Welcome to Introduction to Computer Graphics COMP4610/COMP6461 for 2022. Please use the tabs above navigate through the web pages for this course.
Computer graphics are an intrinsic component of many modern software applications and are often essential to the success of these applications. The objective of this course is to familiarize students with fundamental algorithms and data structures that are used in today’s interactive graphics systems as well as programming and architecture of high-resolution graphics computers. The principles and practise of computer graphics are described from their mathematical foundations to the modern applications domains of scientific visualisation, virtual reality, computer games and film animation. The course will include some practical experience of graphical software environments such as Java Graphics 2D and OpenGL.
Quick Links
Lecturer
Matthew Aitchison
- Email - matthew.aitchison@anu.edu.au (email is for personal matters only, please use Piazza for all course related questions)
- Office - CSIT building 108 room N204
Office hours are from 12 pm - 1 pm on Monday, directly after the lecture, in my office.
Drop-in Q&A Sessions
From week 2 onwards we also run a drop-in Q&A session Tuesday from 1pm to 2pm in my office (CSIT building 108, level 2, room N204). This will be an opportunity for people to ask questions about admin details, lecture content, labs, assignments, and the exam. We also run a live Q&A on piazza at the same time.
Unit Prerequisites
To enrol in this course you must have completed 6 units of 3000 level COMP courses.
Text Book
The set text is: Introduction to Computer Graphics, David J. Eck, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Version 1.2, January 2018. http://math.hws.edu/graphicsbook/
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Explain the stages of a modern, hardware-accelerated 3D rendering pipeline.
- Construct and manipulate complex models, geometries and scene graphs in both 2D and 3D.
- Implement computer graphics algorithms in a shader language.
Assessment
For both COMP4610 and COMP6461 students the final mark is composed of four components:
| Assessment Item | Weight | Learning Outcomes | Week Due (on Fridays 5pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 20% | 1,2 | - |
| Individual Labs | 30% | 2,3 | 3,5,7,9,11,12 |
| Individual Assignment | 20% | 2 | 6 |
| Group Assignment | 30% | 2,3 | 12 |
From the date that your assessment marks are released, you have a period of two weeks in which to question your mark. After this period your mark will be final.
Note that consistent scaling for each of the courses may occur with the final marks.
Students must get a minimum final overall mark of at least 50% to pass the subject. Final marks are moderated by a Research School of Computer Science examiners meeting. Supplementary assessment will be awarded to those students with an overall course mark of between 45 and 49. Students who fail a hurdle and gain an overall mark of at least 45 will be given the opportunity of supplementary assessment. This will likely take the form of an oral examination.
More generally oral examinations will likely be used in the following situations: deferred assessments or if the convener believes a particular student’s assessment has not been adequately or fairly assessed. This is done under Assessment Rule 2016 11(4): “(4) Before submitting recommendations under subsection (3)(c), the Chair of Examiners may require a student to take a further assessment to ensure that the academic performance of the student in the coursework is adequately and fairly assessed. The further assessment may be oral, written or practical.”
Please check the ANU web pages for policy statements concerning special consideration and deferred and supplementary examinations.
Quality and integrity are expected from all students. Students should also expect this from the lecturing/tutorial staff. Please read over the ANU’s policy on this matter: http://academichonesty.anu.edu.au/.
Given the high weight associated with labs and assignments for this course the integrity of these will be checked closely. If I have reason to believe that students have colluded or contracted out assessment items I will both pursue the matter in terms of the academic integrity process and may also under 11(4) of the assessment rule use an oral examination for the student’s entire assessment.
Assessment Due Dates
Extensions will only be granted in unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of the students, and will require supporting documentation (e.g. serious illness supported with medical certificates). Labs and assignments will be submitted via git lab and there is an expectation that students commit and push their changes as the assessment develops. As such there should always be some partial work to mark. Late work will not be marked.