Water Resources Engineering - Homepage Usask

Interuniversity Programme in 

Water Resources Engineering 

2-year Master of Science Programme 

The Course Syllabi 

Version 21-8-2002 

K.U.Leuven VUB 

Advanced Academic Education Department of Hydrology and 

Group Exact Sciences Hydraulic Engineering 

Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 Pleinlaan 2 

3001 Leuven (Heverlee) 1050 Brussel 

Tel: +32-16-32 17 44 Tel: +32-2-629 30 21 

Fax: +32-16-32 19 56 Fax: +32-2-629 30 22 

Email: greta.camps@agr.kuleuven.ac.be Email: hydr@vub.ac.be 

Telex: 61051 VUBCO-B 

http://www.iupware.be

Course syllabi / Contents 

CONTENTS 

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1 

2 THE COURSE SYLLABI OF THE STUDY CURRICULUM FOR THE DEGREE OF 

COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES (GAS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING............... 3 

2.1 COURSES ............................................................................................................................................4 

C1: CALCULUS .................................................................................................................................4 

C2. MATHEMATICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING .....................................................................5 

C3. STATISTICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING ............................................................................7 

C4. LAND EVALUATION ................................................................................................................9 

C5. HYDRAULICS...........................................................................................................................10 

C6. SURFACE HYDROLOGY ........................................................................................................11 

C7. GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY...........................................................................................12 

C8. IRRIGATION AGRONOMY.....................................................................................................13 

C9. AQUATIC ECOLOGY ..............................................................................................................15 

C10. WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT.............................................................................16 

2.2 WORKSHOPS....................................................................................................................................17 

W1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................17 

W2. HYDROMETRY ........................................................................................................................18 

W3. SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF WATER ENGINEERING ..19 

W4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .......................................................................20 

W5. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS .........................................21 


MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING .......................... 22 

3.1 COMMON CORE COURSES MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES 

ENGINEERING .............................................................................................................................................23 

G1. GIS & REMOTE SENSING IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ..............................24 

G2. ENGINEERING HYDRAULICS...............................................................................................26 

G3. WATER QUALITY MODELING .............................................................................................27 

G4. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO WATER MANAGEMENT.........................................................30 

G5. MANAGEMENT OF WATER USE AND RE-USE .................................................................31 

G6. INTEGRATED PROJECT DESIGN..........................................................................................33 

SEMINARS ............................................................................................................................................34 

THESIS RESEARCH.............................................................................................................................35 

3.2 OPTIONAL COURSES .....................................................................................................................36 

G7. SURFACE WATER MODELING .............................................................................................36 

G8. GROUNDWATER MODELING...............................................................................................37 

G9. IRRIGATION ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY.................................................................38 

G10. PLANNING, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS...............39 

G11. HYDRAULIC MODELLING ....................................................................................................41 

G12. WATER AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT .....................................................................43 

G13. MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY...................................................................................44 

G14. ADVANCED AQUATIC ECOLOGY.......................................................................................46

1 INTRODUCTION 

The main objective of this publication is to provide a complete description of the syllabi of graduate courses 

offered by the Interuniversity Programme in Water Resources Engineering. In addition the publication aims at 

assisting potential students in selecting one of the programme options offered in the 2nd year of the study 

programme in Water Resources Engineering. 

The 1st year, which is a compulsory programme for all trainees, is an introductory year, also called "GAS" or 

Programme of Complementary Studies in Water Resources Engineering. The number of courses in the 1st year 

is 10, complemented with one prerequisite in Calculus and 5 workshops on various aspects of Water Resources 

Engineering. A detailed description of the content of the courses taught in the 1st year is offered in Section 2 of 

this brochure. 

In the “GGS” programme or study curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources 

Engineering, a common core together with eight optional courses is offered. The optional courses make a 

specialization in Hydrology, Irrigation, Water Quality and Aquatic Ecology possible. A description of the 

courses is given in the Sections 3 of the brochure. 

Introduction / 1


COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES (GAS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING 

The total load of the degree course of Complementary Studies is 60 units, spread over 2 semesters, or 30 units * 

per semester (13 effective weeks). The first semester lasts from September to January, the second semester from 

February to May. There are 2-week holidays at Christmas/New Year and at Easter. One lecture hour per week 

per semester represents approximately 1.75 units. Exercises, practicals and workshops have a value of 

approximately 0.75 units per hour per week. 

The summary table gives a list of the subjects taught, the volume of each subject expressed in number of 

contact hours for theory and practicals, and the equivalent load of the course in credit units. 

Programme structure of the GAS ‘Complementary studies in Water Resources Engineering 

1 st Year 

3 / Course syllabi 

Total of 

ECTS 

G.A.S. Credits:. 

