Postgraduate Course: Advanced Spatial Database Methods (PGGE11083)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences | 
College | College of Science and Engineering | 
 
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) | 
Availability | Available to all students | 
 
| SCQF Credits | 10 | 
ECTS Credits | 5 | 
 
 
| Summary | This course builds on the theory and techniques taught in the Spatial Modelling course, with the aim of extending and deepening appreciation of formal database management. The course begins by looking further at relational database management systems, considering a means of assessing the 'relational-ness' of such systems, together with SQL particularly in the context of standardisation efforts. The course continues by examining Object-Oriented and Object-Relational approaches, together with issues important to GIS such as hybrid vs. integrated data models and the long transaction. The course extends student's knowledge of commercial data models, reviewing their advantages and disadvantages, together with looking at case studies of database management in the commercial GIS environment. Practicals extend the student=s knowledge of standard SQL, examine Oracle Spatial in detail and introduce MySQL and its spatial extension. | 
 
| Course description | 
    
    Week 1 
Understanding Database Management Theory 
Practical: SQL 1 
 
Week 2 
Beyond Relational Database Management Systems 
Practical: SQL 2 
 
Week 3 
Combining Spatial and Non-Spatial: Integrated Data Models and Oracle Spatial 
Practical: Oracle Spatial 
 
Week 4 
Topology in Spatial Data Models and Spatial Databases 
Practical / Demonstration: DB Designer and Oracle Forms 
 
Week 5 
Alternative Spatial Extensions and Case Studies 
Practical / Demonstration: Comparing DBMS 
    
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Information for Visiting Students 
| Pre-requisites | None | 
 
 
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1) 
  
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Quota:  None | 
 
| Course Start | 
Block 3 (Sem 2) | 
 
Timetable  | 
	
Timetable | 
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) | 
 
 Total Hours:
100
(
 Lecture Hours 12,
 Seminar/Tutorial Hours 12,
 Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
74 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) | 
 
  Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) | 
Group Project Proposal 5% due week 2 
Assessed Practical 40% due week 3 
Written Submission 20% due week 6 
Seminar / Demonstration 35% due week 6 | 
 
| Feedback | 
Not entered | 
 
| No Exam Information | 
 
Learning Outcomes 
    By the end of this module, students should have achieved and demonstrated, or be able to achieve and demonstrate, the ability to: 
-understand the database methods used to store spatial and attribute data in the context of geographical information systems  
-appreciate the historical development of these systems 
-implement a data model and understand the methods of normalisation 
-understand the concept of database management in the corporate environment and its implications 
-critically review the available technologies, assessing their merits and shortcomings 
-compare and contrast database management systems and their use within GIS 
-predict future developments and understand the implications of standardisation efforts 
-use Structured Query Language (SQL) for both the manipulation and definition of objects within a relational database management system 
-extended use of the Oracle relational database management system through SQL*Plus, SQL*Loader and SQL*Forms 
-store and interrogate spatial data within Oracle and the use of Oracle Spatial 
-locate, read and summarise relevant literature, from both traditional and electronic media, to extend your understanding of the topic 
-develop reasoned arguments, firmly grounded in the available literature 
-plan and write assignments, within the specified parameters and to a professional standard 
-take responsibility for your own learning through reading and the preparation of assignments, and reflect upon your learning experience
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Reading List 
Reading List (selected references) 
- Date, C.J. (1995)  An Introduction to Database Systems (7th edition)  Addison-Wesley 
- Egenhofer, M.J. (1992)  Why not SQL!  International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, 6 (2), 71-86 
- Kothuri, R.V., A. Godfrind and E.Beinat (2007)  Pro Oracle Spatial for 11g, Apress 
- Lake, R., D. Burggraf, M. Trninic and L. Rae  (2004)  Geography Mark-Up Language:  Foundation for the Geo-Web, John Wiley & Sons 
- Rigaux, P., Scholl, M. and Voisard, A.  (2002)  Spatial Databases with Application to GIS.  Morgan Kaufmann 
- Wachowicz, Monica (1999)  Object-oriented design for temporal GIS. Taylor & Francis, London 
- Worboys, M.F. and Duckham, M.  (2004)  GIS:  A Computing Perspective.  CRC Press, Second Edition 
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Additional Information
| Course URL | 
http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/ | 
 
| Graduate Attributes and Skills | 
Not entered | 
 
| Keywords | PGGE11083  , Database management, Oracle Spatial, SQL, data models | 
 
 
Contacts 
| Course organiser | Mr Bruce Gittings 
Tel: (0131 6)50 2558 
Email: Bruce.Gittings@ed.ac.uk | 
Course secretary | Miss Lynne Mcgillivray 
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543 
Email: Lynne.McGillivray@ed.ac.uk | 
   
 
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© Copyright 2015 The University of Edinburgh -  2 September 2015 4:34 am 
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