Data Management and Analysis

A.A. 2023-24

Resources

  • Books:
    • [B1] J. D. Ullman: Principles of Database & Knowledge-Base Systems, Vol. 1: Classical Database Systems
    • [B2] Lemahieu, W., vanden Broucke, S., & Baesens, B. (2018). Principles of Database Management: The Practical Guide to Storing, Managing and Analyzing Big and Small Data. Cambridge University Press
  • Slides
  • Hand notes WARNING: the notes might contain mistakes. You can report them by sending me an email.
  • Exercises
  • Exam simulations
  • Past exams sheets

Timetable

Classes will start on Monday 25th September according to the following calendar:

  • Mondays: from 14:00 to 16:00 at Department of Mathematics “Guido Castelnuovo”, Edificio CU006 - Aula IV
  • Fridays: from 10:00 to 13:00 at Castro Laurenziano, Edificio RM018 - Aula 2L
Office hour

Office hour meetings must be agreed by appointment before hand. They will start on Friday 27th October at the following time.

  • Friday: from 16:00 to 18:00 at Department of Computer Science, Edificio E, Viale Regina Elena, 295.

Whenever needed, I can meet students out of the office hours.

Course content

  • Introduction to DBMS
  • The relational model
  • Relational algebra
    • unary operators: projection, selection. Binary operators: union, difference, intersection, Cartesian production, natural join, θ-join. Negation, universal and existence quantification.
  • Database design and normalization
    • Data redundancy, insertion, update, and deletion anomalies. Relational theory definitions: schema, tuple instance, functional dependency, legal instance, closure of F. Trivial dependencies, properties of functional dependencies. Armstrong’s axioms. Rules: decomposition, union, pseudotransitivity, with Theorem and demonstration. Closure of X and first lemma on the closure (with proofs). Theorem F+=FA with proof. Third normal form, formal definition and alternative definition. Algorithm for computing X+, correctness theorem and proof. Key definition, practical ways to find the keys of a schema, uniqueness check. Decomposition of a schema, definition. Projection of F on the decomposition of a schema, definition. Equivalence between two sets of functional dependencies, definition. Lemma on the closures of two sets of functional dependencies, with proof. Decomposition preserving F, definition. Algorithm for checking if F is preserved. Algorithm for computing X+G. Decomposition with lossless join, definition. Algorithm for checking if a decomposition has a lossless join, with proof. Minimal cover, definition, and steps to compute it. Decomposition algorithm, with extra step for lossless join, and proof.
  • Physical organization of a database
    • Heap, sequential, random (hash). Index sequential access method (ISAM) organization. Tree organizations: b-trees

Examination rules (Please read carefully)

  • To pass the the Unit 1, you have to pass a written part and an oral part.
    • The written part (about 2 hours) consists in three sections of exercises about: Relational Algebra, Relational Theory, Physical Organization.
    • Written part is passed if all the sections are marked with a sufficient score (6/10) and it is mandatory to access the oral part
    • The oral part consists into questions about:
      • Definitions and basics about Relational Theory
      • Proofs of theorems in Relational Theory
      • Physical Organization
      • Concurrency
    • The oral examination usually takes place one week after the written test. However, this highly depends on the time needed to mark all the written exams, which is subject to variations, due to my ongoing duties and the number of students taking the exam themselves.
  • A passed written examination can be carried forward in the same session, so for example, if you pass the written part in January you can carry it forward and access the oral part in February.
  • Between different sessions, you cannot carry forward any passed written part (e.g., you cannot carry forward the written part passed in February to take the oral part in June)
  • Students are no longer allowed to sit the exam from remote.

Exam transcription (Please read carefully)

  • The course is the first unit of a 2 units 12 credits course “Data Management and Analysis”, the second unit will be taught in semester 2 by Prof. Walter Quattrociocchi.
  • To pass the 12 credits course, you have to pass 2 separate examinations, one for unit 1 and one for unit 2; only after passing both examinations you will get the 12 credits; there can be no exception to this, so you cannot take unit 1 only, or unit 2 only and receive 6 credits, that is not possible (for Erasmus students, please see below).
  • Due to administrative reasons, the students passing Unit 1 who did not yet pass Unit 2, will be recorded as rinuncia on the verbale. At the same time, they will receive an email from the instructor, confirming they passed the exam, together with date and final mark.
  • Erasmus students: unfortunately, Data Management and Analysis is a 12 credits course split into 2 units across 2 semesters, and we cannot record the first (or second) half of the course only. However, it is possible to record a single unit in your transcript of records. All you need to do is to mention this to me after you passed the exam. I will then communicate the result to the Erasmus office in Sapienza, which will take care of the official transcription.