Complementary Studies Th. Pr. 60 

Courses 270 300 45 

C1 Calculus (pre-requisite) - 30 - 

C2 Mathematics for water engineering 30 30 5 

C3 Statistics for water engineering 30 30 5 

C4 Land evaluation 30 30 5 

C5 Hydraulics 30 30 5 

C6 Surface hydrology 30 30 5 

C7 Groundwater hydrology 30 30 5 

C8 Irrigation agronomy 30 30 5 

C9 Aquatic ecology 30 30 5 

C10 Water quality and treatment 30 30 5 

Workshops 180 15 

W1 Information technology - 60 3 

W2 Hydrometry - 30 3 

W3 Social, political and institutional aspects of - 30 3 

water engineering 

W4 Environmental impact assessment - 30 3 

W5 Economic analysis of water resources projects - 30 3 

In the following section a description of the content of courses and workshops taught in the “GAS” is given: 

Calculus (pre-requisite), Mathematics for water engineering, Statistics for water engineering, Land evaluation, 

Hydraulics, Surface hydrology, Groundwater hydrology, Irrigation agronomy, Aquatic ecology, Water quality 

and treatment, Information technology, Hydrometry, Social, political and institutional aspects of water 

engineering, Environmental impact assessment and Economic analysis of water resources projects. 

* ECTS : European Community Course Credit Transfer System

2.1 COURSES 

C1: CALCULUS 

(KUL-code: I725) 

Lecturer: MONBALIU J. 

ECTS-credit: - 

Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practical 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus and matrix algebra 

Time and place: 1st semester, 7 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven 

Course syllabus: Lecture notes 

Evaluation: Exercises (written, closed book, sheet with formulas permitted) 

Comparable handbook: Schaum's outline of "Theory and problems of advanced calculus"; "Theory and 

problems of matrices"; and "Theory and problems of vector analysis" 

Additional information: - 

Learning objectives: 

Refresh basic knowledge of calculus and matrix algebra. Mathematical models are commonplace and are 

widely used by engineers dealing with water resources. Basic calculus and some knowledge of matrix algebra 

are needed to be able to understand the more advanced analytical and numerical techniques applied. 

Course description: 

The aim of the prerequisite is to review basic mathematical techniques frequently encountered and applied in 

the field of water engineering resources. 

1. Calculus: 

- functions; 

- series expansion of functions; 

- continuity and limits; 

- differentials and integrals with one or more variables; 

- numerical methods for differentiation and integration; 

- zero of a function (Newton's method) ; maxima and minima (generalization towards optimization 

problems); and 

- differential equations. 

2. Linear algebra: 

- matrices: definition, add, multiply, transpose,..; 

- equivalence: row, column; 

- determinant of a square matrix; 

- inverse of a square matrix; 

- solution of linear equations; and 

- Jacobian and Hessian matrices. 

3. Vectors and scalars: 

- vector fields; 

- scalar fields; 

- gradient; 

- divergence; and 

- curl. 

Basic theory is given (without rigorous proofs). Classroom exercises and home assignments are given to 

assimilate the material. 

Complementary studies in Water Resources Engineering / 4

C2. MATHEMATICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING 

(KUL-code: HF38 (Th); HF39 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: MONBALIU J. 

ECTS-credit: 5 pts 

Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus, matrix algebra and numerical methods; use of a 

spreadsheet 



Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral exam with written preparation 

Comparable handbook: C.R. Wylie & L.C. Barret. Advanced engineering mathematics. Mc Graw-Hill 

K. Arbenz & A. Wohlhauser. Advanced mathematics for practicing engineers. Artech 

House 

Lecture notes on computational hydraulics 

Additional information: Emphasis is on exercises (hand-on experience); many exercises need to be solved on 

computer (spreadsheet); students are introduced to the matlab software package for the 

solution of certain problems. 


- become familiar with mathematical formulations in fluid flow problems 

- become familiar with some elementary numerical techniques for solving fluid flow problems 

- distinguish between ‘exact’ solution and numerical approximation 

- learn how to deal with different notations in different text books 

Mathematical models are commonplace and are widely used by engineers dealing with water resources. 

Knowledge of and critical insight in analytical and numerical techniques is however essential not only when 

one wants to use these models, but also for understanding and evaluating their outcome. 


The aim of the course is to introduce advanced mathematical techniques for analyzing fluid mechanics and for 

obtaining practical solutions for fluid flow problems. The course covers a selection from each of the three 

topics given below. 

1. Mathematical theory of fluid mechanics: 

- functions, vectors and tensors; 

- gradient, divergence and rotation operators; theorems of Green and Stokes; properties of irrotational, 

conservative and potential flow fields; 

- time derivatives; velocity and acceleration, material derivatives; particle paths, equipotential and 

streamlines; 

- coordinate systems and transformation rules; Jacobian and Hessian matrices. 

