Week 3 Project

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Multidimensional Data Analysis

Multidimensional Data Analysis

Online analytical processing (OLAP), also called multidimensional data analysis, can represent relationships among data as a multidimensional structure. This structure can be visualized as cubes of data. Smaller cubes exist within these cubes of data, allowing sophisticated data analysis. We can ef�ciently analyze data across the enterprise using a data warehouse on a platform that extracts current and historical data from several operational systems. The management of an organization uses this consolidated data for decision making. In addition, organizations can build smaller, decentralized warehouses called data marts. A data mart contains only a subset of the population of users.

Data mining analyzes large pools of data, including the contents of data warehouses or data marts, to �nd patterns and rules that can predict consumer behavior and guide decision making. Hypermedia databases allow data to be stored in nodes linked together in any user-speci�ed pattern. The nodes can contain text, graphics, voice, full-motion video, or executable programs.

An internal database can be Web-enabled to facilitate users to access the database from any location. In a client/server environment, the DBMS receives SQL requests and provides the requested information directly to the CPU of the user at the client end. For Web access the middleware on the application server transfers data from the organization’s internal database to the web server. This server then delivers the information in the form of a web page to the web user.

The software for handling databases could be a custom program or a series of software scripts. Common gateway interface (CGI) is a speci�cation for transferring information between a Web server and a program designed to accept and return data. The program could be written in any programming language including C++.NET, C#.NET, C, Java, Perl, or Visual Basic.NET.

After analyzing the data, let us discuss designing a database that will meet the speci�c requirements of the organization.