Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Computer graphics is a rapidly growing field of the computer science industry. It has applications in computer games, virtual reality, CAD systems and geometric modelling. Fundamental to all of these applications is mathematics. Thus, to be a working professional in this area you will need a working knowledge of the basic mathematics and concepts that are central to this field. This unit is also ideal for non-specialists as it demonstrates some of the various fields of applications of mathematics in everyday life.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to the mathematics of computer graphics and relate this to the solutions of problems that arise in the many applications of computer graphics.

Objectives

Successful completion of this unit should enable you to:

1. Describe and work with the mathematical structures that are used to represent position, orientation and movement in computer graphics.
2. Present mathematical arguments in a concise and coherent manner.
3. Draw on a range of knowledge and analytical thinking skills to solve original problems.

Content

These topics are the foundation of modern computer graphics and as such, students must be comfortable and competent, not only with the technical detail, but also in the decisions they make as to which of these tools need to be brought to bear in a given situation.

Co-ordinate Systems - Review of Trigonometry, Sine and Cosine rules,1D, 2D and 3D co-ordinate systems.

Points, Lines and Planes - Definitions and properties. Displaying points, lines and planes. Relationships between points, lines and planes. Translation and rotation of points, lines and planes.

Projections - Orthographic and perspective projections.

Polygons and Polyhedra - Definitions, properties and classification

Introduction to Matrices - Definitions. Basic Operations, Determinants, Inverses, Linear transformations.

Elementary Transformations - Translations, Rotations and Scaling of 2D and 3D constructions.

Introduction to Vectors - Definitions, Basic Operations, Scalar and Vector Product, Vector equations of lines and planes.

Curves and Surfaces - Planar and space curves, Tangents and tangent vectors, Bezier curves and surfaces, continuity and composite curves, linear and cubic interpolation, areas under curves and integration.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

You are expected to attend lectures (3 hours per week) in which the course content will be introduced and the associated skills will be demonstrated. You should also attend and contribute to a workshop session (1 hour per week) which will involve further learning exercises, the aim of which is to improve your technical ability and your ability to choose techniques and strategies appropriate to task. Full solutions to all workshop questions will be made available to assist with your learning from these exercises.

Assessment

This unit's major task is to introduce you to the mathematics of computer graphics and the associated skills and techniques. As such, the most appropriate form of assessment is by exam. Splitting the exams 15% during semester and 45% at the end of semester caters both for students who 'catch on' quickly and for those who take longer to assimilate information. Each week you will be given 4 multiple choice quiz questions to do in 10 minutes. You may work in groups to discuss the questions but each individual must submit their own answers at the end of the 10 minutes. The quizzes will contribute 25% towards your semester mark.

This unit is being taught concurrently with an undergraduate offering of the same subject. University policy permits that postgraduate and undergraduate students attend the same lectures. Separate workshops will be provided for postgraduate students where student numbers allow. As a postgraduate student you will be required to complete separate or additional assessment tasks. For this unit, you will be required to submit a written report which replaces some of the assessment undertaken by undergraduate students.Your quizzes will be returned to you after marking so you can see your areas of strength and weakness. You will also be given the opportunity to review your marked progress test paper, for the same purpose. Solutions to the progress test and model answers for each quiz will also be made available to you when the marks for the relevant items are released. Full solutions to all workshop questions will also be made available to assist with your learning from these exercises.

Assessment name: Quiz
Description: These provide you with the necessary exposure to the types of problems that confront the computer graphic specialist and the methodologies to solve them. Formative and summative
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly

Assessment name: Report
Description: You will be given a list of relevant topics, from which you will choose one topic to investigate. You will be required to submit a 2000 word written report on your findings. Summative with some formative aspects.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Assessment name: Examination
Description: There are two exams as part of this unit. The first is a mid semester progress Test (1 hour): It will cover content, workshop and quiz exercises from weeks 1 to 5 inclusive. Formative and summative. Weighting: 15%. The second is a final exam (3 hours): This will cover content and workshop exercises from the entire semester but with an emphasis on weeks 6 to 13 inclusive. Summative. Weighting: 45%
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7 & End Semeste

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are no set texts in this unit. The following are useful references.

1. F. Dunn, I Parberry (2002), 3D Math Primer for Graphics and Game Development, Wordware Publishing.

2. Mortenson ME (1999) Mathematics for Computer Graphics Applications, Industrial Press Inc.

3. Vince J (2006) Mathematics For Computer Graphics, Springer

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of the evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times whilst on campus. More information on health and safety can be obtained from http://www.hrd.qut.edu.au/healthsafety/healthsafe/index.jsp

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 06-Feb-2013