CS6491

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CS6491

• Theoretical Foundations and Practical Algorithms
  for 3D Modeling, Graphics, and Animation
• Prof. Jarek Rossignac
• Objectives
• Instructor
• GVC areas
• Syllabus
• Grading
• Texts
• Projects
• Web site

Turn cell phones off
Close laptops/PDAs, unless you need them to take
notes. No email, chat, surfing, games...
Take copious and detailed notes
Ask for clarification right away
No private conversations, please!
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Course objectives and philosophy

• Master key foundations of 3D modeling, graphics,
  animation
• Become familiar with current techniques and tools
• Become comfortable with the mathematical
  underpinnings
• Understand why things are done this way
• Internalize these concepts so that they are
  second nature
• Develop research habits
• Develop intuition
• Sharpen algorithmic problem solving skills
• Learn critical thinking and mathematical rigor
• Learn how to ask questions and how to answer them
• Develop Research ethics
• Practice communication and teamwork skills
• Develop a taste for Geometric Visual Computing

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Audience

• This course is for students interested in
  research, teaching, or RD careers in graphics,
  animation, games, CAD.
• No prior knowledge of graphics is expected.
• Knowledge of geometry
• Linear algebra.
• Vectors, lines, planes, triangles, circles,
  intersections.
• Software skills
• Processing or Java or C
• Software development and debugging
• Imagination
• Solutions to hard problems, elegant
  implementation
• Scientific rigor
• Proofs, justifications, methodology

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Jarek (Y-ah-r-eh-ck) Rossignac (Rossignol
cognac)http//www.gvu.gatech.edu/jarek

• Maitrise M.E. Diplome dEngenieur ENSEM (Nancy,
  France)
• PhD E.E. in Solid Modeling (U. of Rochester, NY)
• IBM TJ Watson Research Center (11 years)
• Senior manger Visualization, Modeling, Graphics,
  VR
• Visualization Managed IBM Data Explorer (DX)
  product RD
• Simplification 3D Interaction Acceleration
  (3DIX), OpenGL Accelerator
• Geometry compression VRLM, MPEG-4, awards (ACM
  TOG)
• Georgia Institute of Technology (since 1996)
• Professor, College of Computing, School of
  Interactive Computing
• Director of GVU Center, 1996-2001
• Compression Edgebreaker, Awards (IEEE TVCG)
• Collaborations Korea, Spain, Italy, Emory, BME

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Geometric and Visual Computing areas

• Computer Aided Geometric Design (CAGD)
  Curves/surfaces
• Solid Modeling Representations and Algorithms
  for solids
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Automation of Shape
  Design
• Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) NC Machining
• Reverse Engineering Fitting surfaces to scanned
  3D points
• Computational Geometry Provably efficient
  algorithms
• Finite Element Meshing (FEM) Construction and
  simulation
• Animation Capture, Design, Simulation of shape
  behavior
• Visualization Graphical interpretations of
  (large) 3D or 4D datasets
• Rendering Making (realistic) pictures of 3D
  geometric shapes
• Image-Based Rendering (IBR) Mix images and
  geometry
• Computer Vision Reconstruction of 3D models from
  images
• Robotics Compute motions amongst obstacles,
  manipulate them
• Virtual Reality (VR) Immersion in interactive
  environments
• Augmented Reality (AR) Track and mark-up what
  you see

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Specific focus of the course

• S.L.T. Space (shape), Light (color), Time
  (animation)
• 3D modeling (geometry)
• Representations of 3D shapes (voxels, riangle
  meshes)
• Construction techniques (subdivision,
  isosurfaces)
• Algorithms (containment, intersection, volume,
  distances)
• 3D graphics (photometry)
• Projective shading and raserization (OpenGL)
• Light propagation Photorealistic rendering
• Image-Based Rendering
• 3D animation (kinemetry)
• Motions, collisions, physic-based simulation
• Deformations and warps
• 3D Morphing

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Syllabus ( 1 week modules )

