Visualization, Computer Graphics & Data Analysis (COSC3000)

Course overview

Scientific visualisation is the use of images to provide insight into phenomena, and is a key tool for the analysis and understanding of biological, physical and engineering processes. It is becoming ever more important as the size of data sets continue to grow due to increasing power of computers and measurement devices. This course provides an introduction to computer graphics, data analysis and visualisation as tools to understand and interpret real world data and output from large-scale computational models.

Scientific visualisation is a powerful tool used to develop a deeper understanding of the data and to provide new insight into the phenomenon studied by relying on humans' powerful visual system.ﾠ Scientific visualisation techniques based on computer graphics allow scientists to create graphical representations of 2D and 3D data collected by scientific instruments (microscopes, telescopes, microarrays, etc.) or from computations and simulations. Time series and 4D (3D+time) data also can be analysed and understood. Scientific visualisation utilises a blend of computer graphics, image processing, signal processing, statistics, user-interface methodology, system design and creative flair.

In the School of Mathematics and Physics we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold both students and staff accountable for actively contributing to the establishment of a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and against UQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. We have developed a suite of resources to assist you in recognising, reporting, and addressing such behaviour. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team, or alternatively contact an SMP Classroom Inclusivity Champion (see Blackboard for contact details). Our Inclusivity Champions are here to listen, to understand your concerns, and to explore potential actions that can be taken to resolve them. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.

Course requirements

Assumed background

This course requires a knowledge of programming hence COSC2500 or CSSE2002ﾠ listed as prerequisites.

If you have not done COSC2500 or CSSE2002 but know how to program, you can take this class.ﾠ Note however that the course does involve a certain amount of mathematical modelling, manipulation of data and use of geometry and other mathematical concepts.ﾠ Talk to the lecturers if you are unsure about the requirements.

Note: there is no formal programming instruction in this course.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

COSC2500 or CSSE2002

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

SCIE2100

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

MATH3203

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

All classes will be conducted on campus. Consult your personal timetable for times and locations. Students are expected to attend one computer lab session per week, and can attend either session.

There will be no computer lab session on Friday in week 8, due to the Good Friday public holiday (18.4.2025).

Aims and outcomes

• use of computer graphics for scientific visualisation,
• data analysis, and
• scientific data visualisation.

This course will provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to create computer graphics and visualisations that provide insight into the processes that the data represent. Students will use programming languages such as Python and off the shelf software applications such as Matlab to create computer programs to visualise scientific data (experimental, numerical output, etc).

The course has a strong practical/programming component and provides a link with real-world applications.

ﾠ

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Project - Scientific Visualisation

• Hurdle

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Project

Weight

8 marks, must pass

Due date

15/04/2025 - 16/05/2025

There are two due dates available for the scientific visualisation and computer graphics projects: the Tuesday of week 8 (15/4/2025) and the Friday of week 11 (16/5/2025). One of those two projects is to be submitted by 15/4, and the other by 16/5. Students can choose which project to submit first. Projects are to be submitted by 3pm on the due dates.

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Project reports will be submitted electronically through Blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Project - Computer Graphics

• Hurdle

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Project

Weight

8 marks, must pass

Due date

15/04/2025 - 16/05/2025

There are two due dates available for the scientific visualisation and computer graphics projects: the Tuesday of week 8 (15/4/2025) and the Friday of week 11 (16/5/2025). One of those two projects is to be submitted by 15/4, and the other by 16/5. Students can choose which project to submit first. Projects are to be submitted by 3pm on the due dates.

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Project reports will be submitted electronically through Blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for the extension and deferred examination information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Major Project

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Project

Weight

60 marks

Due date

30/05/2025 1:00 pm

Task description

Submission guidelines

Project reports will be submitted electronically through Blackboard

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

12 marks, must pass

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

See ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION for extension/deferral information relating to this assessment item.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

The total mark is the sum of the marks from the individual projects.

Hurdles: To obtain a grade of 4 or higher, a pass must be obtained for the exam, and for the scientific visualisation and computer graphics projects (that is, at least 1 mark for each of these projects).

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment in this course will consist of an interview, and project work demonstrating meeting required learning outcomes not yet met. To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a pass for the project work the supplementary assessment, and on the interview. 

Additional assessment information

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing

this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools (except in the Exam).

Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates

Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ – applying for an extension. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with extension requests, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons, may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Requests for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through your my.UQ portal and you must provide documentation of your circumstances, as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed. Your application must be submitted on or before the assessment item's due date and time.
• Applications for extension can take time to be processed so you should continue to work on your assessment item while awaiting a decision. We recommend that you submit any completed work by the due date, and this will be marked if your application is not approved. Should your application be approved, then you will be able to resubmit by the agreed revised due date.
• If an extension is approved, you will be notified via your my.UQ portal and the new date and time for submission provided. It is important that you check the revised date as it may differ from the date that you requested.
• If the basis of the application is a medical condition, applications should be accompanied by a medical certificate dated prior to the assignment due date. If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a written statement (Word document) outlining why you cannot provide the documentation. You must then upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
• If an extension is being sought on the basis of exceptional circumstances, it must be accompanied by supporting documentation (eg. Statutory declaration).
• For extensions based on a SAP you may be granted a maximum of 7 days (if no earlier maximum date applies). See the Extension or Deferral availability section of each assessment for details. Your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, additional extension requests for the assessment item will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
• Students may be asked to submit evidence of work completed to date. Lack of adequate progress on your assessment item may result in an extension being denied.
• If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 14 days, you are advised to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses this semester. You might be eligible to withdraw without academic penalty - seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
• There are no provisions for exemption from an assessment item within UQ rules. If you are unable to submit an assessment piece then, under special circumstances, you may be granted an exemption, but may be required to submit alternative assessment to ensure all learning outcomes are met.

Applications to defer an exam

In certain circumstances you can apply to take a deferred examination for in-semester and end-of-semester exams. You'll need to demonstrate through supporting documentation how unavoidable circumstances prevented you from sitting your exam. If you can’t, you can apply for a one-off discretionary deferred exam.

Deferred Exam requests are submitted online via mySi-net. Requests received in any other way will not be approved. Additional details associated with deferred examinations, including acceptable and unacceptable reasons may be found at my.UQ.

Please note:

• Applications can be submitted no later than 5 calendar days after the date of the original exam.
• There are no provisions to defer a deferred exam. You need to be available to sit your deferred examination.
• Your deferred examination request(s) must have a status of "submitted" in mySI-net to be assessed.
• All applications for deferred in-semester examinations are assessed by the relevant school. Applications for deferred end-of-semester examinations are assessed by the Academic Services Division.
• You’ll receive an email to your student email account when the status of your application is updated.
• If you have a medical condition, mental health condition or disability and require alternative arrangements for your deferred exam you’ll need to complete the online alternative exam arrangements through my.UQ. This is in addition to your deferred examinations request. You need to submit this request on the same day as your request for a deferred exam or supplementary assessment. Contact Student Services if you need assistance completing your alternative exam arrangements request.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

Computer laboratory material will include content in Matlab and Python, and graphics tools. Students are not required to use these particular items of software in their projects - students can use software, including tools for scientific visualisation and computer graphics, of their choice. Freeware alternatives to Matlab include Octave, SciLab and FreeMat.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.