Advanced Database Systems (COMP90050)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Egemen Tanin
etanin@unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
Farhana Choudhury
farhana.choudhury@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
Many applications require reliability in access to data, and data should not be lost even in the presence of hardware failures. The ability to retrieve and process the data very efficiently is also paramount even when multiple users access the data from remote sites simultaneously. With the increasing size of data used in these applications, advanced techniques for data management have emerged to make many such advanced requirements for access to data a reality. The subject covers the technologies used in advanced database systems that use these techniques. Topics covered will include: transactions, concurrency control, reliability, ACID properties, performance, indexing of both structured and unstructured data, query processing, and further topics on different database types and database architectures.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to High Performance Database Systems
- Issues of Performance and Reliability
- Transaction Processing
- Recovery from Failures
- Map Reduce Models
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Evaluate performance and reliability in building applications involving large-scale database systems
- Investigate and analyse database technologies used in large-scale applications such as search engines
- Apply the concepts and technologies underpinning new forms of Web data to database systems
- Understand algorithms associated with transaction processing and recovery from failures and concepts employed in modern database systems
Generic skills
On completion of the subject the student should have the following skills:
- Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation, and solution
- Ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design and operational performance
- Ability to manage information and documentation
- Capacity for creativity and innovation
- Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
One of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
INFO20003 | Database Systems |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
INFO90002 | Database Systems & Information Modelling |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
OR
Completion of 50 points of third year computing study or equivalent
OR
Admission into one of the following: MC-CS Master of Computer Science, MC-SCICMP Master of Science (Computer Science)
OR
Both of:
Admission into one of the following: 100pt Program course entry point in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology, 150pt Program course entry point in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology
AND
Selection of one of the following: Distributed Computing specialisation (formal) in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence specialisation (formal) in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology
OR
Both of:
Admission into the 100pt Program course entry point in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology
AND
Selection of the Computing specialisation (formal) in the MC-IT Master of Information Technology
OR
Admission into the Computational and Statistical Data Science specialisation (formal) in the MC-DATASC Master of Data Science
OR
Admission into the Computational Data Science specialisation (formal) in the MC-DATASC Master of Data Science
OR
Admission into one of:
• Master of Data Science (MC-DATASC) - Data Science Background Stream (pre-2025)
• Master of Data Science (MC-DATASC) - Computer Science Background Stream (pre-2025)
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Five quizzes worth 2% each, run in weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, during the semester. ILOs 1~4 are addressed in this assessment.
| From Week 3 to Week 11 | 10% |
One written group assignment, due in approximately week 12, approximately 3600 words long, requiring approximately 50 - 55 hours and approximately 1200 words per student. The assignment is an extensive survey of a research topic related to database technologies and requires an oral presentation of 25-30 minutes to the class, worth 15%. The assignment is designed to address Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) 1-4 and all general skills
| Week 12 | 40% |
A written examination. This test assesses all topics covered in the subject.
| During the examination period | 50% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Egemen Tanin Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours, made up of 24 one-hour lectures (two per week) and 12 one-hour tutorials (one per week). Some computer lab classes will require you to bring your own device (capable of running MySQL community edition). Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Egemen Tanin
etanin@unimelb.edu.au - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Farhana Choudhury Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours, made up of 24 one-hour lectures (two per week) and 12 one-hour tutorials (one per week). Some computer lab classes will require you to bring your own device (capable of running MySQL community edition). Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025 Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025 Census date 1 September 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 September 2025 Assessment period ends 21 November 2025 Semester 2 contact information
Farhana Choudhury
farhana.choudhury@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
200 hours.
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
This course is taught over 12 weeks, each week with two one hour formal lectures and a one hour workshop. During the workshops the students are given problems to solve to reinforce the previous week’s lecturing material. The problem solving nature of the workshops is geared for the students to learn and understand the concepts of the subject material.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Database system concepts, Abraham Silberschatz, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan, 2011Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems) by Jim Gray and Andreas ReuterLecture slidesAddition published articles in Journals and ConferencesCAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
The concepts developed in the subject are relevant to many fields including IT, Engineering, Commerce, Government Organizations, Research Institutes and Institutions in Medicine where large scale database are used. Many industries are moving their applications to Cloud Platforms and understanding performance issues will be key to success to such transformations.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Science (Computer Science) Course Master of Data Science Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Specialisation (formal) Software - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025