Monash University

Leader: Grace Rumantir

Offered

Berwick Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

The human sense of vision is a powerful tool for pattern recognition - this sense can be harnessed via multimedia interactive presentations. This unit will examine the fundamental principles of information visualization and the range of tools and methods which are available to represent large data sets. These techniques can be applied across a wide range of fields including geographical, medical, statistical and scientific visualization. The unit will examine in detail the visualization of geospatial data in GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will have a theoretical and conceptual understanding of:

1. the basic concepts of human visual perception and its impact on cognition;
2. the functions of visualization with respect to amplifying cognition;
3. the properties of data and the rules for mapping data to images;
4. the role of factors such as pattern, space, color, interactivity and animation in visualization;
5. the range of applications to which visualization approaches can be applied, particularly with respect to geospatial data.

At the completion of this unit students will have developed attitudes that enable them to critically select from the range of available visualization techniques and apply the one that is best for the domain at hand.

At the completion of this unit students will have the skills to:

1. evaluate a given data set and infer valid conclusions based on a supplied visualization;
2. design and construct an appropriate type of visualization for a given data set;
3. manipulate visual variables such as color and size to optimise a visualization;
4. identify the principle components of a map and describe map projections commonly used;
5. import, display and manipulate data within a Geographic Information System (GIS).

At the completion of this unit students will have further developed the teamwork skills needed to work as a member of a project team.

Assessment

Practical Assignments: 60%; Examination: 40%

Contact hours

4 contact hrs/week (comprising 2 hrs lecture, 2 hrs tutorial) plus 8 hrs/week of self-directed study, project/assignment work.

Prerequisites

12 points of second year FIT study