Updated:  2007-12-21 16:23 PST
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ESM 261
Management of Scientific Data
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WHO: James Frew
WHEN: 09:30 - 10:45 Monday Bren Hall 1510 ("Sycamore")
Wednesday Bren Hall 3035 ("GIS lab")
WHAT: ESM 261 will introduce you to concepts and tools for managing scientific information. Using a basic "life-cycle" model, we'll study concepts like data types, data formats, and metadata, as well as tools like filesystems, databases, and networks. A significant portion of the course will be spent learning to design, build, and use relational databases, since this important skill is not covered elsewhere in the MESM curriculum. We'll also explore the basics of sharing scientific information on the World Wide Web. Real world examples will be drawn from digital libraries, geographic information systems, public-sector data centers and services, etc.
HOW: Grades will be based on a multi-part project, which you will work on for the duration of the course. The project will develop an information management system for a scientific information collection of your choice (subject to instructor approval -- you are encouraged to work with your group project data, if it's appropriate.) Phased deliverables from the project will be (more or less) coordinated with the lecture topics. For the "final exam" you will present your project to the rest of the class.
Textbooks (click on ISBNs to check online prices): Copies of all books will be available in the Bren library. (Please leave them there!)
Other readings and background material are online and linked to the lecture notes. Some links may only be accessible from UCSB networks; to access these links from elsewhere, use a Bren terminal server or one of the Library's Off-Campus Access services.
If you are not a Bren student, email scheduling@bren.ucsb.edu to obtain an approval code to enroll. Then, if you need access to the Bren computing network, fill out and submit a Computer Account Request Form.
SCHEDULE: The schedule is a work-in-progress ("more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules...") — check weekly for updates.
 
date topic deliverable
Oct 01 Scientific Information Life Cycle project selection
03 Bits, Bytes, and Fundamental Types
08 Data Structures
10
15 Metadata project metadata
17
22 Data Formats
24
29 Relational Databases database design
31
Nov
05
07
12
HOLIDAY
14  
19 SQL database implementation
21
26
28

Data on the Web
Dec
03
05
11 FINAL PRESENTATIONS: 08:30 - 11:00
  Updated:  2007-12-21 16:23 PST

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