BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE, PILANI

WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING PROGRAMMES

Part A: Content Design
Course Title

Database Systems and Applications

Course No(s)

SESAP ZC 323

Credit Units

Course Instructor

P RAJA VADHANA

Course Description

This course covers topics on - DBMS architecture; Data models;

ER and EER modeling; Relational data model; ER/EER to
relational mapping; Query Languages for relational model;
Database design; Data storage and indexing techniques;
Transaction processing; Concurrency control; Recovery

Course Objectives
No

Course Objective

CO1

Enrich the skill and competency of students in Modeling, Design and

Development of Databases for use by applications through experiential learning.

CO2

Provide knowledge about the internals of Database Management Systems likeStorage, Indexing, Transaction processing etc.

CO3

Prepare students to tackle the challenges in operationalizing Database Systems,

like- maintaining consistency and integrity, recovery from failures, concurrency
control, etc.

Text Book(s)
T1

Ramez Elmasri & Shamkant B. Navathe, Fundamentals of Database Systems,

Pearson Education, 5th Edition, 2007

Reference Book(s) & other resources

R1

Abraham Silberschatz, Henry F Korth and S Sudarshan, Database System

Concepts, McGraw Hill, 6th Ed., 2013

R2

Date C.J., An Introduction to Database Systems, Addison Wesley, 8th Ed., 2006.

R3

Raghu Ramakrishnan & Johannes Gehrke, Database Management Systems,

McGraw-Hill Education, 3e, Indian Edition 2014

R4

ONeil Patrick et al., Database: Principles Programming Performance, 2 nd Ed.,

Morgan-Kaufmann, 2001.

Learning Outcomes
No

Learning Outcomes

LO1

Students acquired ability to model and design effective database systems, leading to
development of elegant Information System.

LO2

Students have gained sufficient knowledge and understanding about the features and
use of SQL and PL/SQL.

LO3

Students are equipped with knowledge on advanced database concepts like- Querying,
Transactions, Indexing, Recovery etc.

Legend
M = Module, CS = Contact Session, LE = Lab Exercises, SS = Self Study, HW = Home Work
Problems
Course Content: Modular Structure
No
M
1
M
2

Title of the Module

Introduction and Overview
of Database Systems

Conceptual Database Design

(ER Modelling) , Relational
Model and Mapping from
ER-Relational model

Topics
Introduction to Database Management Systems
Advantages of using DBMS
Three-schema architecture and Data independence
Database Users
Database Design Process

ER Modelling concepts
o
Entity, Attribute,
Relationship, Cardinality
o
Weak entity, Multi-valued
attribute, Relationship attribute, Total
participation
o
Ternary relationship, Unary
relationship

EER Concepts

o
Specialization
o
subset

Generalization &
Disjoint subset, Overlapping

Relational model
o Relational model concepts
o Relational data model constraints

M
3

Relational Data Model

Languages (Relational
Algebra and SQL)

Mapping ER to Relational model

o Mapping ER Constructs to relations
o Mapping Class hierarchies (EER)
Formal language
Relational Algebra operations
Relational algebraic expressions
SQL language

M
4

Schema Refinement and

Normal Forms

M
5

Disk storage, Hashing and

Indexing

Introduction to SQL
Queries in SQL
Join
Nested queries
Grouping & Aggregation
Insert / Delete / Update
Views in SQL
Problems due to data redundancy
Detecting & removing redundancy using Normal forms
Functional dependencies
Normal forms and their conditions
Lossless Decomposition & Dependency preserving
decomposition
Secondary storage devices
Files, records, blocks on disks
Ordered files and Unordered files
Static Hashing & Dynamic hashing

Transaction Management
and Concurrency Control

Single level index, Multilevel indexes

Primary index, Secondary index
B+ Trees
Introduction to transactions
Properties of transactions (ACID)
Problems due to Concurrent transactions
Serial & Serializable of transactions
Precedence graph

M
6

M
7

Database Recovery

Need for Concurrency Control in database systems

Two-phase locking techniques
Deadlock detection & prevention
Timestamp-based protocols
Recovery concepts - Recovering from transaction failures
Introduction to log-based recovery techniques
Deferred update technique

 Immediate update technique

Shadow paging technique
Recovery from catastrophic failures
Detailed Plan for Lab work
Lab
No

Topic

Lab Objective

Basics of SQL

To understand the concept of DBMS, SQL, and learn few

basic commands

Data Definition
Language (DDL)

