DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025

Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

UNIT II PLANNING AND SCHEDULING 9

Planning & Scheduling: Software prototyping – Software project planning – Scope – Resources
– Software Estimation – Empirical Estimation Models – Planning – Risk Management –
Software Project Scheduling – Object Oriented Estimation & Scheduling. Analysis and Design:
Analysis Modeling – Data Modeling – Functional Modeling & Information Flow – Behavioral
Modeling – Structured Analysis – Object Oriented Analysis – Domain Analysis.

2.13 Data Modeling

Data Modeling in software engineering is the process of simplifying the diagram or data model of a
software system by applying certain formal techniques. It involves expressing data and information
through text and symbols. The data model provides the blueprint for building a new database or
reengineering legacy applications.

In the light of the above, it is the first critical step in defining the structure of available data. Data
Modeling is the process of creating data models by which data associations and constraints are de-
scribed and eventually coded to reuse. It conceptually represents data with diagrams, symbols, or text
to visualize the interrelation.

Data Modeling thus helps to increase consistency in naming, rules, semantics, and security. This, in
turn, improves data analytics. The emphasis is on the need for availability and organization of data,
independent of the manner of its application.

Data Modeling Process

Data modeling is a process of creating a conceptual representation of data objects and their relation-
ships to one another. The process of data modeling typically involves several steps, including re-
quirements gathering, conceptual design, logical design, physical design, and implementation. Dur-
ing each step of the process, data modelers work with stakeholders to understand the data require-
ments, define the entities and attributes, establish the relationships between the data objects, and cre-
ate a model that accurately represents the data in a way that can be used by application developers,
database administrators, and other stakeholders.

Levels Of Data Abstraction

Data modeling typically involves several levels of abstraction, including:

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

 Conceptual level: The conceptual level involves defining the high-level entities and relationships in
the data model, often using diagrams or other visual representations.
 Logical level: The logical level involves defining the relationships and constraints between the data
objects in more detail, often using data modeling languages such as SQL or ER diagrams.
 Physical level: The physical level involves defining the specific details of how the data will be
stored, including data types, indexes, and other technical details.

Data Modeling Examples

The best way to picture a data model is to think about a building plan of an architect. An architectural
building plan assists in putting up all subsequent conceptual models, and so does a data model.

These data modeling examples will clarify how data models and the process of data modeling high-
lights essential data and the way to arrange it.

1. ER (Entity-Relationship) Model

This model is based on the notion of real-world entities and relationships among them. It creates an
entity set, relationship set, general attributes, and constraints.

Here, an entity is a real-world object; for instance, an employee is an entity in an employee database.
An attribute is a property with value, and entity sets share attributes of identical value. Finally, there
is the relationship between entities.

2. Hierarchical Model

This data model arranges the data in the form of a tree with one root, to which other data is con-
nected. The hierarchy begins with the root and extends like a tree. This model effectively explains
several real-time relationships with a single one-to-many relationship between two different kinds of
data.

For example, one supermarket can have different departments and many aisles. Thus, the ‘root’ node
supermarket will have two ‘child’ nodes of (1) Pantry, (2) Packaged Food.

3. Network Model

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

This database model enables many-to-many relationships among the connected nodes. The data is ar-
ranged in a graph-like structure, and here ‘child’ nodes can have multiple ‘parent’ nodes. The parent
nodes are known as owners, and the child nodes are called members.

4. Relational Model

This popular data model example arranges the data into tables. The tables have columns and rows,
each cataloging an attribute present in the entity. It makes relationships between data points easy to
identify.

For example, e-commerce websites can process purchases and track inventory using the relational
model.

5. Object-Oriented Database Model

This data model defines a database as an object collection, or recyclable software components, with
related methods and features.

For instance, architectural and engineering real-time systems used in 3D modeling use this data mod-
eling process.

6. Object-Relational Model

This model is a combination of an object-oriented database model and a relational database model.
Therefore, it blends the advanced functionalities of the object-oriented model with the ease of the re-
lational data model.

The data modeling process helps organizations to become more data-driven. This starts with cleaning
and modeling data. Let us look at how data modeling occurs at different levels.

These were the important types we discussed in what is data modelling. Next, let’s have a look at the
techniques.

What is Data Modelling? Overview, Basic Concepts, and Types in Detail

By Simplilearn

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Last updated on Jun 6, 2023192973

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

Data is changing the way the world functions. It can be a study about disease cures, a company’s
revenue strategy, efficient building construction, or those targeted ads on your social media page; it
is all due to data.

This data refers to information that is machine-readable as opposed to human-readable. For example,
customer data is meaningless to a product team if they do not point to specific product purchases.
Similarly, a marketing team will have no use of that same data if the IDs didn’t relate to specific
price points during buying.

This is where Data Modeling comes in. It is the process that assigns relational rules to data. A Data
Model un-complicates data into useful information that organizations can then use for decision-
making and strategy. According to LinkedIn, it is the fastest-growing profession in the present job
market. Before getting started with what is data modelling, let’s understand what is a Data Model in
detail.

What is a Data Model?

Good data allows organizations to establish baselines, benchmarks, and goals to keep moving
forward. In order for data to allow this measuring, it has to be organized through data description,
data semantics, and consistency constraints of data. A Data Model is this abstract model that allows
the further building of conceptual models and to set relationships between data items.

An organization may have a huge data repository; however, if there is no standard to ensure the basic
accuracy and interpretability of that data, then it is of no use. A proper data model certifies actionable
downstream results, knowledge of best practices regarding the data, and the best tools to access it.

After understanding what is data modelling, let’s discuss its examples.

Also Read: 9 Skills You Need to Become a Data Modeler in 2022

What is Data Modeling?

