Foundations of Physically Based Modeling and Animation

Physics forms the basis for many of the motions and behaviors seen in both the real world and in the virtual worlds of animated films, visual effects, and computer games. By describing the underlying physical principles and then creating simulations based on these principles, these computer-generated worlds are brought to life. Physically Based Modeling and Animation goes behind the scenes of computer animation and details the mathematical and algorithmic foundations that are used to determine the behavior underlying the movement of virtual objects and materials. Dr. Donald House and Dr. John Keyser offer an approachable, hands-on view of the equations and programming that form the foundations of this field. They guide readers from the beginnings of modeling and simulation to more advanced techniques, enabling them to master what they need to know in order to understand and create their own animations

• Emphasizes the underlying concepts of the field, and is not tied to any particular software package, language, or API.
• Develops concepts in mathematics, physics, numerical methods, and software design in a highly integrated way, enhancing both motivation and understanding.
• Progressively develops the material over the book, starting from very basic techniques, and building on these to introduce topics of increasing complexity.
• Motivates the topics by tying the underlying physical and mathematical techniques directly to applications in computer animation.

Donald H. House is Professor and Chair of the Division of Visual Computing in the School of Computing at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA. He received his Ph.D. in Computer and Information Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer, and his B.S. in Mathematics from Union College. His early research was in cloth simulation, and physically based animation. More recently his focus has been on cognitive and perceptual optimization of visualizations under uncertainty.

John C. Keyser is Professor and Associate Department Head for Academics in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina, and B.S. degrees in Applied Math, Engineering Physics, and Computer Science from Abilene Christian University. His research has spanned a range of computer graphics topics, with particular emphasis in physically based simulation and solid modeling.