Advanced Databases (Level 11) (P00889)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : INF-P-ADBS

This course aims at furthering database systems concepts through adding complexity and a more hands-on approach. In particular, we will focus on supporting multi-dimensional data in a DBMS, query optimisation, query evaluation, transaction processing and concurrency control in both a centralised and a distributed context. In terms of centralised databases, we shall start from single and multi-dimensional indexing methods, move on to join evaluation algorithms, and talk about query opimisation paradigms. We shall then focus on the issues of transaction processing, concurrency control and crash recovery. Finally, we shall revisit the previous issues in a distributed database environment.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Database Systems (U01901) For Informatics PG students only, or by special permission of the School. In particular, students should be familiar with file structures and query processing algorithms.

? Prohibited combinations : Advanced Databases (Level 10) (U01951)

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Computer Systems Organisation, (School of Informatics, Schedule O)

Other subject areas

Database Systems, (School of Informatics, Schedule O)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2007	15:00	15:50	Room 7.01, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	15:00	15:50	Central
Lecture	Thursday	15:00	15:50	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After completing the module, the student will be able to:
* Demonstrate knowledge of storage methods by enumerating various indexing techniques over single- and multi-dimensional data.
* Demonstrate knowledge of query evaluation by describing and implementing various evaluation algorithms used by database systems.
* Demonstrate knowledge of cost-based query optimisation by describing search space exploration and different optimisation paradigms.
* Demonstrate knowledge of transaction processing and concurrency control using lock tables and/or optimisic methods of concurrency control.
* Demonstrate knowledge of crash recovery by describing the methodologies and algorithms employed by a database system in the event of a crash.
* Demonstrate knowledge of distributed database functionality in terms of query evaluation and transaction processing.