Ascenda Hotel Booking Website

Project Overview

The Ascenda Hotel Booking Website is a comprehensive full-stack web application developed in collaboration with Ascenda, a leading technology company in the travel industry. This project showcases modern web development practices, user-centered design, and seamless API integration.

Key Features

User Authentication: Secure login and registration system with JWT tokens and session management.

Hotel Search & Booking: Advanced search functionality with filters for location, price, amenities, and dates.

Payment Processing: Integrated payment gateway for secure transactions and booking confirmations.

Admin Dashboard: Comprehensive management interface for hotel administrators to manage bookings, inventory, and analytics.

Responsive Design: Mobile-first design approach ensuring optimal experience across all devices.

Technical Implementation

Built using React for the frontend with modern hooks and context API for state management. The backend leverages Node.js with Express framework, connecting to MongoDB for data persistence. Docker containerization ensures consistent deployment across environments, while Tailwind CSS provides utility-first styling approach.

Team Collaboration

This project emphasized collaborative development using Git feature branching, code reviews, and agile methodologies. Regular standups and sprint planning sessions ensured efficient progress and quality deliverables. UI/UX design was prototyped using Figma with iterative feedback from stakeholders.

Challenges & Solutions

One major challenge was integrating Ascenda's complex hotel service API while maintaining fast response times. We implemented caching strategies and optimized API calls to ensure smooth user experience. Another challenge was handling concurrent booking requests, which we solved using database transactions and proper error handling.

ParcelEye: AI-Powered Parcel Tracking System

Project Overview

ParcelEye addresses the growing problem of parcel theft at unattended collection points through innovative AI-powered surveillance. The system combines computer vision, real-time processing, and mobile notifications to create a comprehensive security solution that acts as both a deterrent and early warning system.

AI & Computer Vision

Meta SAM 2.1 Integration: Utilizes the latest Segment Anything Model for precise object detection and tracking.

Real-time Processing: OpenCV-based pipeline processes video streams with minimal latency for immediate threat detection.

Adaptive Learning: The system learns parcel characteristics and improves accuracy over time through continuous monitoring.

Environmental Adaptation: Robust performance across different lighting conditions and weather scenarios.

System Architecture

The modular architecture consists of three main components: an Android mobile application for user interaction, a Spring Boot API server for business logic and authentication, and a Flask-based AI server for computer vision processing. This separation ensures scalability and maintainability while allowing for independent deployment and updates.

Mobile Application Features

Real-time Notifications: Instant push notifications via Firebase Cloud Messaging when parcels are detected as missing.

Live Camera Feed: Secure HLS streaming with dynamic access control for remote monitoring.

User Authentication: Robust security with email verification and session token management.

Intuitive Interface: Clean, user-friendly design focused on essential functionality and quick access to alerts.

Cloud Infrastructure

Deployed on AWS with Docker containerization for consistent performance and easy scaling. The system handles multiple concurrent video streams while maintaining low latency for real-time alerts. MongoDB provides flexible data storage for user information, device configurations, and tracking history.

Impact & Results

ParcelEye demonstrates the practical application of AI in solving real-world security challenges. The system's modular design makes it easily adaptable to different environments and scalable for commercial deployment. Testing showed high accuracy in parcel detection with minimal false positives, making it a viable solution for reducing package theft.

InQuery: Interactive Learning Platform

Project Overview

InQuery is a groundbreaking research project developed under the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) at SUTD. The platform explores how Large Language Models can revolutionize classroom learning through real-time, context-aware interactions that enhance student engagement and comprehension.

Research Objectives

Educational Enhancement: Investigate how AI-powered tools can supplement traditional teaching methods.

Real-time Interaction: Enable students to ask clarifying questions during lectures without disrupting the flow.

Context Awareness: Provide answers that are specifically relevant to the current lecture content and context.

Learning Analytics: Collect data on student engagement patterns and common areas of confusion.

Technical Implementation

The platform is built using Flask as both the web framework and API backend, providing a lightweight yet powerful foundation. The frontend combines HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript with Twitter Bootstrap for responsive design and intuitive user interactions. GPT-4 integration via OpenAI's API enables sophisticated natural language processing and contextual responses.

Key Features

Live Transcription: Real-time conversion of lecture audio to text for context-aware question answering.

Intelligent Q&A: Students can ask questions that are answered based on current lecture content and broader educational context.

Note-taking Enhancement: Automatic generation of key points and summaries to support student note-taking.

Interactive Interface: Clean, distraction-free design that integrates seamlessly into the classroom environment.

Educational Impact

InQuery addresses common classroom challenges such as students hesitating to ask questions publicly, difficulty keeping up with fast-paced lectures, and varying levels of background knowledge among students. By providing a private, AI-powered assistant, students can get immediate clarification without interrupting the class flow.

Research Outcomes

The project demonstrates the potential for AI to enhance educational experiences without replacing human instruction. Initial testing showed improved student engagement and better comprehension of complex topics. The research contributes to the growing field of AI in education and provides insights for future educational technology development.

Future Development

Future iterations could include multilingual support, integration with learning management systems, and advanced analytics for educators to identify common knowledge gaps. The platform's modular design allows for easy expansion and adaptation to different educational contexts.

🎨 Digital Art & Design

Creative Background

My passion for UI/UX design is rooted in over a decade of experience in visual arts and digital illustration. This creative foundation shapes how I approach software development—bridging form and function to build intuitive, visually engaging interfaces.

Leadership in Visual Arts

President, SUTD Visual Arts Club (Years 1–2): Led workshops, organized exhibitions, and fostered a growing community of student artists—balancing creative leadership with team coordination and event planning.

