Database Design – Model Railroad Inventory

Database Design – Model Railroad Inventory Database

Project Parameters: Group database design project for INSC 84 Database Management Systems.  The project required the group to design and implement a prototype database for a real-world application.  Our group worked with a local model railroader with over 5000 models.  Creating a database to provide inventory and produce reports for insurance purposes. The final database included:

• Over 5000 entries
• Model Railroad specific categories
  • Locomotives
  • Freight cars
  • Passenger Cars
• Reports
  • Inventory with Value
  • Inventory by Railroad
  • Locomotive control information
• Forms
  • Entry
  • Update

What I did: As the project lead I developed the structure for the database.  I also developed the methods for importing the existing Excel data the user had already.  The group also had to understand the needs of the user, including what terms and information would be important to include in the design.  Once the structure was done development of forms and reports were a major undertaking.  Several versions of the project were tested before the final one was accepted by the user and the professor.  

Outcomes and Student Learning Objectives:

• Working with the user to develop a project needs assessment
• Learning terms and technology specific to user needs
• Conceptual Design (E-R Model) 
• Logical Design (Relational Model)
• Rapid Prototyping
• Documentation and User Guides