African Scholar

VOL. 18 NO. 4 Publications &

ISSN: 2896-1783 Research
SEPTEMBER, 2020 International
African Scholar Journal of Env. Design & Construction Mgt. (JECM-4)

Guide for the Development of Database for the

Management of Buildings in Estates

Musa Abdul & Bashir Lawal

Department of Building, College of Environmental Studies, Kaduna
Polytechnic Kaduna

Abstract
Organizations are increasingly becoming more and more reliance on
databases for their functions. Even though powerful in its functions,
database development is not so complex. This paper explains database
concepts and developed a simple guide for database development. The
process of developing database for the Management of Buildings in Estates,
using Structured Query Language (SQL) is described. MySQL, a standard
RDBMS which is freely available for the use of the general public is used
for the development. It is discovered that the use of software by Builders
and Estate Surveyors is common, but not indigenous. It is recommended for
Builders and Estate Surveyors to collaboratively develop database for
managing Buildings in Estates together with their associated facilities.

Keywords: Database, Simple guide, Structured Query Language (SQL),

MYSQL & Database development.

Introduction
According to Elmasri & Navathe a) A database represents some
(2016), a database is a collection of aspect of the real world,
related data which can be of any size sometimes called the
and complexity. A database has the miniworld or the universe of
following inherent properties: discourse (UoD). Changes to

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 the miniworld are reflected in the database.
b) A database is a logically coherent collection of data with some inherent
meaning. A random assortment of data cannot correctly be referred to as
a database.
c) A database is designed, built, and populated with data for a specific
purpose. It has an intended group of users and some preconceived
applications in which these users are interested.

In other words, a database has some source from which data is derived, some
degree of interaction with events in the real world, and an audience that is
actively interested in its contents. The end users of a database may perform
business transactions or events may happen that cause the information in the
database to change. In order for a database to be accurate and reliable at all
times, it must be a true reflection of the miniworld that it represents; therefore,
changes must be reflected in the database as soon as possible. A database may
be generated and maintained manually or it may be computerized. For example,
a library card catalog is a database that may be created and maintained
manually. A computerized database may be created and maintained either by a
group of application programs written specifically for that task or by a database
management system. The concern of this paper is with computerized databases.
As the data needed by the user or customer community grow in size,
complexity, and importance, the care and feeding of that data requires the use
of a database management system (DBMS) to store, manage, and protect it. A
Database Management System (DBMS) is a special software package that is
designed to define and manage data within one or more databases. Individual
databases, in turn, manage the definition of data objects/tables in a given subject
area and provide controlled user access to that data. Examples of DBMSs
include MySQL, Structured Query Language (SQL) Server, Oracle, and
Microsoft Access (Hogan, 2018).
A database is a structured collection of data. It may be anything from a simple
shopping list to a picture gallery or the vast amounts of information in a
corporate network. To add, access, and process data stored in a computer
database, you need a database management system such as MySQL Server.
Since computers are very good at handling large amounts of data, database
management systems play a central role in computing, as standalone utilities,
or as parts of other applications (Oracle, 2015).
This work highlights the ingredients that constitute database and how these
ingredients are organized into logical form for use with DBMS, in this case
MySQL. As a simple guide, this work only covers the aspect of database
creation using MySQL along with its associated tables and simple queries for

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the retrieval of information stored in the database for selected elements in the
estate.
Buildings in estates and their associated facilities are constantly in operation
leading to wear and tear, which necessitates well-coordinated maintenance
program in order to keep them in desired shape and form. There is the need to
ensure that information about Buildings in Estates and their associated facilities
is always promptly and accurately available. There is no better solution than the
use of computerized database.
This paper is aimed at developing a guide for the development of practical
database for the management of buildings in estates with the following specific
purposes – to describe computerized database, to explain DBMS, to describe
MySQL and to develop simple guide for database development using MySQL.

Database
A database is an ordered collection of data, which is normally stored in one
or more associated files. The data are structured as tables, where cross
references among tables are possible. The existence of such relations among the
tables leads to the database being called a relational database. MySQL, Oracle,
the Microsoft SQL server, and IBM DB2 are examples of relational database
systems. Such a system includes the programs for managing relational
databases. Among the tasks of a relational database system are not only the
secure storage of data, but also such jobs as the processing of commands for
querying, analyzing, and sorting existing data and for storing new data. All of
this should be able to take place not only on a single computer, but over a
network as well (Kofler, 2004).
Simply put, information in a database are stored in tables which have
relationship with other tables ensuring that duplicates and redundancies are
eliminated. The data to be stored in database are broken down into their simplest
terms, ensuring information in tables are in their simplest terms with
relationship with other tables containing data, needed to complement the overall
information requirement of the database. As a result of storing information in a
database in simple related tables, the database is said to be relational.
Tables in a database store series of related records with similar attributes or
characteristics. The attributes or characteristics of records are represented as
fields in the database, which are tight to the record they defined. The records in
database tables are represented as rows in the table, whereas the fields are
represented as columns in the table.
Information in a relational database need to be accurately retrieved and fast too.
In order to achieve that, relationships among tables need to be accurately and
logically defined. This simple rule of tables definition ensures relationship
among different tables in a database. Each record (row) in a table in the database

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must contain a unique field (attribute) which distinguished that record from
other records. This unique field is referred to as the primary key of that table.
All records in the table must have their own primary keys. Whenever a table
needs to obtain information from another table in the database, all that is needed
is to refer to the primary key instead of copying all information. When a table
relate with another table using its primary key, that primary key ceases to
primary key in the table that relate with it. The primary key of a table that is
referenced from another table becomes foreign key in that table. The primary
key, foreign key relationship ensures referential integrity among database
tables.

