Welcome to CS399 - Introduction to Scientific Visualization

Instructor:	Dr. Thomas Wischgoll  thomas.wischgoll@wright.edu 485 Joshi Research Center 937-775-5057
Office Hours:	Tue/Thur 05:00pm - 06:00pm (or by appointment)
Textbook:	VTK User's Guide Kitware Inc. Kitware Inc., 2010, ISBN-13: 978-1-930934-23-8
Webpage:	http://avida.cs.wright.edu/courses/CEG481/
Lecture:	Tue 06:05 pm - 07:20 pm Thur 06:05 pm - 07:20 pm (Joshi 193)
Exams:	Midterm: Wed, Feb 16th, 6:05 pm (in class) Final project: due Wed, Mar 16th, 11:59 pm
Grading Policy:	30% (assignments) + 30% (midterm) + 40% (final project)= 100%
	Each class is different. Therefore, no absolute grading scheme can be defined in advance. However, the following guarantees will always be made: 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% A B C D F

Course Goals/Objectives

By the end of this quarter, you will be familiar with techniques used for visualizing various types of data sets, such as medical, vector or general data sets. This includes appropriate visualization methods for geometric, volumetric, and higher dimensional data sets (e.g. vector or tensor data). In addition, you will learn about user modalities, including different input devices and display types for more advanced visualizations.

The outline of the course is as follows:

• Introduction
• The Visualization Pipeline (chapter 2)
• Data Representations (chapter 3)
• The Visualization Pipeline (chapter 4)
• Scalar Visualization (chapter 5)
• Vector Visualization (chapter 6)
• Tensor Visualization (chapter 7)
• Volume Visualization (chapter 10)
• Information Visualization (chapter 11)

Prerequisites

• CS242

Course Format

The course consists of two lectures a week. Attendance of the lectures is not strictly mandatory. However, you are responsible for all materials, announcements, assignments, etc. covered in either the lecture or assignments. If you miss a class, consult a classmate for any missed materials.

The purpose of the class is for everyone to understand the issues involved with visualization. To this end, if you don't understand something during class, please ask. If you are confused, it is likely that a few of your classmates are as well. Also, listen to others' questions. Many times you'll think you understand a concept until you hear someone else's question about it. Dialogue is the best way to learn things, so don't be afraid to speak up. I will not specificly assign reading assignments. However, it is advisable to read along in the text book as we advance in the class.

There will be three assignments to be returned on the specified date, one in class midterm, and one final project. Students taking this course at the 600-level are required to incorporate lighting based on the Phong illumination model in the volume renderer for the final project. The grade will be determined as stated earlier.

Assignments

Three assignments will be given which are due on the following dates:

Assignment 1:	due: Wed, Jan 17th, 11:59 pm
Assignment 2:	due: Wed, Fe 14th, 11:59 pm
Assignment 3:	due: Wed, Mar 8th, 11:59 pm

For implementing the assigments, you can use the PCs in room 315 RC. You can also use any other computer that is available to you. However, you need to be able to demonstrate your software on one of the computers within Russ Engineering Center in 315 RC. You are welcome to exchange top-level ideas with your peers. However, it is not appropriate to exchange code or base your solution to a significant amount on code you found online. On the day the assignment is due, please turn in a screenshot of your software and your source code, including makefiles or project files, packed as a zip or tar file via WebCT. We will have interactive grading sessions where you can demonstrate your final software after the due date

Office Hours

Other Resources

The class web page is maintained at http://avida.cs.wright.edu/courses/CEG481/. It will keep information, assignments, announcements, etc. There is also a class mailing list. Make sure your email address is registered with the registration system. Please check the web page and read your email. I will try to make any announcements in both places as well as in class, but you don't want to miss anything.
 

Class Policy

Fine Print

Exams Exams will emphasize insight and problem solving ability rather than memorization. Exams will be closed notes, closed book, and no laptops or calculators.

Missed Exams Makeup exams will only be given for the gravest of reasons. If you must miss an exam due to extreme illness, etc., contact the instructor (email is fine) or leave a message with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering office (937-775-5131) before the exam. Be sure to leave both the reasons for missing the exam and how to reach you.

Add/drop Policy A copy of the add/drop policy is available at the main office or online.

Cheating Please do not. I am not obsessed with looking for cheating, but if I see something suspicious, I will refer it to the Office of Judicial Affairs. This is more work for me, and is embarrassing for everyone.  Again, please don't; this has been a problem in the past. If the rules are unclear or you are unsure of how they apply, ask the instructor beforehand. The acacemic integrity policiy as available online.

Feedback If you like, dislike, or don't understand something I'm doing with the course, please stop by my office hours, send me email, or paste together a note from newspaper clippings and drop it in my mailbox. I won't always change things, but I will always explain why I'm doing them the way I am.

Copyright All federal and state copyrights reserved for all original material presented in this course through any medium, including lecture or print. Individuals are prohibited from being paid for taking, selling, or otherwise transferring for value, personal class notes made during this course to any entity without the express written permission of the lecturer.