NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

MODULE DESCRIPTOR

CM036 - Advanced Database
     For Academic Year 2006/7

Module Titles

Actual:

Advanced Database

Administrative:

Advanced Database (BSc) L3

 

Module Information

It is of Level 3 ,Size 1 and is worth 10 Credit Points.
This Module is not a Year Long Taught Module and was not evolved.
It is not currently obsolete.

 

Module Ownership

The Module Tutor is M Akhtar Ali
In the Division of Information Systems Engineering
In the School of Informatics

 

Module External Information

The Cost Centre is Computer Software Engineering
and the price group is B
The HESA Subject is COMPUTING SCIENCE

 


         

Synopsis of Module:
A brief overview of aims, contents, methods and assessment

The module builds on the students understanding of relational databases and extends it with formal as well as practical concepts nested-/object-relational models and how these extensions are implemented in a modern DBMS (e.g. Oracle). The students will also be introduced to object orientation in databases through the ODMG standard and a compliant DBMS. The module introduces the underlying concepts of Query Processing and Optimization, and Distributed and Parallel databases. The module is delivered by means of lectures and seminar/practical sessions, and is assessed a 3 hour open-book examination. Open-book means that you can take with you into the examination, any lecture notes, handouts and text books that you like, and use them to help you in the exam. The exam will assess the students understanding of the principles, techniques, and skills learnt and obtained in lectures and practical seminars. In addition, the students would be expected to explain and discuss comparative and critical analysis of the techniques and concepts introduced in the module.

Prerequisite(s):
Any Module which must already have been taken at a lower level, or any stipulated level of prior knowledge required.

CM503 - Data Structures, Algorithms and Database programming

Corequisite(s):
Module at the same level which must taken with this Module.


None

Implications for Choice:
Possible follow-on Modules, or exclusions, or Modules which require this one as a prerequisite.

None

Aims of Module:
Specified in terms of general aim of the teaching in its relation to the subject.

Ø To extend the concepts and practical implementation of the relational model.
Ø To introduce the concepts of Object Oriented, Object-Relational and other emerging databases.
Ø To provide essentials of Query Optimization and Distribution databases.

Learning Outcomes:
Specified in terms of performance capability to be shown on completion of the Module.

On completion of this module, the student should be able to:

Ø Critically assess the limitations of relational databases;
Ø Assess different ways of extending the relational model (i.e. in terms of nested/object-relational extensions);
Ø Explain, discuss, and evaluate Object-Oriented databases;
Ø Compare and contrast the relational data model with object-relational and object-oriented data models;
Ø Critically evaluate query optimisation techniques and compare alternative ways of storing data in order to improve the performance of a database system;
Ø Comprehend and practically assess the concepts of distributed and parallel databases; Ø Assess the implications of new developments in both database theory and technology (e.g. XML databases).

Outline Syllabus:
The content of the Module, identified in a component listing.

Extending the Relational Data Model (25 %)
- Nested-Relational data model
- Object-Relational data model
- Oracle Object-Relational Extensions and SQL-1999 Standard

Object-Oriented Databases (25 %)
- Object-oriented data models
- Supporting object modelling in database systems
- Database programming and querying in object-oriented databases
- Object-oriented database standards, systems, languages (e.g. ODMG, ODL, OQL, and the Java binding)

Parallel and Distributed databases (25 %)
- Architectures
- Design considerations

Query Optimization (15 %)
- Query Processing
- Implementation of Relational Algebraic Operators
- Logical and Physical Query Optimization

New Theoretical and Technological Developments (10 %)
- This part of the syllabus should provide room for addressing new and emerging trends in databases (e.g. XML databases, Data Warehousing).

Learning, Teaching And Assessment Strategy:


Teaching and learning will take the form of a series of lectures supported by practical seminar sessions and discussions. Students will be expected to undertake a programme of directed and independent study to support the taught sessions. The seminar sessions will draw upon the students’ studies and directed learning. Small case studies will be used where appropriate to reinforce the theories being taught.

Assessment will be by 3 hours open-book exam. Open-book means that you can take with you into the examination, any lecture notes, handouts and text books that you like, and use them to help you in the exam. However you should plan to use anything taken into the exam with you purely as a memory-jogger; time spent looking through that material is exam time spent on something other than doing the exam.

