Master Degree in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science - UNICAL

Data Warehouse and Visualization

Prof. Giorgio Terracina

A.A. 2025/2026

(last update: 25/09/2025)

Exam: Project and discussion.  

The Project is individual. No group-work will be allowed. The aim of the project is to develop a small-sized data warehouse and visual analytics, using the tools presented during the course (Penthao and Tableau) or tools of choice from the student.

Basic requirements for the development of the project:

GENERAL STEPS

Source selection (Analysis and reconciliation, Rough workload definition)

- Minimum requirements: Source must allow to get at least three dimensions, at least two hierarchies, at least two measures

Data Quality assessment and Data Cleaning Tasks
(implement reproducible forms of quality assessment and cleaning on the data)

Reconciled level design (E/R or Relational schema, possibly with reverse engineering)

Design of at least 1 DFM Fact schema (Attribute tree construction, etc.)

Warehouse level design

ETL design and implementation

Design of at least 4 Analysis Sheets

Design of at least 1 Dashboard (minimum)

Here you can find a detailed checklist for developing the project and presenting it at the exam, please read it carefully.

Prof. receives: send an e-mail

Syllabus

• Introduction
• Introduction to distributed databases
• Homogeneous and disomogeneous DDBMS. Architectures for DDBMS (unit - slides)
• Intensional Integration of Database Schemas (Chapter 4 of “Data Warehouse” book + unit)
• Data Preparation (unit)
• Data Warehouse: Introduction and Architectures (excerpt for architectures)
• Analysis and reconciliation of data sources
• Conceptual Modelling: The Multi-Dimensional Model DFM
• Conceptual Design: Fact Schemas
• Logical Modelling: Star and Snowflake Schemas
• Logical Design.
• Data Visualization and Visual Analytics

Additional material will be provided on Teams during the course

Textbooks:

Italian Version: M. Golfarelli, S. Rizzi, “Data Warehouse – Teoria e pratica della progettazione”, McGraw Hill, Seconda edizione

English Version: M. Golfarelli, S. Rizzi "Data Warehouse Design: Modern Principles and Methodologies", McGraw Hill

Additional Material distributed during the course

Suggested Textbook

H. Garcia-Molina, J. D. Ullman, J. Widom, “Database Systems, the complete book”, Prentice Hall, 2002