Development of an Arduino-based Multimodal Fusion Biometric Examination Impersonation System (ABMFBEIS) for detecting examination impersonation

The study focused on the development of an Arduino-based Multimodal Fusion Biometric Examination Impersonation System (ABMFBEIS) for detecting examination impersonation. This study was necessitated by the failure of the unimodal system to fully detect impersonators and the need for a more secured multimodal system using facial recognition and fingerprint using Arduino. Specifically, the study determined the Software requirement specification, architectural design that meets the software requirement design, developed the system and carried out alpha and beta testing on the system. The study was guided by five research questions in line with the five specific purposes of the study. Research & Development (R&D) design was used, and the study was conducted in three federal Universities in South-East Nigeria namely, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike. The population for the study was 958, comprising lecturers, software architects and students. The sample size was 156, comprising 26 lecturers who teach software courses, 4 software architects and 126 final year students. Two validated instruments titled ABMFBEIS Expert’s Questionnaire (AEQ) and ABMFBEIS User Questionnaire (AUQ) were used for data collection. The reliability of AEQ was 0.71 and AUQ was 0.70. The study was broken into five phases (Phases I-Phase V) in line with the different stages of the software development lifecycle and the iterative design model. Data collected were analysed using SPSS for mean and standard deviation scores. The findings of the study include the suitability of the software requirement specification, the acceptability of the architectural design that guided the development and the functionality of the Arduino Based Multimodal Fusion Biometric Examination Impersonation System (ABMFBEIS) as it was able to detect impersonators leading to the development of the Arduino Based Multimodal Fusion Biometric Examination Impersonation System (ABMFBEIS). The result further showed that the (ABMFBEIS) is easy to use and can adequately help in ensuring the safe conduct of examinations. The performance test carried out using the ABMFBEIS in a mock examination for 60 students in the three Universities returned a 100% detection rate of impersonators. Based on the result, it was concluded that the ABMFBEIS will enhance the security of examinations and encourage diligence and hard work amongst students in institutions in South-East Nigeria. The results of the study have implications for students of various disciplines, lecturers, curriculum planners and researchers in the sense that it will improve the examination process and encourage excellence and hard work in the institutions of learning. It was therefore recommended that the developed Arduino-based Multimodal Fusion Biometric Examination Impersonation System (ABMFBEIS) be adopted by all tertiary institutions for the conduct of examinations and by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board for the conduct of national examinations.