Utopia Parking System

A console-based parking fee calculation and payment processing system developed for ITC106 (Programming Principles) assessment at Charles Sturt University.

Project Overview

The Utopia Parking System simulates a parking meter/payment system that:

• Calculates parking fees based on vehicle check-in and check-out times
• Processes cash payments with multiple denominations
• Provides change when needed
• Implements input validation for all user interactions

Features

• Interactive Menu System: Simple navigation through program options
• Time-based Pricing Tiers:
  • 0-1 hour: $19
  • 1-2 hours: $29
  • 2-3 hours: $79
  • 3-24 hours: $89
• Input Validation: Ensures all user inputs are valid
• Overnight Parking Support: Handles vehicles checking out the next day
• Payment Processing: Accepts various cash denominations (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100)
• Change Calculation: Automatically calculates and returns change when needed

Program Constraints

This program was created under specific academic constraints:

• Uses only Python features covered in Topics 1-3
• No user-defined functions
• No lists, list comprehensions, or dictionaries
• No string methods
• No file operations or exceptions
• No classes or imports

Program Structure

The program follows a structured flow:

1. Main menu display
2. Input validation for menu selection
3. Options processing (view rates, check-in/check-out, exit)
4. Time input and validation
5. Fee calculation based on duration
6. Payment processing and change calculation

How to Run

python utopia_parking.py

Flowchart

A detailed flowchart visualization is included in the repository as both PDF and SVG files, showing the program's logical flow and decision points.

Academic Context

This project was developed as part of the ITC106 Programming Principles course assessment, demonstrating foundational programming concepts including:

• Input validation
• Conditional logic
• Loop structures
• Basic arithmetic operations
• User interface design

Screenshots

The program runs in a console/terminal environment with a text-based interface that guides users through the parking and payment process.

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Note: This project was created for educational purposes as part of university coursework.