2020/21 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

COMP5822M High-Performance Graphics

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Prof Hamish Carr
Email: H.Carr@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Pre-requisite qualifications

We will assume a good standard of C++ programming, including use of classes, basic templates, and overloading. Knowledge of computer architecture, in particular the memory hierarchy.

Co-requisites

COMP5812M

Foundations of Modelling and Rendering

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module follows on from Foundations of Modelling and Rendering by exploring the concepts, algorithms and methods by which visually rich scenes are rendered under realtime constraints by exploiting the features of modern graphics hardware and software systems. The module is organised around key technologies and principles exploited in computer games and other resource-constrained applications. Starting from students’ initial understanding of ideal rendering, the module explores how real-time rendering trades off visual veracity for computational performance.

Objectives

* understand the architecture of modern graphics hardware and the implications of this for writing high-performance renderers;
* be able to code shaders to implement complex visual effects;
* be familiar with use of textures, lighting, and shading techniques to approximate the surface of materials across a range of scales;
* Understand and be able to implement:
* methods for realtime rendering of global light-material interactions including shadows, refraction, and reflection.
* image-space operations;
* data structures for accelerating rendering and for geometric queries and operations needed in animation and simulation;
* exploiting specialised buffers to implement rich visual effects including ambient occlusion and deep shadows.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to produce computationally efficient but approximate representations of complex visual phenomena. They will understand the trade-offs between physical realism, perception, and computational cost, and the link between high-performance rendering techniques and current hardware. This understanding will allow them to implement new rendering techniques, and/or to adjust existing methods to changes in hardware.

Skills outcomes
* Shader programming (GLSL).
* Graphics performance profiling.
* Graphics programming in an industry-relevant toolset, e.g. Vulkan

Syllabus

* Shaders: the GPU "Pipeline", buffer objects, vertex and index buffers; shader programming; materials and shading; uber shaders; deferred shading effects; antialiasing
* Texturing: image texturing and storage approaches; mipmapping; procedural textures.
* Surface appearance: transparency, alpha, and compositing; alpha and bump mapping; micro-facets and sub-surface scattering.
* Shadows and environment: shadows; environment mapping & glossy reflections
* Global illumination: reflection, transmission, refraction, caustics; precomputed lighting; real-time global illumination.
* Image-based Techniques: skyboxes, sprites & layers; billboarding;lens flare, bloom, motion blur & fog; volumetric rendering.
* Geometry: subdivision surfaces; tesselation; variable resolution rendering
* Spatial acceleration: BVH: BSP Trees, Octrees; backface, occulusion and portal culling; LOD techniques.
* Buffer-based techniques: deep shadow maps; order independent transparency; defocus / motion blur.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Class tests, exams and assessment	1	55.00	55.00
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Practical	10	10.00	10.00
Private study hours			65.00
Total Contact hours			85.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Parallel/concurrent programming introduces students to new hardware and software concepts that are both complex in themselves, and significantly complicate the task of programming. Of the ~5 hours per week of private study, 2 hours should be dedicated to comprehending the underlying theory through studying material from the modules reading list. The remaining time will be spent carrying out practical programming exercises, both practical sheets and further exercises from the literature as indicated by the module leader.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The weekly supervised practical classes will provide feedback on students’ ability to deploy the new concepts covered in that week.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course Assessment	Programming Task	15.00
In-course Assessment	Programming Task	15.00
In-course Assessment	Programming Task	15.00
In-course Assessment	Programming Task	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		60.00

This module will be reassessed by an online time-constrained assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		40.00

This module will be reassessed by an online time-constrained assessment

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/06/2021

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