ICT605 – Interactive Data

Visualisation and Simulation

Associate Professor Dr Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin
Acknowledgement
of Country
We acknowledge that Murdoch University is situated on the
lands of the Whadjuk and Binjareb Noongar people.

We pay our respect to their enduring and dynamic culture and

the leadership of Noongar elders past and present.

The boodjar (country) on which Murdoch University is located

has for thousands of years, been a place of learning. We at
Murdoch University are proud to continue this long tradition.
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0
Introduction to ICT605
Unit Coordinator

• Associate Professor Dr Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin

PhD in Environmental Design & Planning, MS in Architecture, MSc in IT (VR), BEng in Electrical &
Electronics
• Discipline of Information Technology
• Teach and research in the areas of:
• eXtended Reality (XR = Virtual [VR]/Mixed [MR]/Augmented Reality [AR])
• Spatial Computing
• Data Visualisation
• Human-Computer Interaction, User eXperience, User Interface
• 2D & 3D game/visualisation engines (Unity, Unreal/UDK, C4Engine, Torque, Construct 2/3, GameMaker)
• Games Design, Development and Technologies
• Email regarding ICT605: email via the LMS
Notes

• This is the third time ICT605 is being offered.

• It will go undergo fine-tuning this semester and coming semesters.
• Your constructive feedback is always welcome.
Unit Overview

• The increasing complexity, especially in big data visualisation and analytics, poses new challenges with
rendering, hyper-dimensionality and limitations of human cognitive perception.

• One of the essential tasks of making sense of the data analysis process is to provide some effective interactive
visualisation and simulation.

• This unit aims to give students concepts of performing data visualisation techniques in non-immersive and
immersive environments, data visualisation for AI, data exploration and the discovery of hidden patterns in
innovative ways, interactive techniques and user interactions with data, interactive analytics, non-real-time and
real-time simulation of live-streaming and offline data.

• Students will also learn the design and development of interactive and collaborative/multi-user data
visualisation tools such as Python, JavaScript D3.js, Unity3D, Unreal, WebGL, XR technologies and/or
devices.
Unit Prerequisite

• ICT582 - Python Programming Principles and Practice

and
• ICT583 - Data Science Applications
Unit Learning Outcomes

1) Evaluate and apply different data visualisation techniques in non-immersive and immersive
environments.
2) Perform data visualisation for AI, data exploration and discovery of hidden patterns in innovative
ways.
3) Utilise effective data storytelling technique.
4) Articulate and implement the different interactive techniques, interactive analytics, and user
interactions with data.
5) Utilise non-real-time and real-time simulation of live-streamed and offline data.
6) Design and develop interactive and collaborative/multi-user data visualisation tools using Python,
C#, JavaScript D3.js, Unity3D, Unreal, WebGL, XR technologies and/or devices.
7) Use suitable Software Engineering approaches during design and development.
8) Work collaboratively and demonstrate effective team-work ability. This skill is especially important
for students who will be graduating and plan to work in the Information Technology industry. More
importantly, collaborative work is a fundamental requirement when it comes to getting a job at the
end of your degree.
Graduate Attributes

This unit will contribute to the development of the following Graduate Attributes:

• Communication.
• Critical and creative thinking.
• Social interaction.
• Independent and lifelong learning.
• Ethics.
• Social justice.
• Global perspective.
• Interdisciplinarity.
• In-depth knowledge of a field of study.
What to Expect from ICT605?

• Introductory with an emphasis on breadth rather than depth.

• This unit will not teach you any of the programming languages.
• You should already have some good programming and/or scripting skills
[Python, C, C++, C#, Java, or JavaScript, etc.] from previous units.

By the end of the semester, students should be able to design and development of
interactive data visualisation and simulation tool.
Workshop [1]

• Internal students should attend the workshop each week.

• All lecture notes and lab sheets are available on LMS.

• They will be uploaded and updated on a weekly basis.

• Internal, External, Offshore and OUA students should communicate with me via
ICT605 LMS email link.

• Please DO NOT email me to my Murdoch’s email address.

Workshop [2]

• Workshop structure
• 3 hours.
• Lecture/Discussion = 2 hour.
• Lab, tutorial, and student presentations/participations = 1 hour.
• Unit Timetable is on the LMS.
• Refer to it often for more details.
Workshop [3]

• Always bring a USB/thumb/flash drive to save your work!

• Never, ever, ever, ever… work straight from your USB/thumb/flash drive.
• In the past, some students’ USB/thumb/flash drive got burnt or caught on fire.

