Especificação de requisitos para o sistema de gerenciamento de transportes da UFRN

Abstract

The management of transportation in public educational institutions is strategic and, when not well conducted, can result in significant operational and financial inefficiencies. At the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), the vehicle fleet represents an asset valued at approximately R$ 10 million (about US$1,724,137), with annual operational costs of around R$ 13 million (about US$2,241,379). Besides serving as a means of transportation, these vehicles enable research activities, university outreach to the community, support for teaching, and field activities. The main objective of this study was to identify and specify the requirements necessary for the development of a fleet management software that meets the specific needs of UFRN. To achieve this objective, a qualitative documentary research was conducted, analyzing internal and external regulations related to transportation management. Subsequently, the identification of requirements was guided by the contributions of stakeholders directly involved in the system's operation. Data collection involved focus group sessions with managers and staff members from the Transportation Coordination Office. Requirement specification was carried out using a use case model, which outlines specific system behaviors through interactions between users (actors) and the system. To model the workflows of more complex requirements, Bizagi Modeler and BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) were used to facilitate visual representation and process understanding. Finally, the requirements were validated to ensure clarity, accuracy, and alignment with the operational needs of the Transportation Coordination Office through structured interviews with directly involved stakeholders. The results culminated in the development of two main deliverables: an academic dissertation and a detailed requirements document, intended to serve as a guide for the future development team. Although the software coding phase was not addressed in this study, it is expected that the resulting system will be capable of automating processes, integrating data, and providing analytical functionalities, meeting the specific needs of the Transportation Coordination Office and contributing to cost reduction, improved service delivery to the university community, and increased operational security and efficiency. The active participation of stakeholders proved essential in designing a system that meets institutional demands. The study encountered difficulties in bringing together all staff members in a single focus group, which led to the need to divide the sessions into smaller, sector-specific meetings. The absence of participation from external users, such as faculty, students, managers, and secretaries from other units, was a limitation of the work, resulting from the complexity of the project and the limited timeframe for its completion.