client a tracking

number, all the client has to do to be able to track his air cargo is to log on to the site

of the air carrier, look for the option to track cargo, and then enter the shipments

tracking number, at once he will be shown where the cargo is now located, as well

the time estimate as to when it is going to reach the intended recipient, through the

company’s website.

CARGO CLEARANCE PROCESS

Cargo processing starts as soon as the aircraft touches the ground the cargo in pallets

are off loaded to the bulk breaking area where in conjunction with the airline official,

the handling agent staff breaks the packets.

The cargo manifest will be given to the handling staff now (NAHCO) by the airline

staff, they will now both check the actual content of the pallet with what actually

appears in the cargo manifest. There are several possibilities here, it is either that all

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the cargoes in the cargo manifest arrive with the flight. But there could be cases of

short handed cargo lie the cargo that is on the manifest and could not actually come

with the flight, also there could be the case of part of landed cargo where some

places of the whole cargo arrive with the flight, at times there are discrepancies

between the weight of the cargo that arrived and what actually appeared in the cargo

manifest. In this case, the actual weight will be recorded for the billing process.

Stacking

After the activities of bulk breaking, the cargoes are carried into the warehouse for

stacking into racks each airline has its own racks, which are numbered for easy

locations of the cargo when consignee comes for the clearing. There is some special

storage facility which includes the strong room and cold room. Special cargo such as

and other valuables are kept in the strong room while drugs and chemicals etc are

stored in the cold room. Special cargo such as ammunition and other valuables are

kept in the strong room while human remains, drugs and chemicals etc are stored in

the cold room to prevent damages.

Cargo Arrival Notification

On the arrival of consignment from any part of the world to the handling company

(NAHCO) the handling company makes arrangement to send NACHO cargo advice

to the consignee. This is done immediately the cargo arrives and this document must

get to the consignee within 24 hours after arrival.

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The consignee now comes to the handling company with a copy of

cargo advice to start the processing of the cargo clearance. In the absence of

NAHCO Advice, the clearing agent comes to the advice with the shipper copy of the

air waybill number. This will be accepted if the cargo had stayed more than 24hours

on arrival. If its photocopy of air waybill number is what the clearing agent is having,

he will have to go directly to the airline for the certification of the air waybill

number before coming to the advice office.

NAHCO advice officers do the verifying of documents brought, check

whether it is a Bank consignment, diplomatic cargo or just an ordinary consignment

and enter the same into the computer the necessary document (another air way bill

number would be given to the clearing agent for further processing.

Cargo Documentation

After the bulk breaking activities, where every information about

the flight and consignment has been identified, those information are

entered into the computers. This place is the first point of entry into

the system. The information about the consignment includes this place is the

first point of entry into the number. The information about the consignment includes

the flight number, flight date and the airline then number of pallets. Also

information about individual cargo is recorded, such as air way bill number air weigh

bill number) the weight, and the location inside the warehouse. This information is

made available to every other

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section where the cargo clearance processing takes place.

The major sections/divisions involved in the clearance and processing of cargo

 The advice office

 The cash office

 The delivery office

 The gate pass office

 Cash office

The next point of call after office is the cash office on representation of the cargo

air weigh bill number and other customs and bank related (if applicable)

documents. The cargo will be billed and the appropriate amount will be paid.

Cargo billing is done by taking into consideration some important factors such as

the number of days between the flight date and date of payment, the first seven

days will not attract any storage charge (demurrage), after seven days, there will be

storage charge for the subsequent days. Also, the location of their cargo inside the

warehouse will also determine how much to be paid. There is a tariff charge on the

cargo depending on the location and the type of goods. An example of such tariff

which is per kg .

Delivery Receipt Office

Upon presentation of the payment receipt and other stamped documents delivery

receipt is issued. By this time, the cargo is removed from the rack or where it was

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stored and delivery to the owner for customs examination's very good core must be

taken here, because there are various attempt of fake payment receipt and documents

where by cargo are taken out of the ware house and later landed the company into

problems.

The Gate Pass Office.

Here different customs and security officers will now examine the cargo. After these

security agent requirements are met, a release notice will be issued to NAHCO

(handling agent) to allow the insurance of NAHCO gate pass for the cargo. The gate

pass authorizes the owner of the cargo to take the cargo out of

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the ware house finally. Looking at the processes involved in the clearing of cargo

from NAHCO warehouse, there is no doubt that a web based tracking system will be

adequate for the operations of their cargo system. This online system which helps the

customer or client in viewing the current status of cargo through the company's

website adds the detection of fake documents and fraudulent activities in the

processing of cargoes in the airport system.

