42010 - Conceptual Modelling and Information Systems (MCSI)

The course provides an in-depth study of the concepts, tecniques and modern methods of conceptual modeling of information systems, in a UML-based approach.

1. Introduction to Conceptual Modeling of Information Systems
2. Entity Types
3. Relationship Types
4. Cardinality constraints
5. Particular Kinds of Relationship Types
6. Reification
7. Generic Relationship Types
8. Derived Types
9. Integrity Constraints
10. Taxonomies
11. Domain Events
12. Action Request Events
13. State Transition Diagrams
14. Statecharts
15. Use Cases
16. Conceptual Modeling Methods
17. Metamodeling
18. MOF and XMI
19. Temporal Aspects

Students should learn the contents of the subject on their own, using the specified detailed bibliography. The teacher will pose a series of exercises every week, and students must solve them on their own.
Weekly meetings with the teacher will be used to solve doubts, discuss about the topics they have worked on, comment on relevant aspects and specially the solutions of the proposed problems.


Students will be evaluated on the article summaries and other exercises or problems that they hand in along the course. The continuation of this subject along the course will be a very important factor in the evaluation.

• Halpin, T. Information modeling and relational databases: from conceptual analysis to logical design. Morgan Kaufmann, 2001.
• Martin, J.; Odell, J. Object-oriented methods: a foundation. Englewood Cliffs, NJ.: Prentice Hall, 1995.
• Thalheim, B. Entity-relationship modeling: foundations of database technology. Berlin; New York: Springer, 2000.

Bibliography and class notes. Support for an education environment (possibly Atenea). Meeting room with a projector.