Distance Learning Delivery:

None

 

Indicative Reading List or Other Learning Resources:
(Note: all references to be given as per Harvard System)

Main Text:
Ø Connolly/Begg, 'Database Systems: A Practical Approach to Design, Implementation, and Management', Addison-Wesley, 3rd Edition, 2002
Ø Elmasri/Navathe, ‘Fundamentals of Database Systems’, Addison-Wesley, 3rd Edition, 2000.
Ø Oracle Concepts, Oracle Corporation.
Ø Oracle Application Developer's Guide – Object-Relational Features

Supplementary Text:
Ø Douglas K. Barry. ‘Object Database Standard: ODMG 3.0’. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc. 2000.
Ø Özsu/Valduriez, ‘Principles of Distributed Database Systems’, Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition, 1999.
Ø Ramakrishnan/Gehrke, ‘Database Management Systems’, McGraw Hill, 2nd Edition, 2000.

Further Reading:
Ø Michael Stonebraker, et al, 'Object-Relational DBMSs: Tracking the Next Great Wave', Morgan Kaufmann, 1998.
Ø Paul Brown, 'Object-Relational Database Development', Prentice Hall, 2001.


Module Delivery Details - Notional Student Workload (Hours)

 

Mode and Location

Lectures

Seminars

Tutorials

Lab Work

Directed Learning

Independent Learning

Formal Assessment

Other

Total

Full Time at City Campus
(The duration is 15 weeks)

12

0

0

12

23

50

3

0

100

Full Time at Franchised
(The duration is 15 weeks)

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100

100

Part Time at City Campus
(The duration is 15 weeks)

12

0

0

12

23

50

3

0

100

         

Module Summative Assessment

 

Assessment A

This assessment is Open book examination (3 hours)
The weighting of this assessment is 100%
It does have an examination
The week(s) due are 14

         

Programmes on which this module is used:

 

 

 

Programme Code and Title

Stage

Semester

C = Core
O = Option

 CGA04BC - BSC(HONS) APPLIED COMPUTING

 1

 1

 O

 CGA04BC - BSC(HONS) APPLIED COMPUTING

 1

 2

 O

 CGA04BD - BSC(HONS) APPLIED COMPUTING (FEB)

 1

 2

 O

 CGA04BD - BSC(HONS) APPLIED COMPUTING (FEB)

 2

 1

 O

 CGA04BE - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (KDU:PJ:JAN)

 1

 2

 O

 CGA04BF - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (KDU:PJ:MAY)

 1

 X

 O

 CGA04BG - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (KDU:PJ:SEPT)

 1

 1

 C

 CGA04BH - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (KDU:PENANG:JAN)

 1

 2

 O

 CGA04BK - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (KDU:PENANG:SEPT)

 1

 1

 C

 CGA04CA - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (SEDAYA/SEPT)

 1

 1

 C

 CGA04CC - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (SEDAYA:MAY)

 1

 X

 C

 CGA04CD - BSC(HONS) COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (SEDAYA:JAN)

 1

 X

 C

 CGB05CB - BSC COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (NON-HONOURS/ORD BY TRF)

 4

 1

 O

 CGB05CP - BSC COMPUTING STUDIES (NON-HONOURS/ORD BY TRF)

 4

 1

 O

 CMA17SI - MSC SOFTWARE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN

 1

 1

 O

 CMA17SI - MSC SOFTWARE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN

 1

 2

 O

 CMB06CB - BSC (HONS) COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (SW)

 4

 1

 C

 CMB06CN - BSC AND BSC(HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES (NTI)

 4

 1

 O

 CMB06CP - BSC & BSC (HONS) COMPUTING STUDIES

 4

 1

 C

 CMD06CB - BSC (HONS) COMPUTING FOR BUSINESS (PT)

 4

 1

 O

 CMF17SI - MSC SOFTWARE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN

 1

 1

 O

 CMF17SI - MSC SOFTWARE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN

 1

 2

 O

 CMF17SI - MSC SOFTWARE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS DESIGN

 2

 2

 O

 IZA17AA - BSC(H) APPLIED COMPUTING (LSC:SEPT)

 1

 1

 O

 IZA17AB - BSC(H) APPLIED COMPUTING (LSC:JAN)

 2

 1

 O

 IZA17AC - BSC(H) APPLIED COMPUTING (LSC: MAY)

 1

 X

 O