Course Resources Archive

Advanced database systems are important to business, industry and science. Such systems include data warehouses, distributed databases, object-based databases, multimedia databases, and e-commerce database systems. IT professionals need to critically assess the opportunities and implications presented by such systems. They also need the expertise and acumen to develop and exploit these systems.

This module explores: Data warehouses, object relational systems, multimedia storage, and e-commerce databases. Investigation into the theories that govern the design of such systems; and analysis of advanced concepts through investigation, and subsequent practical implementation and critical evaluation.

i. Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this module, students should be able to:

a) explain and evaluate the fundamental theories that influence the design of modern database systems

b) assess and apply database functions and packages suitable for enterprise database development and database management

c) critically evaluate alternative designs and architectures for databases and data warehouses

d) analyse database requirements and determine suitable methods to implement these

e) discuss and evaluate methods of storing and interrogating complex data

f) explain and critically evaluate database solutions for data exchange

g) discuss the background processes involved in queries and transactions, and explain how these impact on database operation and design

ii. Skills
Communication and Literacy:students will critically analyse academic papers, and explain complex concepts, and justify specification choices.
Problem solving: students will investigate, and use, advanced systems, functions and methods.
Independent Learning and Working: students will have the opportunity to evaluate solutions, make decisions, and then implement and assess.
Information and Communications Technology: current vendor solutions to data warehousing, object relational systems, multimedia storage, e-commerce database systems, and XML-based data exchange will be explored, with detailed investigation into solutions provided by Oracle.
Specific Vocational Skills: students will learn advanced database systems and will gain insight into the practicalities of providing business intelligence.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.