Undergraduate - UnitFIT2079 - Data visualisation

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Information Technology
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)

Synopsis

Data visualisation is a powerful technique that allows us to use our visual system to understand data. Interactive data visualisation is now common in business, engineering and design and the social and physical sciences. This unit introduces the main kinds of information graphics and interactive visualisation systems and their areas of application. It investigates the reasons why visualisation can be effective and based on this students will gain experience in critically assessing data visualisations and in designing their own visualisations. Students will learn how to create visualisations with representative computer tools and gain experience in creating a data visualisation for an application domain of their choice.

Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:

critically analyse data visualisations;
create effective data visualisations;
describe the main applications of data visualisation in business, engineering and design, and the social and physical sciences;
describe the advantages, drawbacks and pitfalls of the visual presentation of data as compared to its presentation using other media.

Assessment

Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Kim Marriott

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

Two hours of lectures
One 2-hour studio

(b.) Additional requirements (all students):

A minimum of 8 hours independent study per week for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Decision support

Prerequisites

Completion of 24 points at first year.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.infotech.monash.edu/units/fit2079/