Tracing conceptual models' evolution in data warehouses by using the model driven architecture

Abstract

Developing a data warehouse is an ongoing task where new requirements are constantly being added. A widely accepted approach for developing data warehouses is the hybrid approach, where requirements and data sources must be accommodated to a reconciliated data warehouse model. During this process, relationships between conceptual elements specified by user requirements and those supplied by the data sources are lost, since no traceability mechanisms are included. As a result, the designer wastes additional time and effort to update the data warehouse whenever user requirements or data sources change. In this paper, we propose an approach to preserve traceability at conceptual level for data warehouses. Our approach includes a set of traces and their formalization, in order to relate the multidimensional elements specified by user requirements with the concepts extracted from data sources. Therefore, we can easily identify how changes should be incorporated into the data warehouse, and derive it according to the new configuration. In order to minimize the effort required, we define a set of general Query/View/Transformation rules to automate the derivation of traces along with data warehouse elements. Finally, we describe a CASE tool that supports our approach and provide a detailed case study to show the applicability of the proposal.

Data Warehouse Design Methods Review: Trends, Challenges and Future Directions for the Healthcare Domain

“…Methods [21] and [31] report a convincing traceability approach, at different granularity level, although they don't address explicitly the knowledge representations' changes. Unfortunately, none had linked their framework with a sound temporal model.…”

“…Using mechanisms to coordinate all DWD phases is essential [9]. Traceability helps to assess the impact of structural changes and improve reusability and maintainability [31].…”

A support architecture to MDA contribution for data mining

“…Earlier researches applied MDA approach for data warehouses specification and design (Luján-Mora et al, 2006;Maté and Trujillo, 2014;Mazón et al, 2005Mazón et al, , 2006Mazón and Trujillo, 2008). Other aspects of data warehouses were aligned with the MDA approach later (El Akkaoui et al, 2011;Taktak et al, 2017).…”

Extended Change Identification System

“…The history of evolution can be sought by executing a metadata query. A set of traces which relate multidimensional elements and data sources is maintained in (Maté and Trujillo, 2014). With the help of these traces, changes to the schema when data sources change are easily incorporated.…”