| Date | November 2019 | Marks available | 4 | Reference code | 19N.2.SL.TZ0.6 |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | no time zone |
| Command term | Identify | Question number | 6 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The QT Railway and QT Highway have recently been built to connect Qinghai with Tibet. This has made the mountainous region of Tibet accessible to the rest of China.
The endangered Tibetan antelope migrates over 300 km each year to give birth to a single calf. The QT Railway and QT Highway cross this migration route, see Figure 2.
Figure 2: Map of the study site and habitat of Tibetan antelope
[Source: adapted (simplified redraw of the nature reserve data map) from Karina Manayeva, Buho Hoshino, Hiromasa Igota, Takashi Nakazawa and Ganzorig Sumiya, 2017. Seasonal migration and home ranges of Tibetan antelopes (Pantholops hodgsonii) based on satellite tracking. Int. J. Zool. Res., 13: 26–37. © 2017 Karina Manayeva et al.]
The building of the QT Railway and QT Highway presents potential dangers to both the antelopes and the public travelling through this nature reserve.
To understand more about the antelopes’ migration patterns, some antelopes have tracking devices attached. Using the information from these tracking devices, a 2D visualization model can be developed and updated in real time.
Identify four items of data that would be included to create the 2D visualization model.
Explain why a 2D visualization model would be used rather than a 3D visualization model in this scenario.
Explain why the development of a visualization model was necessary in this scenario.
Markscheme
Award [4 max].
Continuously collected data (from satellite, electronic trackers, observation);
Data on current speed of antelopes / length of time for the entire herd to pass a certain point;
Previous migration paths stored and used to provide additional data;
Predicted path calculated to determine when the antelopes will hit the railway line / highway;
Model may show the expected time of highway / railway inception updated in real time;
Award [4 max].
2D visualization gives a rapid way of seeing what is happening relative topositions on the map and updates quickly;
A 3D model may have delays updating providing information too late;
The antelope is always on the ground / in a 2D space
So there is no need to map in 3D space
2D visualization will update rapidly because it is less complex;
A 3D model that requires more powerful graphics cards (GPU);
Award [4 max].
Award [2 max] for technical difficulties of collecting data;
Award [2 max] for a reasonable solution to the problem
Difficult to put people on the ground to keep pace with the antelope;
Because the area is inhospitable / mountainous;
The antelope may cross the road at any point over a vast distance so the number of people required is prohibitive;
Poor visibility may affect visuals of antelopes / too dark for cameras;
Transmission may get disrupted in a remote place like Tibet;
So satellite transmissions as a back up system;
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
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17N.2.SL.TZ0.6d.i:
Define the term visualization.
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20N.2.SL.TZ0.6a.ii:
Identify how a 2D visualization could be used in this scenario.
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20N.2.SL.TZ0.6c:
Once the 3D visualization has been rendered, when the user drags a slider bar to simulate the amount of ice that has melted, the visualization is re-rendered without any delay.
Figure 4: Slider bar to simulate different percentages of sea ice
[Source: Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.]
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17N.2.SL.TZ0.6d.ii:
With the help of examples, discuss how the development in the way such data is visualized has made the results of these simulations more accessible to the general public.
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18N.2.SL.TZ0.6c:
Define the term visualization.
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19N.2.SL.TZ0.6b:
Explain why a 2D visualization model would be used rather than a 3D visualization model in this scenario.
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19N.2.SL.TZ0.6c:
Explain why the development of a visualization model was necessary in this scenario.
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20N.2.SL.TZ0.6a.i:
Define the term visualization.
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19M.2.SL.TZ0.6c:
Explain two technical implications of implementing a 3D animation in this way.
- 19M.2.SL.TZ0.6a: Define the term visualization.
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20N.2.SL.TZ0.6b:
Explain the benefits of using visualization when simulating rising sea levels.
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18M.2.SL.TZ0.6b:
Vehicles are tested for their exhaust gas emissions using simulation software at specialist garages. During a period of 5 minutes, a vehicle with the engine switched on is monitored for emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and fine particulates. The software uses 3D visualization techniques to display these parameters on a screen for the whole duration of the test.
Explain how emissions of CO2 and fine particulates could be represented in 3D by the software.
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19M.2.SL.TZ0.6b:
Outline the need for rendering in the creation of the animated 3D characters.
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18N.2.SL.TZ0.6d:
The medical school is considering updating its simulation software, which currently displays the simulation in 2D, to one that displays it in 3D.
Discuss whether this change to a 3D display would improve the quality of the training.