Understand How to CREATE/ALTER/DROP tables, and

define Integrity Constraints

DDL

Learning more on Creating tables

Data Manipulation
Language(DML)

Basics of SQL, Using features like- DISTINCT, LIKE,

BETWEEN, and SET operations

DML

Understand the usage of Aggregate functions, UPDATE

and DELETE operations on tables

DML

Work on JOIN operations- INNER and OUTER joins

Assignments
1. Think of a web-based software application (with a central database), that you think will be useful to
many people (1 week)
2. Write a brief description of the application (2 weeks)
Who will be the users?
What are the benefits of this application?
List of functions & features of the application
How many users will use it simultaneously, etc?
3. Draw ER diagram for the application(2 weeks)
4. Convert ER model to relational model (2 weeks)
5. Write SQL queries to fulfil the end user needs (2 weeks)
6. Design indices to enhance the performance of queries and justify your choice of indices

Work Integrated activities

Activity
No

Topic

Description

Conceptual model

Draw ER diagram of the database used by your

application

Logical database
model

Study the tables of your application & determine if it

satisfies 3rd Normal Form. Recommend improvements if
any, to the table design

Physical design

Study the indexes of your application & suggest

improvements if any.

Database
administration

Talk to your DBA and find out what their challenges are.
Think of ways to address these challenges and discuss
your suggestions with them. What is the outcome of
these discussions?

Security

What security features of DBMS are implemented in

your application (set of applications). Give examples of
situations where these features are used.

Detailed Structure:
M1: Introduction and Overview of Database Systems
Type
CS 1.1

SS 1.1
SS 1.2
HW
1.1
HW
1.2
LE

Description/Plan/Reference
Introduction to Database Management Systems; Characteristics of database approach;
Database users; Advantages of using DBMS
Data models; Three-schema architecture and Data independence; Database system
environment; DBMS Architecture; Database Users
T1: Sec 1.6, 1.7,
T1: Sec 2.5, 2.6
T1: Exercise Problems 1.11, 1.15, 1.16
T1: Exercise Problems 2.17, 2.18
Nil

M2: Conceptual Database Design, ER/EER Modelling, Relational Model and Mapping from
ER/EER-Relational Schemas
Type
CS 2.1
CS2.2
CS 2.3
CS2.4
SS 2.1
SS 2.2
SS 2.3
HW
2.1

Description/Plan/Reference
ER and EER Modelling concepts, and notations
T1: Sec 3.3, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 (Problem Solving related to ER/EER)
Relational Data Model concepts and integrity constraints
Mapping from ER/EER to Relational Schemas
T1: Sec 7.1, 7.2, (Problem Solving related to Data model mapping)
T1: Sec 3.7,
T1: Sec 4.5
T1: Sec 7.2.1, 7.2.2
T1: Exercise Problems 3.23

HW
2.2
HW
2.3
LE

T1: Exercise Problems 4.24

T1: Exercise Problems 7.7, 7.9
Nil

M3: Relational Data Model Languages (Relational Algebra and SQL)

Type
CS 3.1
CS 3.2
CS 3.3
CS 3.4
CS 3.5
SS 3.1
SS 3.2
SS 3.3
HW
3.1
HW
3.2
HW
3.3
LE 3.1
LE 3.2
LE-3.3

Description/Plan/Reference
Relational Algebra and Relational Calculus
Problem Solving related to Relational Algebra
SQL
Problem Solving related to SQL
SQL (Advanced features)
T1: Sec 6.6
T1: Sec 8.1
T1: Sec 8.8, 8.9
T1: Exercise Problems 6.19
T1: Exercise Problems 8.30
T1: Exercise Problems 8.33
Practice on SQL DDL and DML Commands on Oracle or MySQL
Practice on SQL advanced features on Oracle or MySQL
PL SQL

M4: Schema Refinement and Normal Forms

Type
CS 4.1
CS 4.2
SS 4.1
SS 4.2
HW
4.1
HW
4.2
LE

Description/Plan/Reference
Guidelines for database design; Functional dependencies; Inference rules
Normalization; Normal forms and their conditions; Lossless join decomposition;
Dependency preserving decomposition
Problem Solving related to Functional dependencies and Normal Forms
T1: Sec 10.2, 10.5
T1: Sec 11.1
T1: Exercise Problems 10.21, 10.23
T1: Exercise Problems 10.30, 10.23, 11.33
Nil

