Modern Database Systems
Description and Purpose of Module
Rationale
Databases are fundamental building blocks of most IT systems, and there are a range
of advanced developments in the database area. Undergraduate courses cover
database concepts and the use of relational database systems. This module by contrast
emphasises implementation issues of relational database systems, and provides an
insight into some of the recent developments in database technology, such as
distributed databases, object-oriented databases and data-warehousing.
Who can benefit?
This module is of benefit to students who are competent in database design and
implementation, and wish to extend their skills and broaden their knowledge in the
area.
Aims
To compare and contrast emerging architectures for database management systems.
To understand how relational database systems are implemented, and the implications
for database performance.
To appreciate the impact of emerging database standards on the facilities which future
database management systems will provide.
To develop database design and implementation techniques in the context of a
realistic case study.
Indicative Syllabus Content
The relational model
Underpinning theory
Conformity to model
Implementation Techniques
Query optimisation
Concurrency control
Distributed relational systems
Emerging DBMS Technologies
Object-oriented
Deductive
Database Applications and Environments
Data-warehousing
Multimedia
Mobility
Database and Related Standards
SQL standards
Object Data Management Group standard
Standards for interoperability and integration e.g. CORBA
Database Design and Development Tools
Language features
SQLForms or similar forms interface
Learning, Teaching and Assessment
The module will be taught by a combination of lectures, a case study,
tutorials/seminars, practical work and directed reading. The students will be expected
to enhance an existing database, used as a case study through out the module, in
various ways. The theoretical aspects will be covered in outline in the lectures and
tutorials/seminars with the students expected to supply background research and
analysis. Their research skills will be developed in this activity, and their ability to
summarise findings orally and in writing will be enhanced. They will also develop
their critical skills in evaluating the paper they base their seminar upon.
Assessment will be a practical case study with demonstration and report, and an
examination based on advanced concepts.
Formal Lectures 14 hours
Tutorials/seminars 12 hours
Supervised practicals 14 hours
Unsupervised Practical 40 hours
Coursework 50 hours
Directed reading 40 hours
Examination preparation 30 hours
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
Learning Outcomes
when you have successfully
completed this module you will:
1. Critically assess new developments in
database technology
Assessment Criteria
to demonstrate that you have achieved
the learning outcome you will:
Research a selection of new developments
in database technology and present the
findings orally and in writing with a critical
assessment of their impact and importance.
2. Interpret and discuss the impact of
Give an overview of the development of a
emerging database standards .
standard to its present state and analyse its
impact on the technology and the industry
3. Analyse the contribution of database Explain the theoretical underpinning of an
theory to practical implementations of aspect of the practical implementation of a
database management systems.
database management system, such as
query optimisation or concurrency control
4. Design and implement part of a
database application and evaluate the
solution
to a selected audience
Design and implement an application (or
part) such as a data-warehouse from an
existing operational database, justify the
design, and analyse its implementation
Assessment
Your achievement of the learning outcomes for this module will be tested as follows:
CW
EX
Type
Assignment with demo/presentation/seminar Examination
Description
50
50
%age
N
Final Assessment N
1,2,3
Learning Outcomes 1,4
Indicative Reading
Connolly and Begg Database Systems 4th Edition
2004 Addison Wesley
Date C.J. An Introduction to Database Systems 8th ed.
Addison Wesley 2004
Ward and Dafoulas Database Management Systems
Thomson 2006
William Smith Systems Building with Oracle
Palgrave 2004
Hellerstein and Stonebraker Readings in Database Systems 4th edition
MIT Press 2005
Journal of Database Management
Indicative Web Sites
http://gwynne.cs.ualberta.ca/~oracle oracle resources
http://www.orafaq.org FAQ
http://www.oracle.com
http://oai.oracle.com
academic initiative