• Always create a “Work Folder” on the Desktop and copy your work onto it. Work
from this “Work Folder”.
• Any software can crash.
• Save your work often, and each time you make changes to your scene, develop a habit of saving into consecutive
filenames e.g., proj_01, proj_02, proj_03 etc...
• This saving habit may save you from lots of headache.
Software Notes

• On the LMS, refer to the:

• Setup documents.
• Resources section.

• Setup all required software on your laptop/computer.

• Ensure you use the same version as the ones installed in the lab.
• It is important so the lecturer can open your files and mark your work on his/her laptop/computer.

• Note: You will learn and apply the basic concepts of interactive data visualisation and
simulation.
• The software version you learn now may be different by the time you graduated, but if you are proficient user, you
should be able to pick new things up fast.
Unit Topics

• Topic 1: Introduction to Data Visualisation.

• Topic 2: Data Exploration and Data Discovery.
• Topic 3: Data Storytelling.
• Topic 4: Data Visualisation Techniques.
• Topic 5: User eXperience (UX) and User Interface (UI).
• Topic 6: Advanced Interactive Data Visualisation.
• Topic 7: Data Visualization Best Practices.
How to Study?

• Read the lecture notes (available on the LMS).

• Read the essential and recommended textbooks. A list of the books is available
from My Unit Readings.
• If in doubt, ask your tutor or lecturer.
• You can also find many guides and relevant information on the Internet as well.
• If you use the Internet for supplements resources, make sure you use credible materials e.g., academic
papers, journals, books, etc.
How to Prepare for the Lab?

• Read the relevant weekly workshop outline on the LMS

• Attend the workshop sessions and try to complete the work. You can take it home
if you are unable to complete it.
• Discuss any unclear sections with your tutor.
• Understanding is very important in mastering any skills. Do not just blindly follow
the steps (especially in programming/scripting) without understanding. Spend
some time exploring the software and code.

• TUTOR:
• For both internal and external student, Tutor/Tutors will be assigned.
• For Kaplan offshore, your lecturer will be your Tutor.
How to Learn and Be Good in Software
Development and Programming [1]
• Some suggestions include:
• Do a lot of self-learning and experiments.
• There are a lot of online resources.
• There are a lot of books covering similar topics.
• The workshops are designed to teach you some of the basics only. You would
have to be creative and apply what you have learned.
• Most programming errors are syntax errors such as spelling and punctuation
errors, incorrect labels etc., in the source code you typed.
• During debugging, always check and double check your code first before seeking
assistance. Most IDEs e.g., Jupyter Notebook, Jupyter Lab, Visual Studio, etc.
gives alert on what the error could be and which line.
How to Learn and Be Good in Software
Development and Programming [2]
• Data visualisation design and development takes years to master.
• It is a combination of art and engineering.
• It comes with experience and lots of patience.
• There is no such thing as a “MAGIC” button to design and develop a data
visualisation system.
• There is no one software that can do everything.
• You must learn how to program/code and/or script. At the very least understand the
code and be able to make the required changes to it.
• Can you design and develop without programming/coding or scripting? It is possible
but it will be very limiting.
• Without the ability to program/code or script, you can only use what is provided to you.
Resources

• Please refer to the Resources section on the LMS.

• Also refer to My Unit Readings.
• I have also asked the library to acquire electronics copies as well. They may still be on order.
Assessment Summary

No. Assessment Name Weight % Individual / Group Due Date

Individual and
1 Workshop 20 Refer to the LMS
Group

2 Assignment 20 Group Refer to the LMS

3 Project 30 Group Refer to the LMS

4 Final Exam 30 Individual Refer to the LMS

Final Grade Determination [1]

• Your final grade for the unit will be reported by a letter grade

• To pass this unit, you must:

• Submit GROUP ASSIGNMENT
• Submit GROUP PROJECT
• Sit for the FINAL EXAMINATION, and
• Obtain at least 50% overall
Final Grade Determination [2]

Notation Grade % Range

HD High Distinction 80 – 100
D Distinction 70 – 79
C Credit 60 – 69
P Pass 50 – 59
N Fail Below 50
S Supplementary Assessment 45 – 49

See the current Assessment Policy regarding grades

University Policy on Assessment

• Assessment for this unit is in accordance with the provisions of Degree

regulations.
• Available at: https://policy.murdoch.edu.au.
Assessments Submission

Submissions MUST be made on the LMS

No hardcopy will be accepted
• Make sure to keep a copy (including a printout) of all your work handed in for
assessment in case they get mislaid or for any reason cannot be found
• Make sure you back up your work regularly and keep the back up even after you
have submitted your work
• A copy of the cover sheet (available on the LMS) MUST BE included and signed. A
submission without a cover sheet may not marked
• A coversheet MUST BE included
• Make sure you put your tutor’s name in the cover sheet – NOT the unit
coordinator’s name!
Extension