M5: Disk storage, Hashing and Indexing

Type
CS 5.1
CS 5.2

Description/Plan/Reference
Secondary storage devices; Buffering; Files, records, blocks on disks; Operations on
files; Ordered and unordered files
Hashing schemes, Internal and external; Static and Dynamic Hashing schemes
Problem Solving related to T1: Sec 13.8.3 (Dynamic Hashing), & Sec 14.1.1, 14.3.2

CS 5.3
SS 5.1
SS 5.2
SS 5.3
HW
5.1
HW
5.2
HW
5.3
LE

(Indexing)
Indexing schemes, Primary, secondary,
Multilevel indexing; B+ Trees indexing
T1: Sec 13.2
T1: Sec 13.8.2, 13.10
T1: Sec 14.1.2, 14.3
T1: Exercise Problems 13.27, 13.28
T1: Exercise Problems 13.31, 13.32, 13.33
T1: Exercise Problems 14.2, 14.21
Nil

M6: Transaction Management and Concurrency Control

Type
CS 6.1

CS 6.2
CS 6.3
SS 6.1
SS 6.2
HW
5.1
HW
5.2
LE 6.1

Description/Plan/Reference
Introduction to transactions; States of a transaction; Desirable properties of a
transaction; Schedules;
Concurrent transactions; Serializability; Testing serializability; Transaction support in
SQL
Need for Concurrency Control in database systems; Lock-based protocols; Two-phase
locking techniques for concurrency control; Deadlock situation; Timestamp-based
protocols
Problem Solving related to T1: Sec 17.5.2 (Serializability) ,18.1.3 (Deadlocks)
T1: Sec 17.5, 17.6
T1: Sec 18.1, 18.2
T1: Exercise Problems 17.29, 17.30,
T1: Exercise Problems 17.31, 18.3
Working on Transaction Management commands in SQL; T1: Sec 17.6

M7: Database Recovery

Type
CS 7.1
CS 7.2
SS 7.1
HW
7.1
LE

Description/Plan/Reference
Recovery concepts; Introduction to log-based recovery techniques; Database recovery
techniques based on deferred updates; Database recovery techniques based on
immediate updates; Database recovery based on Shadow paging
Problem Solving related to T1: Sec 19.2, 19.3
T1: Sec 19.5, 19.6
T1: Exercise Problems 19.30, 19.31
Nil

Contact Session Plan:

Course Plan: This plan is to use in conjunction with the modularized course structure
Week No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Contact Session
CS 1.1
CS 2.1
CS 2.2
CS 2.3

Self-study
SS 1.1

Home-work
HW 1.1

Lab Exercise
No Session

SS 1.2
SS 2.1

HW 1.2
HW 2.1

No Session
No Session

CS 2.4
CS 3.1
CS 3.2
CS 3.2
CS 3.3
CS 3.4
CS 3.5
CS 4.1

SS 2.2
SS 2.3

HW 2.2
HW 2.3

No Session
No Session

SS 3.1

HW 3.1

No Session

SS 3.2

HW 3.2

LE 3.1

SS 3.3

HW 3.3

LE 3.1

Syllabus for Mid-Semester Test: Topics covered in the first eight weeks
Week No.
Contact Session
Self-study
Home Work
Lab Exercise
9
CS 4.2
SS 4.1
HW 4.1
LE 3.2
10
CS 5.1
SS 4.2
HW 4.2
LE 3.2
11
12
13

CS 5.2
CS 5.3
CS 6.1
CS 6.2

14
15
16

CS 6.2
CS 6.3
CS 7.1
CS 7.2

SS 5.1
SS 5.2
SS 5.3

HW 5.1
HW 5.2
HW 5.3

LE 3.3
LE 3.3
No Session

SS 6.1

HW 6.1

LE 6.1

SS 6.2
SS 7.1

HW 6.2
HW 7.1

No Session
No Session

Syllabus for Comprehensive Exam (Open Book) All topics given in Plan
Evaluation Scheme:
EC Component & Nature
Duration Weightage
Date & Time
No
1
Quiz
10%
2
Mid-Semester Test
1.5 hrs
30%

3
4

(Closed Book)
Lab / Assignment/ Work
Integrated Activities
Comprehensive. Exam
(Open Book)

--

10%

3 hrs

50%

TBA

* TBA = To be announced
Instructor-in-charge