Vice President (Year 3): Continued to support club initiatives while managing increased academic responsibilities, gaining experience in creative direction and operational leadership.

Design Skills

Proficient in digital illustration, color theory, composition, and user-centered design. These capabilities directly enhance my UI/UX work, enabling me to build interfaces that are both functional and aesthetically refined.

Creative–Technical Integration

My dual expertise in art and software development allows me to contribute end-to-end—from visual concept to implementation. This is reflected in projects like my portfolio site and interface designs for applications such as ParcelEye and InQuery.

🎓 SUTD University Ambassadors

Mission & Purpose

As an international student at SUTD, I experienced the challenges of adapting to a new academic and cultural environment. This perspective drives my commitment to supporting incoming students through meaningful guidance and outreach.

Supporting Student Success

Prospective Student Engagement: Represent SUTD at university fairs, lead campus tours, and conduct info sessions—offering clear insights into the curriculum, student life, and opportunities to prospective students and their families.

New Student Integration: Mentor first-year students through academic and social transitions, organizing onboarding programs and peer support activities to ensure a smooth start.

Building Community

Led initiatives that connect students across diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive campus culture through events that promote dialogue, collaboration, and belonging.

Skills Developed

Strengthened leadership, public speaking, and cultural competency through direct engagement with students from varied national and educational backgrounds.

Impact & Outcomes

Helped improve the onboarding experience for international students and contributed to a stronger support system within the university. This experience affirmed my long-term commitment to community-focused leadership and inclusion.

⛑️ Volunteer Work: Roundsquare Aid Club

Organization Background

Roundsquare is a global network of schools that promotes citizenship, environmental action, and community service. Headquartered in London, it coordinates international aid efforts and cross-cultural educational programs.

Finance Team Leadership

Budget Oversight: Led financial operations for the Roundsquare Aid Club, managing budgets, tracking fundraising, and allocating resources transparently across international aid initiatives.

Strategic Fundraising: Designed and executed fundraising campaigns, conducted donor outreach, created financial forecasts, and reported performance to stakeholders.

Event Planning & Coordination

Supported logistics and planning as part of the Events Committee—organizing fundraisers, awareness campaigns, and volunteer activities. This dual responsibility provided end-to-end insight into both operations and finance.

Skills & Development

Project Management: Gained experience in task delegation, deadline management, and multi-stakeholder coordination to deliver impact-driven outcomes.

Effective Communication: Regularly presented financial updates to internal leadership and international partners, refining my ability to convey complex data clearly.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Worked with diverse team members across backgrounds, building cultural competence and strong collaborative skills.

Impact & Takeaways

Helped raise substantial funds for global education and disaster relief programs. The experience reinforced my commitment to social impact and strengthened my leadership in mission-driven environments.

🏐 Fitness & Varsity Volleyball

Volleyball Journey (2018-2023)

Over five years of volleyball, including two as Varsity Team Captain, I developed core leadership skills, resilience, and a results-oriented mindset through continuous performance improvement and team coordination.

Leadership as Team Captain

Team Operations: Led practice planning, mediated between players and coaches, and managed team dynamics—balancing individual needs with performance goals.

Strategic Execution: Assessed team strengths to design game plans that optimized performance and fostered inclusion.

Interpersonal Skills: Gained experience in resolving conflicts and uniting diverse personalities toward a common objective—skills directly applicable in cross-functional teams.

Core Takeaways

Team-First Mentality: Prioritized shared success over individual recognition, shaping my collaborative approach to technical projects.

Strength-Based Leadership: Learned to identify and apply individual strengths—a key asset in project management and team performance.

Goal Alignment: Developed the ability to align personal and team goals, a skill I bring to academic and professional environments.

Fitness & Discipline

Consistency: A committed weightlifting routine instilled habits of discipline and focus—critical for long-term project execution.

Growth Mindset: Training taught me to break down ambitious goals into sustainable progress, which mirrors how I approach complex challenges.

Resilience: Physical setbacks and mental barriers in fitness have strengthened my perseverance in both technical and academic domains.

Professional Application

The leadership, collaboration, and self-discipline developed through sports and fitness directly inform how I contribute to software teams, manage high-pressure timelines, and maintain focus in technical environments.

Over five years of volleyball, including two as Varsity Team Captain, I developed core leadership skills, resilience, and a results-oriented mindset through continuous performance improvement and team coordination.

Leadership as Team Captain

Team Operations: Led practice planning, mediated between players and coaches, and managed team dynamics—balancing individual needs with performance goals.

Strategic Execution: Assessed team strengths to design game plans that optimized performance and fostered inclusion.

Interpersonal Skills: Gained experience in resolving conflicts and uniting diverse personalities toward a common objective—skills directly applicable in cross-functional teams.

Core Takeaways

Team-First Mentality: Prioritized shared success over individual recognition, shaping my collaborative approach to technical projects.

Strength-Based Leadership: Learned to identify and apply individual strengths—a key asset in project management and team performance.

Goal Alignment: Developed the ability to align personal and team goals, a skill I bring to academic and professional environments.

Fitness & Discipline

Consistency: A committed weightlifting routine instilled habits of discipline and focus—critical for long-term project execution.

Growth Mindset: Training taught me to break down ambitious goals into sustainable progress, which mirrors how I approach complex challenges.

Resilience: Physical setbacks and mental barriers in fitness have strengthened my perseverance in both technical and academic domains.

Professional Application

The leadership, collaboration, and self-discipline developed through sports and fitness directly inform how I contribute to software teams, manage high-pressure timelines, and maintain focus in technical environments.