OVERVIEW

Learn how to design databases, in particular relational, to support applications or adapt existing databases to the needs of new applications that have to interact with them; how to express queries and changes on relational databases and acquire the basic principles relating to internal organization and administration of data management systems - with specific reference to physical schema design, performance monitoring, concurrent execution of transactions and access control.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

DESCRIBE the different phases in the design of relational databases, the data models used at both a conceptual and logical level, the design techniques used in the various phases.

UNDERSTAND how to check the quality of the proposed schemes, how to possibly improve them by eliminating redundancies and anomalies.

USE the techniques proposed for the design of a relational database to support an application, starting with user requirements.

UNDERSTAND how to express queries and modifications on relational databases.

DESCRIBE the constructs of relational languages ​​(relational algebra and SQL) and their properties

USE relational languages ​​(algebra and SQL) to query a database, SQL to express data manipulation operations and establish integrity constraints on data

ONLY 12 CFU:

USE the SQL language to express complex operations through functions and procedures, to express complex integrity constraints and operational rules through triggers

UNDERSTAND the basic principles relating to the internal organization and administration of data management systems, with specific reference to the design of the physical scheme, performance monitoring, concurrent execution of transactions and access control.

ANSWER questions on the basic principles relating to the internal organization and administration of data management systems.

PREREQUISITES

Basics of: first-order logic, set theory, syntax and semantics of a language, programming, computer architecture and operating systems.

TEACHING METHODS

Mixed: The course includes lectures on all the topics covered, laboratory exercises using a relational data management system and integrative activities using AulaWeb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

For everyone:

• Introductory aspects: relevance of data management for real applications; overview of DBMS concepts.
• Traditional data models: the relational model and its languages.
• The SQL language: definition, query and manipulation of relational data.
• Conceptual design: Entity-Relationship model, conceptual design methodologies.
• Logical design of a relational database.
• Quality verification: theory of normalization
• Laboratory: use of a DBMS for exercises related to the aspects covered by the course.

For 12 CFU:

• Program data management: stored procedure; use of SQL from programming language; trigger.
• Components and functionalities of a DBMS: indexes and query processing; transactions; access control.
• Physical design of a relational database.
• Laboratory: use of a DBMS for exercises related to the aspects covered by the course.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Barbara Catania, Giovanna Guerrini, Elena Ferrari. Sistemi di Gestione Dati - Concetti e Architetture. CittaStudi Edizioni, Utet Libreria, De Agostini Scuola, 2006.

Barbara Carminati, Anna Maddalena, Marco Mesiti. Sistemi di Gestione Dati - Esercizi. CittaStudi Edizioni, Utet Libreria, De Agostini Scuola, 2008.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIOVANNA GUERRINI (President)

CHIARA ACCINELLI

BARBARA CATANIA (President Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of the following parts:

1. A written test, containing exercises related to the topics covered in the course.
2. A project, which requires the design and implementation of a relational database.
3. An oral exam centered on the correction of the project and laboratory exercises as well as on the topics covered in the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Details on how to prepare for the exam for each topic will be given during the lessons.

The written exam consists of

• a set of closed-ended questions on basic course topics. The objective of these questions is to ascertain an understanding of the main issues faced during the lessons.

• a design exercise. The objective of this exercise is to verify that the student knows how to use the data models and the design methodology addressed during the course.

• query specification exercises. The objective of these exercises is to verify that the student is able to formulate queries in the languages ​​(relational algebra and SQL) addressed during the course.

​The oral exam will consist of: 

(i) in-depth discussion of the solutions developed by the student for the project 
(ii) any theoretical and / or practical questions on topics covered in the teaching, with particular reference to the topics on which deficiencies have been highlighted in the written test or in carrying out the project. In general, the oral exam is aimed at assessing not only if the student has reached an adequate level of knowledge, but also if he has acquired the ability to critically analyze the problems of designing and querying a database, as well as the use of a DBMS, addressed in class.

Exam schedule