Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CVE3632

 
TITLE Mathematics for Computational Design

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Civil and Structural Engineering

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit addresses descriptive geometry, which is the core of both architectural and engineering design processes. Modern constructive geometry provides a variety of tools for the efficient design, analysis and manufacture of complex shapes. It addresses all aspects of the design process, from form-finding to actual construction.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit introduces students to the foundation mathematical concepts that are necessary for effective development of computational methods for 3D modeling and computer simulations. It reviews mathematics, and matrix operations and transformations, and introduces the use of parametric curves, with a special focus on NURBS curves, and the concepts of continuity and curvature. The study-unit uses commercially available software, such as NURBS modeling for Windows, Rhinoceros, and Grasshopper, the visual scripting envioonment for Rhino.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- understand how vectors are represented and manipulated;
- understand matrix operations including multiplication and affine transformations;
- understand cubic polynomial curves, and geometric continuity and curvature.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- use vectors to represent lines and planes;
- use matrices to carry out affine transformations, and transformations in openNURBS;
- manipulate algorithms for evaluating parametric curves;
- use NURBS curves in openNURBS.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Angel, E, Interactive Computer Graphics with OpenGL, Addison Wesley Longman, Inc., 2000
Issa, R., Essential Mathematics for Computational Design, Robert McNeel & Associates, 2000
Pottman, H., Asperi, A., Hofer, M., Kilian, A., Architectural Geometry, Bentley Institute Press, 2013

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Irina Miodragovic Vella

 

 
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Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit