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Unit outline_

COMP4425: Multimedia Retrieval

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The explosive growth of multimedia data, including text, audio, images and video has imposed unprecedented challenges for search engines to meet various information needs of users. This unit provides students with the necessary and updated knowledge of this field in the context of big data, from the information retrieval basics of a search engine, to many advanced techniques towards next generation search engines, such as content based image and video retrieval, large scale visual information retrieval, and social media.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Computer Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
Enrolment in a thesis unit. INFO4001 or INFO4911 or INFO4991 or INFO4992 or AMME4111 or BMET4111 or CHNG4811 or CIVL4022 or ELEC4712 or COMP4103 or SOFT4103 or DATA4103 or ISYS4103
Prohibitions
? 
COMP5425
Assumed knowledge
? 

Experience with programming skills as covered in INFO1113 or COMP2123 or COMP2823 or INFO1105 or INFO1905 or other similar units

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Zhiyong Wang, zhiyong.wang@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Wenxi Yue, wenxi.yue@sydney.edu.au
Zhiyong Wang, zhiyong.wang@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Open book exam.
55% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment group assignment Project proposal
This assignment requires the submission of a project proposal.
10% Week 06
Due date: 26 Mar 2024 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Homework
Submitted homework.
15% Week 08
Due date: 16 Apr 2024 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment group assignment Project final
This assignment requires the submission of report, presentation, and codes.
20% Week 12
Due date: 14 May 2024 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  1. Create one bullet point per assessment task, with a brief description that answers the question: 'What will a student be required to do?'.
  2. Each item should not exceed 100 words, and details in the assessment table (e.g. weighting) should not be duplicated. Click ? icon for examples.
  3. More detailed information (e.g. assessment rubrics) and submission instructions must be published on Canvas.
  4. If the assessment table includes a hurdle task, students will see this statement on the unit outline: ‘Must meet the required standard in an assessment in order to pass the unit’. Please include brief details for students in the summary.
  5. Add an additional note at the end: ‘Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.’

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

1. A statement regarding late penalties will display on the unit outline above any qualifying information you choose to include. Click the ? icon to see the statement. 2. Late penalties should be modified in accordance with the Assessment Procedures 2011.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 02 Textual information retrieval Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO7 LO8
Week 03 Web information retrieval Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 04 Multimedia basics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 05 Multimedia information retrieval 1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 06 Multimedia information retrieval 2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 07 Social media Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7 LO8
Week 08 Large scale retrieval Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7 LO8
Week 09 Recommendation systems Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7
Week 10 Advanced Topic I Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 11 Advanced Topic II Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO7 LO8
Week 12 Project presentation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Course review Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. perform functional analysis for specific application domain and specific users
  • LO2. conduct literature review in the field related to a given task
  • LO3. perform function design of a retrieval system
  • LO4. design technical solutions to solve a media retrieval problem with learned knowledge and techniques
  • LO5. explain the framework and key components of a general retrieval systems
  • LO6. reflect on the state of the art in multimedia retrieval
  • LO7. evaluate the advantages and shortcomings of a specific retrieval technique and solution
  • LO8. practice popular algorithms related to retrieval techniques, such as feature extraction and similarity measurement.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No significant changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.