CE175-4C

Database Management in Construction

Module 1
Lesson 1: Introductory
Concepts
Edgar M. Adina
Instructor
 Learning Outcome

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain the basic principles of database and database
management systems;
2. differentiate relational and non-relational models of database
management systems;
3. identify areas in the construction industry that rely and
depends on database and database management systems.
Data and Information

DATA: Facts concerning people, objects, vents or other entities.

Databases store data.
INFORMATION: Data presented in a form suitable for
interpretation.
Data is converted into information by programs and queries.
Data may be stored in files or in databases. Neither one stores
information.
KNOWLEDGE: Insights into appropriate actions based on
interpreted data.
Knowledge Generation

DATA

INFORMATION
Basic Principles

DATABASE: A shared collection of interrelated data designed to

meet the varied information needs of an organization.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: A collection of programs to
create and maintain a database.
Define
Construct
Manipulate
Advantages of Database Processing

 More information  Integrity

from same data  Security
 Shared data  Increased
 Balancing conflicts productivity
among users  Data independence
 Controlled
redundancy
 Consistency
Disadvantages of Database
Processing

 Increased size
 Increased complexity
 More expensive personnel
 Increased impact of failure
 Difficulty of recovery
 Cost
 Especially server and mainframe systems
Objectives of the DBMS Approach

 SELF-DESCRIBING
 DATA INDEPENDENCE
 MULTIPLE VIEWS
 MULTIPLE USERS
What is a Database Management
System?

Data Files
Directory
Access Engine
Utility Programs
Database

DATA

METADATA

ACCESS ENGINE

UTILITIES
Files and Databases

Metadata
“Data about data”
Description of fields
Display and format instructions
Structure of files and tables
Security and access rules
Triggers and operational rules
Database Access

USER
INTERFACE

DATABASE

PROGRAM
History of Database Management

 File Management Systems

 Hierarchical Model
IBM “Information Management System (IMS)” 1966
 Network Model
Charles Bachman’s “Integraded Data Store (IDS)” 1965
Conference on Data Systems Languages /DataBase
Task Group CODASYL/DBTG (1971)
 Relational Model
E.F. Codd, 1970
File Management Systems

Provided facilities to extract data and share files, but did

not implement any way to connect records in one file to
those in another. Relationships had to be implemented
in application code.
Database vs File Systems
FILE SYSTEM
Program 1 Meta-Data

Program 2 Meta-Data Data

Program 3 Meta-Data

DATABASE
Program 1
Meta-
Program 2 Data Data

Program 3
Structured Databases

Relationships were implemented by physical pointers

(called “sets”) which allowed records to be connected in
different files. Hierarchical databases allow only one
parent set; networks allow several. These permit
efficient processing but the sets must be constructed on
data entry and cannot be rearranged later.
Relational Models

Relational models implement relationships with matched

data values in related files (called primary and foreign
keys). Any attributes can be matched. The connection is
established at retrieval so interconnections can be
developed as needed.
Hierarchy
SECTION

STUDENT INSTRUCTOR

COLLEGE COLLEGE

Each file can have only one parent. To implement a second

“parent” (COLLEGE) we have to implement a shadow copy.
Network
SECTION

STUDENT INSTRUCTOR

COLLEGE

Each file can have several parents. Both SECTION and

COLLEGE are “parent” files..
Relational
SECTION

SECTION-STUDENT SECTION-INSTRUCTOR
SECTION-KEY SECTION-KEY
STUDENT-KEY INSTRUCTOR-KEY

STUDENT INSTRUCTOR
COLLEGE-KEY COLLEGE-KEY

COLLEGE

Each file can have several parents. Both SECTION and

COLLEGE are “parent” files..
Relational Terminology

 Entity
 Person, place, thing or event about which we wish to keep
data
 Attribute
 property of an entity
 Relationship
 an association among entities (entity records)
 KERR MCGEE’S LIFE CYCLE
STAGE PROCESS MODEL DATA MODEL
Initialization Report Report
Feasibility Report Process Analysis
High Level DFD (Business Chart)
High Level E/R Diagram
Requirements DFD Top Down E/R
General High Level Dictionary File Specifications
Requirements DFD Bottom Up E/R
Logical Data Dictionary Action Diagrams
File Specifications
Process Logic
System Design Structure Charts Volume/Usage Analysis
Module IPO Specification Physical Schema
Screen/Report Layouts Index/Record Specs
Cleanup
Coding/Testing Test Plan
Logs and Documentation
Code
Implementation Installation Plan Population Plan
Data Management

Designing and managing information in a data base

environment requires:
 Understanding the principles of data modeling in system
design.
 Using SQL for data manipulation.
 Understanding the concepts of managing data in a
database environment.
Information System Modeling
Approaches
PROCESS MODELING: The traditional method of
designing systems by following the changes to data
flows.
DATA MODELING: An approach to system development
that specifies the file structure that conforms to the
things important to the organization.
PROTOTYPING: An iterative approach that focuses on
building small operation
OBJECT MODELING (Event driven design):
Defines objects that contain data and associated
processing rules encapsulated together.
Proceed to
Module 1 Lesson 2