MySQL
MySQL is a very capable relational client/server database system. It is
sufficiently secure and stable for many applications, and it offers an excellent
cost/benefit ratio (not only because MySQL is free itself, but also because it
makes comparatively modest demands on hardware). MySQL has thus
developed into a quasi standard in the realm of Internet databases. Apart from
technical data, MySQL has the advantage over other open source database
systems in that it is by far the most widely used such system. It follows that
MySQL has been more thoroughly tested and documented than other database
systems and that it is relatively easy to find developers with MySQL experience
(Kofler, 2004).
Oracle (2015) stated that MySQL is the most popular Open Source SQL
database management system, is developed, distributed, and supported by
Oracle Corporation. MySQL software is open source which means that it is
possible for anyone to use and modify the software. Anybody can download the
MySQL software from the Internet and use it without paying anything. The
source code for MySQL may be studied and changed according to needs. The
MySQL Database Server is very fast, reliable, scalable, and easy to use. MySQL
Server can run comfortably on a desktop or laptop, alongside other applications,
web servers, and so on, requiring little or no attention. MySQL can also scale
up to clusters of machines, networked together.

MySQL Commands
Before anyone can be able to anything with MySQL, that person have be created
as user of that database. Even though not directly related to database definition
and manipulation, the first commands to be described is the CREATE USER
command which can be done by only an administrator of the MySQL server.
i. CREATE USER ‘user name’ @’address of database host’ IDENTIFIED
BY ‘user password’ (DuBois, 2014)

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 ii. CREATE DATABASE name_of_database (e.g KadPoly Estate 1);
(Dyer, 2008)
iii. GRANT type_of_privilege ON database_name.* TO ‘user_name’
@’database_host’; (DuBois, 2014)
iv. CREATE TABLE table_name {primary_key_column type, PRIMARY
KEY (primary_key_column),
seriest_of_other_colunmns_and_their_types}; (Dubois, 2009)
v. SELECT columns FROM table_references WHERE criteria

Guide for the Development of Database for Buildings in Estates

This section explains how real-world data are scaled down in data suitable for
presentation and representation in DBMS, in this case MySQL. The
Development process starts by itemizing the estate to be modelled. As an
example lets say the name of the estate is KadPoly Estate 1. The different
categories of buildings in the estate should also be itemized together with their
location in the estate. All roads in the estates should also be categorized and
itemized together with lengths and locations. Likewise information of facilities
in the estate, not directly attached to any building should also be itemized
together with associated attributes. A building should be selected from each of
the categories and each be broken into smaller units of interest alongside their
attributes.
Database for “Estates” can be created using MySQL command, “CREATE
DATABASE estate_name”. This command creates a database for the estate
with name, estate_name. Records in the estate can be stored in different related
tables in the database. MySQL uses the command “CREATE TABLE
table_name” to create tables in the database, with name, table_name. MYSQL
INSERT command is used in entering records in tables in the database. To
update records already stored in the database, MySQL command, “UPDATE”
is used. To alter the structure of tables in the database, MySQL command,
“ALTER” is used. Retrieval of data stored in database is achieved using
MySQL command, “SELECT”. MySQL command can be used in conjunction
with other options to control data entry and retrieval.

Conclusion
Database for the management of Buildings in Estates can be realized by simple
collection of information about Buildings in Estates together with their
associated characteristics. The information collected are further broken down
into their simplest units (entities) that requires attention. The information
broken down are then represented in tabular form with their individual
characteristics making up the columns of the tables. Unique characteristic will
be used as the primary for that table, if none exist, then a unique primary key

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ID should be created, which should be used as the primary key for that table.
The creation of tables continues with the primary keys of smaller units used the
entity relationship that relate with other tables where they are required. The
tables obtained can then be stored in MySQL using MySQL database
commands as earlier described.

Recommendations
The following are offered as recommendations:
• Professional bodies of Building and Estate Management to engage on
the training of their members on database development.
• The concerned professional bodies should collaborate for a unified
database for the management of Buildings in Estates.
• Building and Estate Professionals should collaborate in ensuring unified
data format for information in Estates.

REFERENCES
Dubois, P. (2009). MySQL. New Yor: Addison-Wesley.
DuBois, P. (2014). MySQL Cookbook. USA: O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Dyer, R. J. (2008). MySQL in a Nutshell. USA: O’Reilly Media, Inc..
Elmasri, R., & Navathe, S. B. (2016). Fundamentals of Database Systems (7th Edition ed.).
USA: Pearson.
Hogan, R. (2018). A Practical Guide to Database Design (2nd Edition ed.). London: CRC
Press.
Kofler, M. (2004). The Definitive Guide to MySQL, Second Edition. New York: Apress.
Oracle. (2015). MySQL 5.7 Reference Manual. USA: Oracle USA, Inc.
Stephens, R. (2009). Beginning Database Design Solutions. Indiana: Wiley.

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