BSc Computer Science

This Course Unit covers the principles of modern Computer Graphics from creation modelling of scenes through to animation and rendering with a particular focus on the quality and performance issues relating to the various techniques.

COMP27112 is a pre-requisite.

This Course Unit covers the principles of modern Computer Graphics from creation modelling of scenes through to animation and rendering with a particular focus on the quality and performance issues relating to the various techniques.

ILO 1: describe and compare different simulation approaches to animate 3D models in physics-based manner

ILO 2: compare different computational approximations to the rendering equation with respect to their visual fidelity and computational complexity

ILO 3: analyse requirements of 3D modelling problems and select appropriate combinations of modelling techniques

ILO 4: analyse rendering problems to create novel solutions by combining or modifying existing computational approximations

ILO 5: describe how the rendering equation acts as a mathematical representation of illumination in the real world

Part 1: Modelling

•    Modelling Curves and surfaces

•    Bezier curves, splines and NURBS

•    Curve properties and conversions

•    Subdivision surfaces

•    Implicit and procedural surfaces

•    Hierarchical modelling

•    Model acquisition

•    Colour (0.5)

•    Spectra

•    Cones and spectral responses

•    Colour matching

•    Colour spaces and gamuts

Part 2: Animation

•    Animation basics

•    Keyframing and timing

•    Skinning/Enveloping

•    Physics-based and procedural animation

•    Motion capture

•    Simulation and dynamics Particle Systems (PDE)

•    Physics (ODE solvers)

•    Collision Detection and response

•    Mass spring modelling

•    Motion blur

Part 3: Rendering

•    The Rendering Equation

•    Ray Tracing

•    Path Tracing

•    Radiosity

•    Volume rendering

•    Spatial Enumeration and culling 

The course operates a flipped classroom model with videos and readings to complete before each workshop that establish the concepts required for each week’s topic. The workshops themselves involve students working in groups to address problems that involve analysis and synthesis of concepts that build as the course progresses. A weekly online quiz then consolidates the student’s understanding of the topic.

Written exam: 90%

Weekly Quiz 1: 1%
Weekly Quiz 2: 1%
Weekly Quiz 3: 1%
Weekly Quiz 4: 1%
Weekly Quiz 5: 1%
Weekly Quiz 6: 1%
Weekly Quiz 7: 1%
Weekly Quiz 8: 1%
Weekly Quiz 9: 1%
Weekly Quiz 10: 1%

1. Eric Haines. (2018). Real-Time Rendering, Fourth Edition. A K Peters/CRC Press. ISBN: 9781138627000
    
2. Marschner, Steve. (2022). Fundamentals of computer graphics. CRC Press Taylor et Francis Group. ISBN: 9781032122861 

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