• 01 - Graphic Systems
• 02 Geometry
• 05 Curves
• 03 Topology
• 04 Arrangements
• 06 Animation
• 07 Morphology
• 08 Triangulation
• 09 - Mesh processing

• 10 - Light, perception
• 11 Photorealism, NPR
• 12 - Graphics pipeline
• 13 - Image-based rendering
• 14 - Acceleration techniques
• 15 - GPU shaders and advanced effects

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Grading Policy

• 50 Projects
• 20 Midterm (closed books)
• 30 Final

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Reference books (suggested)

• Primary sources
• Computational Geometry Algorithms and
  Applications. By de Berg, van Kerveld, Overmars,
  Schwartzkopf.
• Efficient algorithms for convex hulls, Delaunay,
  Booleans, medial axis
• Advanced Animation and Rendering Techniques
  Theory and Practice. By Watt Watt.
• Nice overview of graphics, plus advanced material
  on animation and rendering
• Additional graduate books
• Computer Graphics and Geometric Modeling by
  David Salomon
• Advanced modeling/rendering. Suitable for both
  graduates and undergraduates
• Mathematics for Computer Graphics Applications
  An Introduction to the Mathematics and Geometry
  of Cad/Cam, Geometric Modeling, Scientific
  visualization by Mortenson
• Warping and Morphing of Graphical Objects (with
  Cdrom) by Gomes, Darsa, Velho
• Subdivision Methods for Geometric Design A
  Constructive Approach by Warren, Weimer
• Undergraduate texts if you need to catch up
• Fundamentals of Computer Graphics. By Peter
  Shirley
• Great (detailed) introduction to geometry and
  rendering
• Computer Graphics Principles and Practice
  Second Edition in C, Foley, van Dam, Feiner,
  Hughes, 1996.
• A classic. Comprehensive.

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Projects guidelines and deliverables

• Several projects (some in small teams, some
  individual)
• Ethics
• It is OK to look at previous solutions (posted,
  published, or provided for class)
• Not OK to copy from other students or teams
• Cite clearly all sources of inspiration for your
  code and your write-up
• Working in teams
• Work together (same time and space) on all
  aspects (do not split the job)
• Learn from each other and lear how to negotiate
  and collaborate
• Make sure that you each contribute much more than
  your share
• Deliverable report (mini research paper)
• Concise, formal (title, authors, date, class,
  problem statement, refs)
• Demonstrate in-depth understanding of a topic
• State problem, context, prior art
• Exlpain clearly the nature of your solution and
  provide details where needed
• Submit as web page with text, images, videos
• Deliverable code
• Processing (or other) applet linked from your
  Personal Project Page (PPP)
• Explain what you have implemented, how, and why
• Explain what does not work and why (suggest
  possible fixes)

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Web site for the course

• http//www.gvu.gatech.edu/jarek/6491
• Schedule
• Projects, solutions
• Test dates
• List of topics (that you need to know)
• http//www.gvu.gatech.edu/jarek/graphics
• Slides
• Reading
• Links
• Resources

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Strategy for success

• Attend all classes and pay close attention
• Take detailed and comprehensive notes of what I
  and other students write, draw, or say
• Work on these notes, clean them up, mark what
  needs clarifications, bring them when you meet me
  at my office hours
• Make sure that you understand everything ASAP!
• Carefully read notes and all material provided.
• Search additional information in books or on the
  web.
• Do all proposed exercises
• Ask questions in class or at the beginning of the
  next class.
• Work in small study groups and explain the stuff
  to others.
• Come and talk to the TA or to me during office
  hours.
• Make sure that I know you, what you know, that
  you care

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Expected amount of work per week

• Study your notes, handouts and additional
  material 2
• Right after class
• Preferably in teams
• Prepare cheat sheets with important results
• Allowed to use 1 page on the midterm and 2 on the
  final
• Do practice exercises 1
• Try doing them individually
• Then compare/discuss solutions with team members
• Work on projects 5
• Start right away and work hard at the beginning
• Ask me for clarification in class
• Ask TA for help
• For team projects, work together on all aspects