• You should contact the Unit Coordinator by email for an extension of the
submission deadline, if you believe you will be unable to meet the deadline due
to some valid reason (supporting documentation needs to be provided).
• This should be done ONE-week before the due date (no exceptions). Any
earlier or later request may not be granted.
• When submitting work that has been given an extension, you must attach/include
the Unit Coordinator’s written reply (usually email) granting the extension
together with the unit cover sheet.
• For internal/external onshore students, Friday on Week 14 is the last day that the
Unit Coordinator can grant extension.
Student Responsibilities [1]

Students are responsible for:

• Taking the initiative to consult with appropriate academic staff when problems arise
• Start with your Tutor (for tutorial related), then your Lecturer, and finally your Unit Coordinator.
• Check the LMS for updates at least once a week.
• Complying with instructions issued as part of the assessment process.
• Meeting deadlines for work to be submitted as set out on the Timetable on the LMS.
Student Responsibilities [2]

Students are responsible for:

• Keeping a copy of all work submitted for assessment except for examination papers.
• Submitting for assessment only the work which is their own individual and unassisted work.
• Get to know your Tutor, Lecturer and Unit Coordinator – especially his/her name!
• Get to know your Unit code.
• Plan, manage your time - do it over 14 weeks (internal students) and NOT ON WEEK 14 !
• Data visualisation system design and development is complex and
involves group work
• Check your official student email and the LMS email regularly.
Student Responsibilities [3]

• The lectures and labs only cover theory and principles.

• You need to develop independent learning.
• Software and technology is fast moving. It is important for you to keep up with the latest
happenings.
• Devote your own time exploring the software. Do not be afraid to try new things and
techniques. Search for information online (Google is always there…)
• Save always.
• Remember: there’s always the UNDO button.
Student Responsibilities [4]

• Learn the lingo, jargon and acronyms.

• To get a job in any industry, you must learn the lingo:
• To an architect; design means CAD drawings of buildings.
• To a games designer; design means the conceptual stage, storylines, design of gameplay,
rules and actions.
• To a games level designer; design means design of the games levels.
• This unit uses lots (and lots) of jargons and acronyms.
• E.g., XR, dataviz, SDLC, VR, VE, NUI, AR. MR etc.
• If you are unclear about anything related to this unit please ask ME (or your Tutor).
• DO NOT DEPEND ON YOUR FRIENDS (they may not have the correct information).
Student Responsibilities [5]

Suggested time commitment:

• As this is a 3-credit point unit, it is expected each student to spend on average 10

hours per week for the total weeks of the teaching period (or 150 hours overall)
working on this unit.

• If it is a group work, then the number of hours will be:

(10 hours per group member) X (number of group members) =

Total number of hours per group per week
Student Responsibilities [6]

Suggested weekly time commitment:

• Workshop = 3 hours
• Reading homework and presentation preparation = 2 hours
• Continue lab (if not completed during workshop) = 1 hour
• Assignment = 4 hours
• Total = 10 hours/week

You can always adjust the hours accordingly.

Ethics

• DO NOT be rude to anyone.

• DO NOT send email/messages after office hours, and during weekends.
• DO NOT claim work done by someone/something else, as your work.
• Be honest, reasonable and understanding.
• Abide by the rules of this unit.
• Concerns and comments regarding this unit? Follow the chain-of-communication.
• Tutor  Lecturer  Unit Coordinator  Academic Chair  Head of School
Unit Information Guide

• Download the Unit Information Guide from the LMS.

• Read it carefully !!!

Withdrawal

• Refer to:
http://our.murdoch.edu.au/Student-life/Get-organised/Important-dates-and-events/
Key-dates-and-deadlines/
Some of my work in XR/VE

• Fairuz’s VR Experience at
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2GTIFiZW37wMrGXz0YSsideCaCchyJj
D
• I am still developing my own personal website to showcase my portfolio…
•…stay tuned !!!
The First Lab Session

• Depends on when you enrolled for the lab session.

• You will form a group during the first lab session. You MUST be present and attendance will be taken.
• Groups:
• Form a group of 5-6 people.
• Give your group a name.
• Email me via the LMS, your group members and names by Friday, 02/08/2024.
• If you are not in a group by Friday, I will place you in a group.
• Try to meet with your group members after this lab (or least email them).
• Get to know them.
• Establish a method of communication (face-to-face, Skype, Discord, Teams etc.).
• Plan a time that all of you could meet for discussion and work outside class.
• The assignment and project require group effort.
Homework

• Refer to the Unit Timetable on the LMS.

Walkthrough of the ICT605 LMS
Thank you