Smart Geolocation-Based Attendance and Verification System

A secure, web-based platform developed with Laravel that eliminates impersonation and remote attendance fraud among students through real-time geolocation validation and two-factor authentication.

🎯 Project Overview

The Smart Geolocation-Based Attendance and Verification System is designed to revolutionize attendance management in educational institutions. Unlike conventional systems that rely on manual entry or facial recognition alone, this platform integrates cutting-edge geolocation technology with robust security measures to ensure authentic, location-verified attendance tracking.

🔑 Key Features

Core Functionality

• Real-time Geolocation Validation: Uses HTML5 Geolocation API to capture precise student coordinates
• Distance-based Verification: Validates attendance using the Haversine formula against predefined classroom locations
• Radius-based Access Control: Attendance only allowed within approved distance (e.g., 30 meters) from lecture venues
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Additional security layer using OTP verification via email or authenticator apps
• Tamper-proof Records: Comprehensive logging of timestamp, GPS coordinates, device information, and verification status

Administrative Features

• Real-time Dashboard: Live attendance monitoring and analytics
• Location Management: Easy setup and management of classroom coordinates
• User Role Management: Granular permission system for administrators, lecturers, and students
• Attendance Analytics: Detailed reports and insights on attendance patterns
• Map Visualization: Interactive maps showing student locations and attendance zones

🛠 Technology Stack

• Backend: Laravel 12.x (PHP 8.2+)
• Frontend: Livewire, Alpine.js, Tailwind CSS
• UI Components: Flux UI Library
• Authentication: Laravel Fortify with 2FA support
• Database: MySQL/PostgreSQL
• Permissions: Spatie Laravel Permission
• Geolocation: HTML5 Geolocation API
• Maps: Integration-ready for Google Maps or Leaflet.js

📋 Current Implementation Status

✅ Completed Features

1. User Authentication & Authorization

• Multi-role authentication system (Superadmin, Lecturer, Student)
• Laravel Fortify integration with 2FA support
• Comprehensive permission-based access control
• Role-specific dashboards and navigation

2. Location Management System

• Location Capture: Real-time GPS coordinate capture using HTML5 Geolocation API
• Location Storage: Secure database storage of classroom coordinates with metadata
• Permission-based Access: Granular permissions for viewing, creating, editing, and deleting locations
• User-friendly Interface: Intuitive location management dashboard with Flux UI components
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling for geolocation failures and permission issues

3. Database Architecture

• User management with role assignments
• Location storage with creator tracking and timestamps
• Permission system with role-based access control
• Proper indexing and relationships for optimal performance

4. Security Implementation

• Permission middleware for route protection
• Method-level security checks in Livewire components
• UI-level permission controls with graceful degradation
• Secure coordinate validation and storage

5. User Interface

• Responsive design with dark mode support
• Real-time feedback and toast notifications
• Interactive location capture with visual feedback
• Permission-aware UI that adapts based on user roles
• Accessibility features and proper ARIA labels

🚧 In Development

• Distance calculation using Haversine formula
• Attendance marking with geolocation validation
• OTP-based two-factor authentication for attendance
• Real-time attendance dashboard
• Map visualization for location and attendance data
• Attendance analytics and reporting

📅 Planned Features

• Mobile app integration
• Offline attendance capability with sync
• Advanced analytics and insights
• Integration with existing LMS platforms
• Automated attendance reports
• Student self-service portal

🚀 Installation

Prerequisites

• PHP 8.2 or higher
• Composer
• Node.js and npm
• MySQL or PostgreSQL database

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the repository

   git clone <repository-url>
   cd unicheck

2. Install PHP dependencies

   composer install

3. Install Node.js dependencies

   npm install

4. Environment Configuration

   cp .env.example .env
   php artisan key:generate

5. Database Setup

   • Configure your database credentials in .env
   • Run migrations and seeders:

   php artisan migrate
   php artisan db:seed --class=RolePermissionSeeder

6. Build Assets

   npm run build

7. Start Development Server

   php artisan serve

👥 User Roles & Permissions

Superadmin

• Full system access and configuration
• User and role management
• System-wide location management
• Access to all analytics and reports

Lecturer

• Classroom location setup and management
• Attendance monitoring for their classes
• Student attendance reports
• Location capture and verification

Student

• View assigned classroom locations
• Mark attendance (when implemented)
• View personal attendance history
• Profile management

🔒 Security Features

• Multi-layer Authentication: Role-based access with 2FA support
• Permission-based Authorization: Granular control over system features
• Secure Location Handling: Encrypted coordinate storage and validation
• Input Validation: Comprehensive server-side validation for all inputs
• CSRF Protection: Built-in Laravel CSRF protection
• SQL Injection Prevention: Eloquent ORM with prepared statements

🌟 Benefits

• Fraud Prevention: Eliminates proxy attendance and location spoofing
• Improved Accuracy: Real-time, location-verified attendance records
• Administrative Efficiency: Automated attendance tracking reduces manual work
• Transparency: Comprehensive audit trails and tamper-proof records
• Modern Approach: Contactless, digital solution aligned with post-pandemic needs
• Institutional Integrity: Maintains academic standards through secure verification

📱 Browser Compatibility

• Chrome 50+
• Firefox 55+
• Safari 10+
• Edge 79+
• Mobile browsers with geolocation support

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

📞 Support

For support and questions, please contact the development team or create an issue in the repository.

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Note: This system is designed for educational institutions seeking to implement secure, location-based attendance tracking. The geolocation features require HTTPS in production environments and user permission for location access.