The Course Computer Graphics for Students Building Specialties

Abstract

The article considers the state and trends in the development of content and methodology of teaching of engineering graphics at universities, in particular at South Ural State University (SUSU). It is noted that the development goes in the direction of computerization of the course and of the expansion of the scope of application of 3D modeling and drawing. The author overviews the content and methodology of teaching construction engineering students of SUSU computer graphics. The course is designed for the AutoCAD package. The article introduces three graphical tasks that reveal features of construction drawing. The topics of the abovementioned tasks are the perspective and shadows, drawing of civil buildings, and drawing of truss nodes. The course focuses on modern design technologies in construction. To perform the aforementioned tasks the author implements both traditional 2D (computer) methods of drawing and modern 3D design methods which are actively developing. Work goals and objectives for each task are given, as well as the examples of drawings, 3D models and the sequence of their construction. The author shows methods of studying properties of geometrical projections and of shadowing difficult elements of building on the example of 3D modeling. The article gives the examples of photorealistic rendering done by the students for building visual images. The article also exposes shadowing in the orthographic projections on the example of smaller architectural projects and civil constructions. Shadows are built both in the automatic 3D modelling and visualization mode and in traditional 2D methods. The author dwells on modern means of automation of geometric construction as well as shows the example of parameterization in the process of determining optimal parameters of perspective projections. The article reveals the construction of the dynamic block as a means of storing graphical information of modern CAD systems. The example of block construction in the process of truss node creation is also given. The author provides the requirements for the contents of the semester report, the list of additional competencies acquired by the student after the development of the course.