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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2011/2012
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Informatics : Informatics

Postgraduate Course: Topics in Distributed Databases (INFR11025)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Informatics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaInformatics Other subject areaNone
Course website http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/tdd Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course covers not only the basic technology required for distributed databases, but also some of the emerging technology of database integration, data cleaning, schema matching/mapping and peer-to-peer technology for highly distributed databases.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Database Systems (INFR09011) OR Informatics Research Review (INFR11034)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements For Informatics PG students and final year MInf students only, or by special permission of the School.
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) WebCT enabled:  No Quota:  None
Location Activity Description Weeks Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
CentralLecture1-11 09:00 - 10:50
First Class Week 1, Thursday, 09:00 - 10:50, Zone: Central. Robson LT
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - Describe emerging issues in distributed databases: data integration, schema matching, schema mapping, data cleaning, distributed query evaluation and optimisation.
2 - Describe the problems faced in data integration, as well as model solutions to these problems.
3 - Translate data between example XML schemas without loss of information.
4 - Describe the need for data cleaning in data integration, and approaches to improving the quality of integrated data.
5 - Detect inconsistencies in data using integrity constraints.
6 - Repair dirty databases based on integrity constraints.
7 - Propagate data quality rules via data transformation/integration
8 - Demonstrate the issues involved in data integration for distributed query processing.
9 - Describe the issues involved in distributed query optimisation regarding cost modeling and algorithms for query evaluation.
Assessment Information
Written Examination 0
Assessed Assignments 100
Oral Presentations 0

Assessment
This is a research seminar module. Each student is required to read research papers, complete a practical project, and write and present a final report for the project.

The project (70%) deals in more depth with a topic covered in the class. It should consist of algorithm design, prototype implementation, and experimental study for developing a practical tool. Example projects include: SQL techniques for detection of dara inconcistencies based on integrity constraints, a tool for schema matching/mapping, or a tool for repairing dirty databases.

The presentation (30%) should report and demonstrate the tool developed in the project.

If delivered in semester 1, this course will have an option for semester 1 only visiting undergraduate students, providing assessment prior to the end of the calendar year.
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Topics to be covered:
* Parallel and Distributed Databases
* Distributed Query Optimisation and Evaluation
* Integrating data from distributed sources
* Schema matching and mapping
* Cleaning integrated data
* Propagation analysis of data quality rules via views.

Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Computer Networks, Databases, Distributed Computer Systems, Information Systems, Web-based Computing
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list * An introduction to Database Management Systems by Raghu Ramakrishnan (Chapters 16-18, 22).
* Research papers
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Michael Rovatsos
Tel: (0131 6)51 3263
Email: mrovatso@inf.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Kate Weston
Tel: (0131 6)50 2701
Email: Kate.Weston@ed.ac.uk
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:17 am