Week 1 - Relational databases and data modeling

Learning objectives

• Benefits of relational databases
• Relational data model and SQL data definition
• Data modeling

Slides

slides-01.pptx

Resources

1. https://learning.nceas.ucsb.edu/2023-06-delta/session_09.html

   • Very brief introduction to data modeling, ties into “tidy data.”

2. Christoph Wohner, Johannes Peterseil, and Hermann Klug (2022). Designing and implementing a data model for describing environmental monitoring and research sites. Ecological Informatics 70, 101708.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2022.101708

   • Good case study.

3. Gerald A. Burnette (2022). Managing environmental data: principles, techniques, and best practices. CRC Press.
   Access via Library Catalog

   • Comprehensive text, specific to environmental sciences.

4. Graeme C. Simsion and Graham C. Witt (2005). Data Modeling Essentials. 3rd ed. Amsterdam: Morgan Kaufmann.
   Access via Library Catalog
   Google Books

   • Comprehensive text, not specific to the environmental sciences.

5. Hartmut Hebbel (1994). Environmental data modeling. Annals of Operations Research 54, 263-278.
   https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02031737

   • A broader view of data organization.

6. Jeffrey D. Ullman and Jennifer Widom (2008). A First Course in Database Systems. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.
   Access via Library Catalog

   • Complete but theoretical introduction to relational databases, data modeling, and relational algebra.

Homework

Create an ER diagram

Data modeling exercise