Flow Of Processing

Figure 3.1: Flow Of Processing

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PROBLEM AND WEAKNESS OF EXISTING SYSTEM

The problem or weakness of the existing system is the provision or providing

information on the current status of shipments whether it is on transit or delivered at

the shortest possible time. And this tends to degenerate revenues and lack of customer

satisfaction due to the slow response in the current status of their cargo or shipments.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE NEW SYSTEM

Despite the problem of the existing system the new system can be justified with the

use of a web track, a web based tracking tool; sms track, a cell phone based tracking

system, and sms update an application to upload delivery information through cell

phones. The new system will enable customers keep track of their shipments faster in

the shortest possible time and this leads to customer satisfaction due to efficiency in

tracking shipments, steady growth in number of customers and generates enough

revenue for the company. It will also enhance the difficulty inherent in the existing

system.

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 PAGES AND REPORTS

Home Pages
These are pages used to displayed information to the user directly on the screen.

The home pages are esteem importance as they constitute the actual representation

of the new system pages. Some of these pages are: ABOUT PAGE, TRACKING

PAGE, ALBUM PAGE and LOGIN PAGE which is the welcome and interactive

screen.

About Page

These pages give details of the company background, history, and customer service,

details of the developer and how you can get help.

Tracking Page

This page is the most important page of all, this page allow the client be it the

consignor or the consignee to get and keep recode details on their

consignment processes by imputing the Airway bill tracking number only.

Album Page

This page is just an entertainment page, the client would be able to view

photo galleries of past and present event happening in the company, and

would also be downloaded and share these pictures.

Login Page
.. This page can also be seen as the home page where the client is given an
opportunity to sign in or sign up for an account so he or she would be able to get
permission into the tracking page. Remember that without signing into the login
page, you would not be allowed to view the tracking page.

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REPORT

The computerized cargo tracking system for an airport is expected to

generate a report that have predefined and format through which the user could be

able to view details. These reports are faced with the objectives of providing

periodical information on consignment processing and other activities of the

company. Some of this report to be generated by the by the system includes:

Tracking Details

This is a page, that has a comprehensive list of the consignor personal

information and the consignee personal information such as Name, Address, phone

number, origin and destination an also the consignment details report such as the

status, Date/ time, Activity, location and the airway bill number.

Program Design
A program can be defined as a sequence of coded instruction used to instruct the
computer to perform a particular task. The actual transformation of the system.
Facts and procedures is referred to as program design (Evangelos and etrotsos,
2000).

This stage of system development is the most important hence it is done with

almost care and accuracy.

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CHOICE AND JUSTIFICATION OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
PLATFORM

Programming languages have their different areas of specification based on

the sake of this distribution that has to do with networking of computers to enable
them share resources. The choice of structured query language (SQL) for database
management and active server page (ASP) together with' Microsoft visual c#
programming language platforms were chosen in the design and development of
this system. The choice of Microsoft visual c# programming language is mainly
because it is an object oriented language and it's complex design facilities offered
by Microsoft active server page (ASP.NET) with it's multi environmental advantage.

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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

This chapter contains the summary of this research which talks about
all the processes taken In carrying out this research work and where
this research work is recommended and also brings to conclusion the research
been carried out.

SUMMARY

The design and implementation of an air cargo tracking system is a

web based information system that its objective is to make application and

transaction easier, faster and flexible and also enhance all the difficulties

inherent in the existing system. The air cargo tracking system is capable of

receiving and storing data gathered by identifying clients persons and

providing available and necessary information needed about the current

status of shipment to the exporter at the shortest possible period of

time, to enhance efficiency, effectiveness and profitability in the tracking of

cargo in the airport system. The air cargo tracking system can be

analyzed by the following concept:

 Timeliness: the tracking system would provide necessary information on

the current status of shipment showing whether it is on transit or it being

delivered to its appropriate destination at the shortest possible time.

 Efficiency: with the aid of the tracking system in the airport the

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 operation in the cargo department is carried out efficiently and effectively.

 Reduce redundant data: there is minimum or no data duplication since

all the files are managed in the central database system.

 Data integrity: this is simply the accuracy or validity of data. In the

system, every input is checked for correctness and it is referenced against

appropriate system master records to ensure full validity.

 Inconsistence: this minimizes inconsistency in the tracking of cargo in the

airport system.

 Enhanced standard: the management of goods is carried out effectively

in the airport system.

 Security: customer’s cargo is more secured as the allocation of A/NB

members are not duplicated in the database management system.

This research work is not limited to more research work in the deeper area of
study where the research could not reach in the period of the research work I
recommend this research work carried out to all cargo handling companies and
cargo departments in the country.

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CONCLUSION

In conclusion the design and implementation of an air

cargo tracking system is a web based information

system that provides necessary information about

the current status of cargo, where and when needed

for the effective and efficient tracking of cargo in the

airport system at the shortest possible time. It will

also generate more revenue for the company and the

national economy as a whole and attracts more

patronizers and also satisfies customers.

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