Data Modeling in software engineering is the process of simplifying the diagram or data model of a
software system by applying certain formal techniques. It involves expressing data and information

Prepared By: A.BENITA Page 4

 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

through text and symbols. The data model provides the blueprint for building a new database or
reengineering legacy applications.

In the light of the above, it is the first critical step in defining the structure of available data. Data
Modeling is the process of creating data models by which data associations and constraints are
described and eventually coded to reuse. It conceptually represents data with diagrams, symbols, or
text to visualize the interrelation.

Data Modeling thus helps to increase consistency in naming, rules, semantics, and security. This, in
turn, improves data analytics. The emphasis is on the need for availability and organization of data,
independent of the manner of its application.

Data Modeling Process

Data modeling is a process of creating a conceptual representation of data objects and their
relationships to one another. The process of data modeling typically involves several steps, including
requirements gathering, conceptual design, logical design, physical design, and implementation.
During each step of the process, data modelers work with stakeholders to understand the data
requirements, define the entities and attributes, establish the relationships between the data objects,
and create a model that accurately represents the data in a way that can be used by application
developers, database administrators, and other stakeholders.

Levels Of Data Abstraction

Data modeling typically involves several levels of abstraction, including:

 Conceptual level: The conceptual level involves defining the high-level entities and relationships
in the data model, often using diagrams or other visual representations.
 Logical level: The logical level involves defining the relationships and constraints between the
data objects in more detail, often using data modeling languages such as SQL or ER diagrams.
 Physical level: The physical level involves defining the specific details of how the data will be
stored, including data types, indexes, and other technical details.
Become a Data Scientist with Hands-on Training!

Data Scientist Master’s ProgramEXPLORE PROGRAM

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

Data ModelingExamples

The best way to picture a data model is to think about a building plan of an architect. An architectural
building plan assists in putting up all subsequent conceptual models, and so does a data model.

These data modeling examples will clarify how data models and the process of data modeling
highlights essential data and the way to arrange it.

1. ER (Entity-Relationship) Model

This model is based on the notion of real-world entities and relationships among them. It creates an
entity set, relationship set, general attributes, and constraints.

Here, an entity is a real-world object; for instance, an employee is an entity in an employee database.
An attribute is a property with value, and entity sets share attributes of identical value. Finally, there
is the relationship between entities.

2. Hierarchical Model

This data model arranges the data in the form of a tree with one root, to which other data is
connected. The hierarchy begins with the root and extends like a tree. This model effectively
explains several real-time relationships with a single one-to-many relationship between two different
kinds of data.

For example, one supermarket can have different departments and many aisles. Thus, the ‘root’ node
supermarket will have two ‘child’ nodes of (1) Pantry, (2) Packaged Food.

3. Network Model

This database model enables many-to-many relationships among the connected nodes. The data is
arranged in a graph-like structure, and here ‘child’ nodes can have multiple ‘parent’ nodes. The
parent nodes are known as owners, and the child nodes are called members.

4. Relational Model

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

This popular data model example arranges the data into tables. The tables have columns and rows,
each cataloging an attribute present in the entity. It makes relationships between data points easy to
identify.

For example, e-commerce websites can process purchases and track inventory using the relational
model.

5. Object-Oriented Database Model

This data model defines a database as an object collection, or recyclable software components, with
related methods and features.

For instance, architectural and engineering real-time systems used in 3D modeling use this data
modeling process.

6. Object-Relational Model

This model is a combination of an object-oriented database model and a relational database model.
Therefore, it blends the advanced functionalities of the object-oriented model with the ease of the
relational data model.

The data modeling process helps organizations to become more data-driven. This starts with cleaning
and modeling data. Let us look at how data modeling occurs at different levels.

These were the important types we discussed in what is data modelling. Next, let’s have a look at the
techniques.

Benefits Of Data Modeling

Data modeling is a critical process in the development of any software application or database
system. Some of the benefits of data modeling include:

1. Improved understanding of data: Data modeling helps stakeholders to better understand the struc-
ture and relationships of the data, which can help to inform decisions about how to use and store
the data.
2. Improved data quality: Data modeling can help to identify errors and inconsistencies in the data,
which can improve the overall quality of the data and prevent problems later on.

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 DEPARTMENT NAME:MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
Class: I MCA Batch: 2023-2025
Course code:23CAR206 Course Title: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFT-
WARE ENGINEERING

3. Improved collaboration: Data modeling helps to facilitate communication and collaboration among
stakeholders, which can lead to more effective decision-making and better outcomes.
4. Increased efficiency: Data modeling can help to streamline the development process by providing
a clear and consistent representation of the data that can be used by developers, database adminis-
trators, and other stakeholders.

Limitations Of Data Modeling

Despite the many benefits of data modeling, there are also some limitations and challenges to
consider. Some of the limitations of data modeling include:

1. Limited flexibility: Data models can be inflexible, making it difficult to adapt to changing require-
ments or data structures.
2. Complexity: Data models can be complex and difficult to understand, which can make it difficult
for stakeholders to provide input or collaborate effectively.
3. Time-consuming: Data modeling can be a time-consuming process, especially for large or complex
datasets.

Evolution Of Data Modeling

Data modeling has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting changes in technology, data
management practices, and business requirements. Early data modeling approaches were often
manual and focused on the conceptual level, while more recent approaches use automated tools and
support multiple levels of abstraction. Other trends in data modeling include the increasing use of
data modeling languages and standards, such as SQL and UML, and the integration of data modeling
with other data management processes, such as data governance and data quality. Overall, the
evolution of data modeling reflects the ongoing importance of effective data management in today's
data-driven business environment.

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