Undergraduate Course: Computer Animation & Visualisation (Level 10) (INFR10039)
Course Outline
| School | School of Informatics |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Informatics |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/teaching/courses/cav |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Two major topics of Visualisation and Computer Animation are covered in this course.
Visualization is a cognitive process using the powerful information processing and analytical functions of the human vision system. It has always been a major factor in scientific progress and now, with the assistance of computer graphics, it extends our vision system from sub-atomic to interstellar dimensions and allows geometric representations and simulations of any multidimensional dataset. The fundamental objective is to acquire new knowledge rather than generating pictures. This part is very practical and techniques will be illustrated with applications in the scientific, engineering and medical domains. The increasingly important field of information visualisation and visual data-mining will also be covered.
The computer animation part will focus mainly on technological aspects for 3D computer animation for applications such as games and virtual environments. Techniques of character animation such as synthesizing their body movements, facial expressions and skin movements, and behaviors in crowded scenes, and how to compress such data will be first covered. Other topics which are essential to create natural scenes, such as physically based simulation for clothes, fluids and particles will also be covered. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | It is RECOMMENDED that students also take
Computer Graphics (Level 10) (INFR10010) AND
Human-Computer Interaction (Level 10) (INFR10018)
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| Prohibited Combinations | Students MUST NOT also be taking
Computer Animation & Visualisation (Level 11) (INFR11067)
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Other requirements | Successful completion of Year 3 of an Informatics Single or Combined Honours Degree, or equivalent by permission of the School. Some previous knowledge of 3D geometry, 3D computer graphics, and simple programming or scripting will be an advantage.
Computer Graphics (Level 10) and Human-Computer Interaction (Level 10) are natural components of any computer animation / visualisation course and they are recommended (but not required) as companion courses.
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| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1 - Describe different representations of 3D objects, and give examples of their application;
2 - Discuss structural properties of data and the influence they have on choice of visualisation algorithm;
3 - Describe a selection of different visualisation algorithms, and explain their features;
4 - Implement a simple visualisation application using an object-oriented visualisation toolkit;
5 - Explain the kinds of animation that can be generated from the application of inverse kinematics or spacetime constraints to control characters;
6 - Describe a range of character animation techniques, and give examples of their application;
7 - Synthesize animations of characters moving around, changing their facial expressions and controlling them in crowds;
8 - Use physically-based simulations to animate the movements of clothes, fluids and particles. |
Assessment Information
Written Examination 70
Assessed Assignments 30
Oral Presentations 0
Assessment
The course has a single written exam, and two assessed coursework assignments of equal weighting: one on volume data visualisation and the other on character animation.
Assessment of outcomes 1-3, 5 and 6 will be primarily through the written examination, supported by parts of the coursework assignments. Outcomes 4, 7 and 8 will be assessed through coursework.
If delivered in semester 1, this course will have an option for semester 1 only visiting undergraduate students, providing assessment prior to the end of the calendar year. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
* Visualisation: definition and motivation.
* Data representation: geometric abstractions; volume and surface representations, interpolation.
* Fundamental algorithms: colour mapping; contouring; glyphs; volume rendering.
* Advanced algorithms: flow visualisation, vector visualisation, tensor visualisation.
* Information visualisation: networks and trees; document visualisation.
* Advanced topics of Computer Graphics: Visualisation of environments, data processing.
* Character Animation techniques: keyframe animation, inverse kinematics, facial animation, PD-control, flocking, crowd simulation.
* Motion capture technologies: optical, magnetic, mechanical, gyrosensors.
* Optimization-based techniques: space-time constraints, Laplacian distance shape deformation.
* Physically based animation techniques: fluid animation, hair animation, cloth simulation, deformable objects.
Relevant QAA Computing Curriculum Sections: Not yet available |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
* Computer Animation: Algorithms and Techniques (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Graphics), Richard Parent
* SIGGRAPH computer animation course http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/HyperGraph/animation/anim0.htm
* Shroeder, Martin & Lorenson, 'The Visualization Toolkit', 2nd ed., Prentice Hall, 1998. The primary text for the course.
* Spence 'Information Visualization', Addison-Wesley, 2001. Good for the topic of information visualisation.
* Lichtenbelt, Crane & Naqvi, 'Introduction to Volume Rendering', Prentice Hall, 1998.
* Shroeder, Martin & Lorenson, 'The Visualisation Toolkit User's Guide', Prentice Hall, |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Lectures 20
Tutorials 0
Timetabled Laboratories 0
Non-timetabled assessed assignments 24
Private Study/Other 56
Total 100 |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mary Cryan
Tel: (0131 6)50 5153
Email: mcryan@inf.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Kate Farrow
Tel: (0131 6)50 2706
Email: Kate.Farrow@ed.ac.uk |
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