CaiaphasHabasonda/zut-lost-and-found-system

A full-stack Lost and Found Management System for Zambia University of Technology (ZUT), built with React, Node.js, Express, and PostgreSQL. # ZUT Lost & Found Management System **A Full-Stack Web Application for Managing Lost and Found Property at Zambia University of Technology** The ZUT Lost & Found Management System is a modern web-based platform designed to streamline the reporting, tracking, recovery, and administration of lost and found items across the university campus. Developed using **React.js**, **Node.js**, **Express.js**, and **PostgreSQL**, the system provides secure user authentication, item management, ownership claim processing, image uploads, and administrative oversight through a responsive and user-friendly interface. --- ## Project Objectives The system was developed to address the challenges associated with manually managing lost property within a university environment by providing: * A centralized platform for reporting lost and found items * Secure user authentication and authorization * Efficient ownership claim verification and processing * Real-time access to item information * Administrative monitoring and reporting capabilities * Improved recovery rates for misplaced property --- ## Key Features ### User Management * Secure user registration and authentication * JWT-based authorization * Password encryption using bcrypt * User profile management * Role-based access control (User/Admin) ### Item Management * Report lost items * Report found items * Upload item images * Edit and update item details * Search and filter items * Pagination for large datasets * Delete owned items ### Claim Processing * Submit ownership claims * Track claim status * Approve or reject claims * View claim history ### Administrative Dashboard * System statistics and analytics * User management * Item moderation * Claim administration * Role assignment and permissions ### Technical Features * RESTful API architecture * PostgreSQL relational database * Responsive mobile-friendly interface * Image upload functionality using Multer * Centralized error handling * Secure route protectio …