Using OCL for automatically producing multidimensional models and ETL processes

Abstract

During the last few years, several frameworks have dealt with Data Warehousing (DW) design issues. Most of these frameworks provide partial answers that focus either on multidimensional (MD) modelling or on Extraction- Transformation-Loading (ETL) modelling. Yet, neither the study of unifying both modelling issues nor their automation have been considered thoroughly. To overcome these limits, we suggest a generic unified method that automatically integrates DW and ETL design. The framework is handled within the Model Driven Architecture (MDA). In this paper we present a unified conceptual model that describes both the DW and its ETL process using the constellation model and the Object Constraint Language (OCL). Morevoer, we give a logical model for the ETL workflow and a set of Query/View/Transformation(QVT) mapping rules from the conceptual level to the logical level and then to the physical one. At the end, we describe the implemented prototype architecture. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.