Syllabus: Undergrad Course
GEOG 497: 3D Modeling and Virtual Reality
Spring 2022
It is essential that you read this entire Syllabus document as well as the material covered in the Course Orientation. Together these serve as our course "contract."
Instructor
Instructor: Mahda M. Bagher, PhD
Office: Remote
Department of Geography, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University
- E-mail: mmm6749@psu.edu. Please use the course e-mail system (see the Inbox in Canvas).
- Office Hours: Fridays 12:00 PM-2: 00 PM and by appointment via Zoom
NOTE: I will read and respond to e-mail and discussion forums Frequently.
Class Support Services
Penn State Online offers online tutoring to World Campus students in math, writing, and some business classes. Tutoring and guided study groups for residential students are available through Penn State Learning.
Course Overview
Description: 3D Modeling and VR for the Geospatial Sciences is an introductory-level science course that introduces students to emerging topics at the interface of concepts and tools that capture/sense environmental information (e.g., LiDAR) and concepts/tools that allow for immersive access to geospatial information (e.g., HTC Vive). The course offers a high-level perspective on the major challenges and opportunities facing the development of current 3D technologies, differences between classic modeling and procedural rule-based modeling, the development of VR technologies, the role of game engines in the geospatial sciences. Topics that will be covered include an introduction to the 3D Modeling and 3D sensing technologies, 360 degree cameras, VR apps and tools, workflows how to integrate environmental information into VR environments, an introduction to procedural rule modeling, hands-on experience in creating 3D models of Penn State Campus, the creation of a virtual Penn State Campus, accessing and exploring a virtual campus in Unity (game engine), and the export of flyovers to platforms such as YouTube 360.
Prerequisites and concurrent courses: None.
Course Objectives
When students successfully complete this course, they will be prepared to:
- Understand and apply the concepts of 3D modeling and VR, they will be in a position to distinguish concepts such as virtual, mixed, and augmented reality.
- Explain and implement workflows to created 3D content from existing and historic and future environments.
- Use a variety of software solutions for 3D model creation such as SketchUp, CityEngine (theoretical), Unity.
- Understand the emerging possibilities of environmentally sensed information.
- Create 3D models and make them accessible in an interactive way through the use of game engines. Evaluate scenarios for the future of food considering resilience in the context of climate change, human population growth and socio-economic, and cultural factors.
Expectations
On average, most students spend 12-15 hours per week working on course assignments. Your workload may be more or less depending on your study habits.
I have worked hard to make this the most effective and convenient educational experience possible. The Internet may still be a novel learning environment for you, but in one sense it is no different from a traditional college class: how much and how well you learn is ultimately up to you. You will succeed if you are diligent about keeping up with the class schedule and if you take advantage of opportunities to communicate with me as well as with your fellow students.
Specific learning objectives for each lesson and project are detailed within each lesson. The class schedule is published under the Calendar tab in Canvas (the course management system used for this course).
Required Course Materials
Required textbooks: None
Recommended textbooks:
There are numerous books relevant to the course content. Resources are added throughout the course allowing students to follow up on specific topics.
Required materials:
D-scope Pro Google Cardboard Kit with Straps may be purchased online.
Online lesson content
All other materials needed for this course are presented online through our course website and in Canvas. In order to access the online materials, you need to have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password (used to access the online course resources). If you have any questions about obtaining or activating your Penn State Access Account, please contact the World Campus Helpdesk.
Assessment: Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams
This course relies on a variety of methods to assess and evaluate student learning, including:
- Practical assignments - Assignments are required for each module that require students to demonstrate their understanding of topics and processes presented in each module.
- Reflective writing assignments - These writing assignments ask students to reflect on various aspects of the topics and technologies presented in the course.
- Participation - Class participation is important. Students will be expected to join the discussions on topics related to the course.
Citation and Reference Style
I personally prefer APA as a citation style but as long as you are complete and consistent you may choose any style.
It is important that your work is submitted in the proper format to the appropriate Canvas Assignment or Discussion Forum and by the designated due date. I strongly advise that you not wait until the last minute to complete these assignments—give yourself time to ask questions, think things over, and chat with others. You will learn more, do better...and be happier!
Due dates for all assignments are posted on the mini-syllabus and course calendar in Canvas.
Grading
| Assignments | Percent of Grade |
|---|---|
| Practical assignments | 60% |
| Reflective writing assignments | 30% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
I will use the Canvas gradebook to keep track of your grades. You can see your grades in the Grades page of Canvas. Overall course grades will be determined as follows. Percentages refer to the proportion of all possible points earned.
| Letter Grade | Percentages |
|---|---|
| A | 93 - 100 % |
| A- | 90 - 92.9 % |
| B+ | 87 - 89.9 % |
| B | 83 - 86.9 % |
| B- | 80 - 82.9% |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9 % |
| C | 70 - 76.9 % |
| D | 60 - 69.9 % |
| F | < 60 % |
| X |
Unsatisfactory (student did not participate) |
Curve
I am not planning to curve grades.
Late Policy
I do not accept any "late work." In exceptional circumstances, you should contact me. The earlier you contact me to request a late submission, the better. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Generally, late assignments will be assessed a penalty of at least 25% and will not be accepted more than one week after the original due date.
GEOG 497 Course Schedule
Printable ScheduleBelow you will find a summary of the primary learning activities for this course and the associated time frames. This course is 15 weeks in length, including an orientation. See our Calendar in Canvas for specific lesson time frames and assignment due dates.
Weekly schedule: Lessons open on Mondays. The close date might vary depending on the course difficulty. Initial discussions posts are due on Saturday, with all discussion comments due by Tuesday. All other assignments are due on Sundays. I expect you to participate in the online discussion forums as they count toward your participation grade.
NOTE: See the CANVAS Calendar tab for a full semester calendar of events.
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Technical Requirements
For this course, we recommend the minimum technical requirements outlined on the World Campus Technical Requirements page, including the requirements listed for same-time, synchronous communications. If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the IT Service Desk (for World Campus students) or Penn State's IT Help Portal (for students at all other campus locations).
Internet Connection
Access to a reliable Internet connection is required for this course. A problem with your Internet access may not be used as an excuse for late, missing, or incomplete coursework. If you experience problems with your Internet connection while working on this course, it is your responsibility to find an alternative Internet access point, such as a public library or Wi-Fi ® hotspot.
Mixed Content
This site is considered a secure web site, which means that your connection is encrypted. We do, however, link to content that isn't necessarily encrypted. This is called mixed content. By default, mixed content is blocked in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome. This may result in a blank page or a message saying that only secure content is displayed. Follow the directions on our Technical Requirements page to view the mixed content.