Data Modelling and Database Management: Designing Efficient Data Structures

The course “Data Modelling and Database Management: Designing Efficient Data Structures” provides students with a comprehensive understanding of data modeling concepts and database management techniques for designing efficient data structures. Effective data modeling is crucial for organizing and representing data in a structured and meaningful way, enabling efficient data storage, retrieval, and manipulation.

Through a combination of theoretical lectures, practical exercises, and hands-on projects, students will explore the principles and methodologies of data modeling and database management. The course covers a wide range of topics, including conceptual data modeling, logical data modeling, physical data modeling, and database management systems.

Students will learn how to analyze and capture real-world requirements to create conceptual data models, representing entities, attributes, relationships, and constraints. They will gain insights into different data modeling approaches and notations, such as entity-relationship (ER) modeling and Unified Modelling Language (UML).

The course also focuses on logical data modeling, where students will learn how to translate conceptual models into logical database schemas using techniques such as normalization and denormalization. They will understand the principles of data normalization and learn how to ensure data integrity and eliminate redundancy in database designs.

Furthermore, students will delve into physical data modeling, learning how to map logical database schemas into physical storage structures, such as tables, indexes, and partitions. They will gain knowledge of performance considerations and best practices for database design, including data access strategies and data distribution techniques.

The course also covers various aspects of database management systems (DBMS), including database administration, transaction management, and concurrency control. Students will learn about the functionalities and features of popular DBMSs and gain practical experience in managing and manipulating data using SQL (Structured Query Language).

Additionally, students will be introduced to emerging trends in data modeling and database management, such as NoSQL databases and NewSQL databases, which offer alternative approaches to data storage and management.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a solid understanding of data modeling principles, techniques, and best practices. They will be equipped with the skills to analyze real-world requirements, design efficient data structures, and manage databases effectively.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the “Fundamentals of Database Design: Principles and Techniques” course or equivalent knowledge is required. Proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language) is necessary. Familiarity with relational databases and basic database concepts is assumed.