The objective of this course is to introduce information systems and to describe the data models and techniques of conceptual design, logical and physical development and management of databases.

01. Introduction to Information Systems:
01.01 Knowledge management and information systems.
01.02 Data Base Management Systems (DBMS).
01.03 Life cycle of DBMS.

02. Conceptual design of databases:
02.01 Analysis of the requirements.
02.02 Model Entity-Relationship (E-R).
02.03 Strategies project.
02.04 Integration of diagrams.

03. Logical design of databases:
03.01 Relational model.
03.02 Optimization of E-R models.
03.03 Restoration of E-R models.
03.04 From R-E model to the relational model.
03.05 Normalization.

04. Query languages??:
04.01 Relational algebra: basic operators.
04.02 Relational algebra: auxiliary operators.
04.03 Relational Calculus.
04.04 Structured Query Language (SQL).
04.05 Subqueries in SQL.
04.06 Language Data Definition in SQL.
04.07 Language of updating data in SQL.
04.08 Views in SQL.

05. Secondary storage devices and file management:
05.01 Secondary Storage Devices and buffer management.
05.02 Organization of the files.
05.03 Indexing.
05.04 B-tree.
05.05 B +-tree.
05.06 Organizations static hash.
05.07 Organization Dynamic hash.

06. Architecture of DBMS:
06.01 Transactions and anatomy of the DBMS.
06.02 Management of failures and recovery techniques.
06.03 Management of the scheduling.
06.04 Theory of serializability. 
06.05 Serializability and competition. 
06.06 Locking techniques. 
06.07 Database and distributed transactions. 
06.08 Object-oriented, multimedia and NoSQL databases. 
06.09 XML databases.
06.10 Methods of joins. 
06.11 Optimization of queries.

07. Laboratory activities:
07.01 Introduction to MySQL on the Linux operating system.
07.02 Architecture of the MySQL server and client.
07.03 Development MySQL database driven.
07.04 Access to MySQL database using PHP.

Although there are no mandatory prerequisites for this exam, students are strongly recommended to take it after Algorithms and Data Structures, Computer Architecture, Procedural and Logic Programming.
It is also worth noticing that the topics covered by this course will be used in Integrated Geographical Databases.

Knowledge and understanding: the student will acquire the main knowledge related to design methodologies of databases, query language SQL, architecture of database management systems; moreover, the student will be able to understand the structure of information systems designed according to the relational model.

Applying knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to apply the acquired knowledge with the aim of designing relational schemes of databases and implementing them in software tools by using systems like MySQL. The student will also be able to use a database management system based on the platform MySQL.

Making judgements: the student will be able to evaluate the correctness and the efficiency of a database designed according to the relational model, by taking the most adequate decisions during optimization and deployment.

Communication skills: the student will be able to present appropriately the descriptive features of a database, the functionalities of the related management system, and the properties that such a system shall satisfy in terms of data integrity and management.

Learning skills: the student will acquire the capability of designing and implementing databases on the basis of functional requirements and specifications describing the contents and operations needed to manage an information system.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Theory lectures and laboratory exercises, both face-to face and on-line.

Attendance

Although recommended, course attendance is not mandatory.

Course books

For theory lectures: 
- Paolo Atzeni, Stefano Ceri, Piero Fraternali, Stefano Paraboschi e Riccardo Torlone: "Basi di dati 4/ed", McGraw-Hill, 2014 
(copre le sezioni 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 e 06 del programma) 
- Paolo Atzeni, Stefano Ceri, Piero Fraternali, Stefano Paraboschi e Riccardo Torlone: "Basi di dati - Modelli e linguaggi di interrogazione 4/ed", McGraw-Hill, 2013 
(copre le sezioni 01, 02, 03, 04 del programma)

For laboratory exercises: 
- Dorbolò, Guidi, "Guida a SQL 2/ed", McGraw-Hill, 2004. 
- MySQL Reference Manual.

Assessment

Project (to be developed individually), written test and oral exam.

The project, which changes each academic year, must be delivered at least 7 days before the written test. It is passed if the grade is at least 6/10; the vote remains valid for subsequent sessions and also for subsequent years.

The written test, which changes each exam session and can only be sustained if the project has been exceeded, consists of four open questions to be done in 90 minutes. It is passed if the grade is at least 12/20; the vote is valid only for the exam session in which the written test is supported.

The oral exam, which can only be sustained if the project and the written test were overcome, is optional and consists of a discussion of the project and the written exam, most questions. If passed, it determines an adjustment between -2/30 and 2/30 of the average of the two previous votes, resulting in the final grade.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The course offers additional e-learning facilities on the Moodle platform > elearning.uniurb.it