Design of an Academical Information System on a Relational Database Structure in the Context of I.T.U. Faculty of Architecture
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Alaattin Kanoglu, Ph.D.

I.T.U. Faculty of Architecture

Division of Construction Management

SUMMARY

The outputs of academical studies and their owners should be reached easily by using contemporary information technology facilities. None of the scientific results which is not accessible can serve either to society or to university itself. 

The information technology (IT) provides the required tools for designing highly effective systems in both dimensions; hardware and software. An information system may include some or all of the basic components which are Database, Management In-formation, Decision Support, Expert and Office Automation Subsystems. 

Database subsystem can be designed in hierarchical, net or relational structure and all kind of information related to academical activities can be gathered, recorded, organised on this system. Management information subsystem supports the database system organising and converting the data to the reports.The activities in an academical foundation can be classified in two categories; scientific and managerial/administrative activities. 

The suggested model aims to manage these two types of information.The model records all types of scientific studies (books, research reports, thesis, articles, papers and abstracts); provides basic database tools for grouping, filtering, sorting and summarising data; supports object linking and embedding features for recording and reaching the models developed in the studies and prepares different types of reports including data organised at different hierarchical administrative levels of university. 

Pre-studies related to the model and some basic outputs is attached to this proposal. Especially, considering the summarising functions and graphical outputs based on this functions a Relational Database structure is preferred instead of a Net type structure on the WEB. The model will be accessible on the WEB as well. 

After developing the model, it is going to be tested in a pilot study within the Faculty of Architecture. The maintenance and updating functions will be overtaken by the ITU Construction Management and Cost Research Center in Faculty of Architecture.

Key Words: Academical Information System, Relational Database Structure