Advanced Database Systems (COMP90050)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
Semester 2
FeesLook 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

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Five quizzes worth 2% each, run in weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, during the semester. ILOs 1~4 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 20 minutes (each)
From Week 3 to Week 1110%

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

  • 50-55 hours (of work required)
Week 1240%

A written examination. This test assesses all topics covered in the subject.

  • 2 hours
During the examination period50%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    Principal coordinatorEgemen Tanin
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 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 commitment200 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    Egemen Tanin
    etanin@unimelb.edu.au

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorFarhana Choudhury
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours36 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 commitment200 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 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

    Prescribed texts

    There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.

  • 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, 2011
    Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Data Management Systems) by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter
    Lecture slides
    Addition published articles in Journals and Conferences
     
     

    CAREERS / 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:

    TypeName
    CourseMaster of Science (Computer Science)
    CoursePh.D.- Engineering
    CourseDoctor of Philosophy - Engineering
    CourseMaster of Philosophy - Engineering
    CourseMaster of Data Science
    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

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 4 March 2025