Data Preprocessing: Data Integration
Data Integration
Data Preprocessing: Data Integration
1. Introduction to Data Integration
Data Integration is the process of combining data from different sources and providing the user with a unified
view of these data. It is a core component of data preprocessing in data mining and analytics, particularly
within data warehousing environments.
2. Formal Definition of Data Integration System
A data integration system is typically modeled as a triple <G, S, M>:
- G (Global Schema): Represents the unified schema under which data from all sources is represented.
- S (Source Schemas): Denotes the schemas of the individual, often heterogeneous data sources.
- M (Mapping): Describes the relationship or transformation rules between the source schemas and the global
schema.
3. Why is Data Integration Important?
Data integration plays a pivotal role in:
- Data Warehousing
- Data Mining
- Business Intelligence
- Scientific Research
4. Issues in Data Integration
- Schema Integration and Object Matching
Data Preprocessing: Data Integration
- Redundancy in Data
- Detection and Resolution of Data Value Conflicts
5. Types of Data Integration Approaches
- Manual Integration (Common User Interface)
- Middleware-Based Integration
- Data Warehouse Integration (ETL Approach)
- Data Virtualization
6. Mapping Techniques in Data Integration
- Global-as-View (GAV)
- Local-as-View (LAV)
7. Challenges in Real-World Data Integration Projects
- Semantic Heterogeneity
- Syntactic Heterogeneity
- Structural Heterogeneity
8. Tools and Technologies for Data Integration
- Apache Nifi
- Talend
- Informatica PowerCenter
- Microsoft SSIS
- Pentaho Data Integration
Data Preprocessing: Data Integration
9. Best Practices for Effective Data Integration
- Conduct data profiling
- Design robust mappings
- Apply data cleaning early
- Use metadata repositories
- Test thoroughly
10. Future Trends in Data Integration
- AI-powered schema matching
- Cloud-native integration
- Streaming data integration
- No-code/Low-code platforms
Conclusion:
Data integration is a foundational component of modern data preprocessing pipelines. Though it presents
multiple technical and semantic challenges, a well-architected integration system-backed by appropriate tools
and methods-can provide significant business value.