2. Partial differential equations for describing fluid dynamics: 

- characteristics and classification of differential equations; 

- properties of first order differential equations; solutions of kinematic wave equations and advection 

equations; 

- properties of 2nd order elliptic partial differential equations; Laplace and Poisson equations related to 

stationary flow problems; and 

- properties of 2nd order parabolic partial differential equations; diffusion problems, advection dispersion 

equations. 

3. Numerical techniques: 

- numerical solution of systems of linear equations; relaxation techniques and conjugate gradient methods; 

- numerical solution of nonlinear equations, and systems of nonlinear equations; 

- numerical techniques for interpolation, differentiation and integration; and 

- least squares fitting and optimization techniques. 

The practical work consists of a selection from: 

5 / Course syllabi

- Exercises on functions and vector fields; calculation of potential functions and velocity fields, verification of 

conservation and rotation properties; 

- Calculation of path lines and streamlines for simple fluid flow problems; 

- Transformation of coordinate systems; 

- Solution of a kinematic wave equation problem, determination of wave velocities and mass transport 

velocities; 

- Solution of a Laplace problem with Fourier transformation: principle of superposition; 

- Solution of a diffusion problem with the Laplace transformation; 

- Computer exercises on solution of systems of linear equations; 

- Computer exercises on solutions of nonlinear problems; 

- Computer exercises on interpolation, differentiation and integration of discrete data sets; and 

- Computer exercises on curve fitting techniques. 


C3. STATISTICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING 

(KUL-code: I742 (Th); I743 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: WILLEMS P. 


Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory / 30 hrs. of practical 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus 


Course syllabus: Lecture notes + selection of texts from different handbooks 

Evaluation: Oral exam with prepared exercises, additional information on the exam will be provided 

to the students. 

Comparable handbook: Shahin, M., H.J.L. Van Oorschot and S.J. Lange, 1993. Statistical analysis in water 

resources engineering. Applied Hydrology Monographs 1. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 

394 p. 

Benjamin, J.R. and C.A. Cornell, 1987. Probability, statistics, and decision for civil 

engineers. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 652 p. 


The learning objective of the course is to give the students a fundamental knowledge and a pratical 

understanding of the common techniques for data processing in hydrology and water management. This 

knowledge and understanding must allow the students to select and apply most appropriate techniques to 

summarize and organize data. It also allows them to have an insight in the limitations of data collection, and the 

corresponding consequences for the water management. More specifically, the consequences to the 

development and the calibration of mathematical models and other predictive tools are discussed. Also the 

consequences to the evaluation, the exploitation and the management of the water systems are addressed. The 

latter water management and research tasks may be based on mathematical modelling or not. The understanding 

of the data limitations and their consequences are also useful in setting up most appropriate data collection 

programs for specific water management and planning problems. Based on discussions of the different 

uncertainty sources, also a fundamental insight is given in the general process of mathematical modelling. By 

using examples from specific water fields (surface hydrology, hydraulics, wastewater treatment, …) in the 

lectures and the pratical sessions, this course has an important interaction with the other courses. 


An overview is given of the important concepts of probability and statistics as they are used in hydrology and 

water management. After an introduction of the basic terminology, an overview is given of techniques for data 

handling and data processing. These techniques can be classified into two groups: descriptive statistics and 

inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, most common techniques are considered for summarizing and 

organizing the data in a sample (a dataset). These consist of both numerical and graphical techniques. In 

inferential statistics, techniques are studied to draw conclusions about the physical reality (the full population), 

based on a limited amount of data available (a sample). Regarding the latter techniques, also the notion of 

mathematical modelling is explained together with the different sources of uncertainty involved. In this way, 

the students are given a basic understanding of the limitations of mathematical modelling and their 

consequences to water management and planning decisions. 

The course uses examples in theory as well as for the exercises. These examples are mainly hydrological and 

water quality data that are typically available for surface waters. 

The following topics are addressed in the course, in chronological order: 

1. Initial definitions: 

statistics, probability, hydrological variables, -series, -processes and -data; 

population vs. sample, errors in data 

2. Descriptive statistics: 

- Presentation of data: 

7 / Course syllabi

- histogram, frequency distribution, frequency density distribution 

- cumulative frequency distribution 

- box-plot 

- graphical representations of a time series 

- empirical quantile plot 

- Q-Q plot 

- Statistical descriptors of data: 

- mean, root mean square, median 

- quantiles 

- variance, st. dev., mean dev., coefficient of variation, moments 

- coeff. of skewness, coeff. of kurtosis 

3. Probability theory: 

- Elementary probability theory 

- probability laws 

- probability mass function, probability density function, cum. distribution function 

- moments of distributions of random variables 

- Probability distributions 

- model of sums: normal; model of products: lognormal 

- model of time between events: exponential (Poisson process), Gamma, Pearson III 

- Pareto, Weibull, beta, uniform prob. distributions 

- normal related or sampling distributions: t-, Chi-square, F- distributions 

- modified distributions: truncated and compound distributions 

- multivariate distributions 

- Estimation of parameters 

- method of moments 

- maximum likelihood method 

- confidence intervals 

- Testing statistical hypotheses 

incl. trend tests, goodness-of-fit tests, serial correlation tests 

- Frequency analysis / Extreme value analysis 

- periodic maxima method vs. peak-over-threshold method 

- GEV vs. GPD distributions 

- extreme value index, distribution classes 

- return period 

4. Regression and correlation 

incl. discussion on different types of uncertainty sources in modelling 

and the calculation of parameter uncertainties and prediction uncertainties 

5. Introduction to time series analysis and stochastic modelling 

- autocorrelation, autocovariance 

- (semi-)variogram 

- ARMA model 

- Kalman filter 

- Random simulations 

The practical work consists of the application of these techniques for a number of datasets (time series of river 

discharges, simultaneous measurements of water levels and discharges in a river, BOD concentrations at the 

influent and the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant, …). The following techniques are applied to these 

datasets: 

- selection, calibration and plotting of probability distributions 

- regression and correlation + error analysis + statistical hypothesis tests 

- confidence limits for model parameters, model prediction uncertainty 

- extreme value analysis, return period calculation 


C4. LAND EVALUATION 


Lecturer: DECKERS J. 



Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general pedology 

Time and place: 2 nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven 


Evaluation: Oral examination, submission of a paper and quotation on seminar work 

Comparable handbook: Driessen, P., Deckers, J., Spaargaren, O., and Nachtergaele, F., (Eds), 2001. Lecture 

Notes on the Major Soils of the World, World Soil Resources Reports Nr. 94, FAO, 

Rome, Italy. 

Deckers, J., Nachtergaele, F., Spaargaren, O., 1998. World Reference Base for Soil 

Resources. Introduction, ACCO Publishers, ISBN 90-334-4124-1, 165 pp. 

Additional information: Students who have interesting case studies from their home country are welcome to 

bring them during the seminars for discussion. 


This course aims to bring awareness among the students on land as a carrier of all our economic activities and 

of the natural ecosystem. The students therefore will have to get acquainted with basic principles of soil, 

climatic and socio-economic assessment as well as with specific requirements of land utilization types. For the 

end terms more emphasis is given on general comprehension than to mere encyclopedial knowledge. The 

alumni of this programme should be well enough informed to ask the right questions, to think in an 

interdisciplinary way, whenever they are in a decision making position. 


The objective of the course Land Evaluation is to train the students in a series of methodologies and approaches 

to predict the suitability of land for specific uses from land properties. These approaches are based on the 

physical, chemical and biological land properties, and incorporate hydrological features, socio-economic factors 

and environmental and health aspects. 

The course encompasses the following topics: 

1. Basic principles of land evaluation; 

2. Agro-ecological zoning: an overview of soil and climate inventory procedures; 

3. Requirements of land utilization types; 

4. Land evaluation for irrigation; 

5. Sustainability issues for land evaluation with emphasis on irrigated agriculture; and 

6. Processes of land degradation and soil conservation measures for sustainable land use. 

7. Land evaluation for forestry 

8. Land evaluation for extensive grassland 

9. Global change issues 

The practical exercises aim to highlight the practice of land evaluation, through excursions, contacts with guest 

speakers and the analysis of land evaluation case studies. 

9 / Course syllabi

C5. HYDRAULICS 

(KUL-code: H518 (Th); H965 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: BERLAMONT J. 



Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of advanced mathematics 

Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven 


Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral exams with written preparation 

Comparable handbook: French, 1985. Open channel hydraulics. Mc Graw Hill 

A.L. Simon, 1976. Practical hydraulics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 

A. Chadwick and J. Morfett, 1998. Hydraulics in civil and environmental engineering, 

Spon 

J.F. Douglas et al., 1995. Fluid Mechanics. Longman 

M. C. Potter and D.C. Wiggert, 1997; Mechanics of Fluids, Printice Hall 

R. L. Street et al, 1996. Elementary Fluid Mechanics, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc. 

I. Shames. 1992. Mechanics of Fluids, McGraw Hill 

R. L. Mott, 2000. Applied Fluid Mechanics, Prentice Hall 

H. Chanson, 1999. The hydraulics of open channel flow, Arnold 



The aim of the course is to enable the students to analyze and design: (i) pipes and pipe networks; (ii) open 

channels and open channel networks; and (iii) drainage canals. 


1. Review of relevant hydraulics; 

2. Pipe flow: friction losses, local head losses; 

3. Pipe networks (branched and looped networks): 

- H. Cross, Newton Raphson, linear method; and 

- (cost) optimization; 

4. Pumps and pumping stations; 

5. Steady flow in open prismatic channels: 

- Concept of specific energy, uniform depth, critical depth; 

- Water surface profiles; 

- Upstream & downstream boundary conditions; and 

- Determination of water surface profiles; 

6. Erosion and sedimentation criteria; and 

7. Design of stable (unlined) canals. 

The students are trained in : 

- Measurement of pump and pipe characteristics; 

- Manual calculations (cfr. objectives); and 

- Use of computer programs for the design of: 

* pipe systems (incl. optimization); 

* open channels; and 

* stable unlined canals. 


C6. SURFACE HYDROLOGY 


Lecturer: BAUWENS W. 



Prerequisites: Graduate level mathematics, physics, fluid dynamics 



Evaluation: Examination on the lectured topics: written preparation (2hrs) followed by an oral 

discussion (closed book) (3/4) and assessment of tutorial reports (1/4). The exam 

requirements are stated – for each subject – in the lecture notes. 

Comparable handbook: Chow V.T., 1988. Applied hydrology. Mc. Graw Hill (ISBN 0-07-010810-2) 

Bauwens W, 1996. Surface hydrology (Lecture notes and solved exercises) 



The course provides the basic knowledge about the hydrologic cycle, the rainfall-runoff process and flood 

routing techniques. Additional topics include statistical models and an introduction to hydrologic modelling. 

With this background, the students should be able to deal with the classical hydrologic design procedures. 

Moreover, these basics should allow them to understand the concepts used in more elaborate techniques and in 

integrated hydrologic models. 


• The hydrologic cycle, runoff mechanisms and water balances 

• Rainfall data for hydrologic design 

• Rainfall losses (interception, storage, infiltration, evapotranspiration) 

• The runoff concentration (unit hydrograph, reservoir models) 

• Flood routing (hydraulic and hydrologic methods) 

• Statistical methods for hydrologic problems 

• Introduction to hydrologic modelling 

11 / Course syllabi

C7. GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY 


Lecturer: DE SMEDT F. 



Prerequisites: Hydraulics, Hydrology and Geology contents 


Course syllabus: Course notes are available 

Evaluation: The exam is open book. The students are tested on their insight in fundamental 

understanding of the material and their ability to interpret and process information 

concerning groundwater occurrence and dynamics. The overall result is obtained as 2/3 

on the exam and 1/3 of marks given on the exercises. 

Comparable handbook: Freeze, R.A., and G.A. Cherry, 1979. Groundwater. Prentice Hall, Inc., 604 p. 



The goal of this course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the principles and practical 

applications of groundwater occurrence and behavior, such that the student can interpret observations in a 

correct way, calculate and predict groundwater amounts and movement, and in general be able to manage 

groundwater in a sustainable way. 


1. Fundamentals: groundwater and the hydrologic cycle; occurrence of underground water; basic properties as 

porosity, water content, groundwater potential, flux and velocity; Darcy's law; measurement techniques for 

groundwater potential and conductivity; 

2. Natural groundwater flow: hydrogeological classification of ground layers; aquifer types; groundwater flow 

systems; unsaturated zone; saturated groundwater flow and storage in artesian and phreatic aquifers and in 

aquitards; the hydraulic groundwater flow approach and the flow net theory; 

3. Groundwater abstraction techniques: advantages of groundwater use; wells and galleries; principles of well 

flow as cone of depression, radius of influence, maximum and specific capacity; interference between wells 

and aquifer boundaries; pumping test analysis; design of well fields; safe yield and groundwater 

management; 

4. Groundwater chemistry: groundwater chemical constituents and main processes; oxygen status and organic 

matter decay in unsaturated and saturated groundwater layers; mineral dissolution and ion evolution cycle; 

groundwater isotopes; groundwater pollution sources and major pollutants; measurement techniques and 

interpretation and classification of water types; groundwater quality assessment and protection techniques; 

Practical exercises: 

- Analyses of field samples: determination of porosity, water content, density and hydraulic conductivity; 

- Field measurement techniques: interpretation of slug tests in auger holes and piezometers; 

- Calculations of groundwater flow in artesian and phreatic aquifers using piezometric readings; 

- Flow net analyses using piezometric data and field reconnaissance for hydrogeological mapping and 

interpretation; 

- Analyses and interpretation of drawdown around pumping wells and pumping test experiments; 

- Design of groundwater pumping wells and well fields; and 

- Interpretation of hydro-geochemical data: Stiff and Piper diagrams, classification of water types and 

identification of chemical evolution. 


C8. IRRIGATION AGRONOMY 


Lecturer: RAES D. 



Prerequisites: 



Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral examination 

Comparable handbook: Crop evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. 1998. 

FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper N°56. Rome, Italy; 300 p. 

Additional information: Teaching is in English 


The course of Irrigation Agronomy aims to provide the students a comprehensive introduction in the climatic, 

crop, soil and environmental aspects that determine the water losses of a cropped soil and in the calculation of 

the crop water and irrigation water requirement at field and scheme level. During practical sessions the students 

receive training in the use of software packages that are helpful for the processing of climatic data and for the 

simulation of a soil water balance. At the end of the course the students should be able to plan and evaluate the 

water supply for irrigation schemes. 


The course encompasses a section on agro-climatology, the water balance of a cropped soil, irrigation water 

requirement and irrigation scheduling principles. 

Part 1. Agro-climatology 

1. Measurement, collection and processing of climatic data such as air temperature, air humidity, wind 

speed, solar radiation, evaporation and precipitation and an introduction to agro-meteorological 

field stations; 

2. Definition, concepts, measurements and computation of reference (ETo) and crop (ETc) 

evapotranspiration under standard conditions; 

3. Definition and calculation of dependable and effective rainfall from historical rainfall data; 

Part 2. Water balance of a cropped soil 

1. Soil physical characteristics; 

2. Soil water content; 

3. Soil water retention; 

4. Crop water uptake; 

5. Soil water movement; 

6. Soil water balance. 

Part 3. Irrigation water requirements 

1. Net irrigation requirement; 

2. Gross irrigation requirement; 

3. Field and scheme water supply. 

Part 4. Irrigation scheduling principles 

1. Irrigation depth and interval; 

2. Real time scheduling; 

3. Planning irrigation schedules. 

The practical exercises aim to train the students in methods for the processing of climatic data, the computation 

of reference and crop evapotranspiration, the calculation of the water balance of cropped soils, and the 

calculation of net and gross water requirements. During the practical sessions the students receive an 

introduction in the use of the following software packages: 

- ETO: reference evapotranspriation (K.U. Leuven); 

- RAINBOW: frequency analysis of hydrological data (K.U.Leuven); 

- FOACLIM: world-wide agroclimatic data (FAO); 

13 / Course syllabi

- BUDGET: a soil water and salt balance model (K.U.Leuven); 

- UPFLOW: water movement in a soil profile from a shallow water table to the topsoil (K.U.Leuven). 


C9. AQUATIC ECOLOGY 

(KUL-code: GM22 (Th); GM23 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: DE MEESTER L. 


Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical (including field excursion) 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of biology 



Evaluation: Oral exam with written preparation 

Comparable handbook: Freshwater ecology 

- Horne, A.J. & C.R. Goldman, 1994. Limnology, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York 

- Wetzel, R.G., 1983. Limnology, 2nd ed., Saunders College Publishing, Forth Worth 

- Moss, B., 1998. Ecology of Fresh Waters, Man and Medium, Past to future. Third ed. 

Blackwell Science. 

Marine ecology 

- Levinton, J.S., 1995. Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. Oxford 

University Press, New York 



The course aims to provide an introduction to the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, in such a 

way that the information can be usefully applied in water quality assessment, water quality management and 

rehabilitation of natural aquatic environments. It is aimed to provide the student with the necessary background 

on ecology in general and fresh water ecology in particular, so as to guide him/her in judging on the impact of 

certain measures or disturbances on aquatic ecosystems, in developing and evaluating restoration measures, 

interpreting reports on environmental degradation, etc. 


Emphasis is on the structure and functioning of freshwater systems, but comparative information on marine 

systems is provided. Wherever possible, the concepts and ideas developed in the course are also illustrated 

using examples from and studies carried out in the tropics. 

A) Freshwater ecology: 

1) Characteristics of water; 

2) Hydrological cycle; 

3) Lentic habitats (lakes, ponds,...): 

- Distribution, genesis, typology and morphology of inland waters; 

- Physico-chemical characteristics of lakes and ponds: light; thermal stratification; oxygen; salinity; 

inorganic carbon; nitrogen cycle; phosphorus cycle; micronutrients; 

- Productivity of aquatic ecosystems; 

- Living biota: phytoplankton community, zooplankton community, fish and the trophic cascade; 

4) Lotic habitats (streams and rivers): typology, community structure, floodplains; 

5) Estuaries; 

6) Notes on tropical limnology; 

B) Marine ecology: general characteristics in comparison to freshwater ecosystems; physical and chemical 

characteristics; living biota; phytoplankton; zooplankton; fish and fisheries; productivity. 

Practical exercises consist of: 

- Introduction to sampling equipment for determination of physico-chemical characteristics of water, the 

sampling of phyto- and zooplankton, periphyton and benthos; 

- Freshwater communities (phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos); 

- Introduction to marine communities; excursion. 

15 / Course syllabi

C10. WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT 


Lecturer: VAN DER BEKEN A. 



Prerequisites: General courses on physics and chemistry 



Evaluation: Practical exercises and reports (1/3) and written examination with optional oral 

examination (2/3) 

Comparable handbook: Text Module on 'Municipal water and waste water treatment’. Unesco, Paris, France 


Water quality must be understood by the students as an "indefinite" characteristic of water (vs. quantity which 

is definite). The many sources of natural and man-made pollution and the unlimited quality variables must be 

recognized in an integrated approach, allowing for further detailed analysis if and when needed, e.g. with 

respect to treatment processes and regulation measures on short term and long term. The distinction between 

water quality standards, licences, emission and immission criteria is essential. The basics of water and waste 

water treatment processes and their limitations must be understood in order to be able to communicate and 

cooperate with specialists in these matters. 


The course aims to provide an introduction to water quality assessment and water and waste-water treatment. 

1. Definition(s) of water quality; Integrated water quality management 

2. Types and sources of pollution; 

3. Physical-chemical water quality: 

4. Characteristics of waste water; 

5. Biological and microbiological water quality; 

6. Water quality monitoring; 

7. Self-purification in rivers, and waste water discharge regulation; 

8. Review of major physical, chemical and (bio)technological processes of water and waste water treatment. 

The practical work consists of: 

- Calculation and interpretation of various water quality indices; 

- Calculation of self-purification and waste water discharge regulation; 

- Elementary design of a waste water treatment plant; and 

- Visit to drinking water production or waste-water treatment plants. 


2.2 WORKSHOPS 


W1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 


Lecturer: WYSEURE G. 


Prerequisites: Elementary calculus 


Course syllabus: Lecture notes available 

Evaluation: Evaluation by continuous assessment of the exercises and submitted tasks 

Comparable handbook: For Spreadsheet: Orvis W.J., 1996 (2nd edition). Excel for Scientists and Engineers. 

Sybex. San Francisco. (ISBN 0-7821-1761-9; 547 pages). 

Additional information: WWW-pages: http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/vakken/i840/ 


The learning objective of the workshop is to enable students to effectively use Information and Communication 

Technology for Water Resources Engineering. The training on networked PC's aims specificaly at finding 

information, electronic communication, solving quantitative problems, reporting and presentation skills etc. 

Emphasis is on learning how to tackle problems and find solutions rather than on specific (fastly outdating) 

ICT-techniques. 


The fast evolution in ICT requires a continuous update of the content of the workshop and the hard- soft and 

netware tools. Emphasis is on spreadsheet as a example of a software and as a tool for quantitative analysis. A 

more detailed training in spreadsheet is preferred above a superficial review of many ICT-tools. 

1. Introduction to PC, network, electronic communication and WWW. 

2. Integrated offices as general toolbox for texts, databases, spreadsheets, presentations. Special attention to 

equation editing in wordprocessing and graphical illustrations in presentations and documents. 

3. Spreadsheet as calculation tool for water resource engineering. General principles of spreadsheet, formula's, 

used defined functions, graphing, numerical techniques. 

4. Editing of Web-pages by WYSIWIG-editors. 

5. Illustrations and examples of custom-made programmes and programming (VBA in spreadsheet as an 

example). Examples in statistical analysis, CAD etc... 

The workshop consists of a combination of time-tabled PC-classes and independently executed tasks. During 

the organized PC-classes exercises are solved with a "hands-on" approach and prepare the students for 

individual tasks, relevant to Water Resources Engineering and tailored to their options. Each student selects a 

relevant subject as a central theme to all tasks. These tasks are solved as supervised self-activity and submitted 

for evaluation. 

17 / Course syllabi

W2. HYDROMETRY 


Lecturer: VERHOEVEN R. 

Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practicals 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of hydraulics 

Time and place: 2nd semester, 5 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven/U.Gent 


Evaluation: Quotation of the field and laboratory exercises report 

Comparable handbook: Herschy, R.W., 1987. Hydrometry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 

Herschy, R.W., 1984. Streamflow measurement. E&FN Spon. 

Additional information: The workshop consists of 3 x 3 hours of theoretical introduction and 2 full day sessions 

of practical training: 1 day laboratory measurements and 1 day field exercises. 


To familiarize students with different measurement methods and techniques for hydrometric data acquisition. 

As data is a first requirement for all matters concerning water systems management, this workshop meets the 

fundamental learning objectives of the program. 


The aim of the workshop is to get the students acquainted with different devices and techniques for flow, 

velocity, pressure, waterlevel and sediment transport, measurements in pipes, open channels, rivers and 

laboratory. 

The following subjects are explained: (L = laboratory exercise; F = Field exercise) 

1. The need for data; 

2. Water-level determination; (L & F) 

- Importance - datum plane 

- Instruments for water-level determination (direct stage read off gauges and recording limnimeters) 

3. Waterdepth and bottom-level (mechanical and electronic devices; practical stage and depth measurements); 

(F) 

4. Flow velocity measurement; 

- Surface velocity (F) 

- Velocity in a single point (propeller type current meter (F), Pitot-tube (L), electromagnetic current meter 

(L), hot wire/hot film anemometer, laser Doppler anemometer, acoustic – ultrasonic – velocity meter (L)) 

- Mean velocity (salt screen (Allan's method), floats, etc.) (F) 

5. Measuring discharges; 

- Single measurement (methods based on the measurement of volume and time (L&F); volumetric and 

chemical methods (F); methods based on the measurement of the main velocity; methods based on the 

integration of the velocity field over the cross section (F)) 

- Continuous discharge measurements (gauging stations with limnimeters (L&F); ultrasonic methods, 

electromagnetic methods (L)) 

- Discharge measurements in laboratory (L) 

6. Sediment transport measurements 

- Bed load samplers (trap sampling; bed form tracking) (L&F) 

- Suspended load samplers (classification of samplers; instruments for concentration, point-integrating 

measurements (bottle and trap samplers, pump-samplers, optical and acoustical sampling methods); 

instruments for discharge, point-integrating measurements; instruments for concentration, depth-integrating 

measurement) (L&F) 

- Computation of sediment transport and presentation of results (rivers; estuaries) 


W3. SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF WATER ENGINEERING 


Lecturer: PETERS J.J. 


Prerequisites: No 

Time and place: 2nd semester, 5 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U. Leuven 

Course syllabus: Some reference work and few lecture notes 

Evaluation: Through an oral presentation of a case study, preferably situated in the student’s home 

country 

Comparable handbook: No comparable handbook available 

Additional information: 


The aim of the workshop is to make the students better aware about the variety of problems and issues related to 

the social, political and socio-economic aspects of water resources development projects and of water resources 

management, including the institutional aspects. Purely financial and economic aspects are not included. 


The course orientation is based on the lecturer’s experience in a large variety of water resources projects, 

showing how, why and when the approach to these aspects has failed or succeeded. The workshop aims at 

developing the consciousness of the students about the role of the various “actors” in relation to water resources 

systems development and management. It also aims at showing how politics may affect the so much needed 

sustainable, integrated WR management, and the implementation of WR development projects. It should make 

the students aware of the social implications of WR engineering projects, either the direct or the indirect ones, 

eventually through an environmental impact. It is important for the student to realise that it is not possible to 

dissociate the various aspects: social, political, socio-economic, and institutional. 

The workshop starts with descriptions, with the following: 

1. Definitions: What is a water resource (WR)? How to define a WR system on which to work/engineer 

(description, limits)? What do we call engineering, management, development? 

The accent is put on the way each society is having its own view, its own approach, depending on the 3 

factors: availability of water resources, of financial resources and awareness about the water issue. 

2. Presentation by the lecturer and discussion of some results, conclusions and recommendations by 

international organisations (Mar del Plata 1977, Rio de Janeiro 1991, EU-SAST 6 - 1992, 1991 WMO- 

UNESCO report on Water Resources Assessment Activities, etc.), all which he contributed to, but the first. 

3. Presentation and discussion by the lecturer of case studies in Asia, Africa and South America. These cover 

a large variety of situations, such as lakes, coastal areas, large and small rivers, master plan studies, floods 

and droughts, fluvial problems, water development, irrigation schemes, conjunctive use projects, etc. 

Special attention is paid to aspects such as correct problem definition, setting up relevant Terms of 

Reference, multi-disciplinary approach. For this part, he illustrates with slides, photographs and video, 

among which “After the Floods” (BBC Horizon). He personally contributed to this last video by inviting 

the BBC to a workshop he organised in 1993 in Bangladesh. 

4. Presentation by the students of projects or case studies, preferably case studies in which they have been 

actively involved. All presentations are short, and always followed by lively discussions and possibly 

confrontations. 

19 / Course syllabi

W4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 


Lecturer: RAMMELOO R. 


Prerequisites: none 



Evaluation: Personal work: environmental screening of a project proposal from a developing 

country (or from another country with comparable climatological and environmental 

conditions), scoping of the same project, analysis and evaluation of an existing EIA 

Comparable handbook: none (course aimed at the specificities of EIA’s in the third world) 



At the end of the workshop the students should be able 

- to do an environmental screening (first elementary environmental analysis) of a project proposal, in order to 

determine if a more complete environmental evaluation (EIA or other) is needed 

- if a more complete evaluation is needed, to determine the scope and contents of it (scoping) in order to give 

precise instructions to the specialists going to make the final EIA 

- to evaluate the general value, the correctness end the completeness of an EIA that has been made 

- to integrate the conclusions of an EIA in the final decisions about a project proposal 


The aim of the workshop is to provide information on procedures, which have to be followed to assess the 

environmental impacts of water engineering works. Its final aim is that the students should be able to do 

themselves the environmental screening and scoping of a project proposal, to propose mitigating measures for it 

and to determine the contents of a complete EIA, using internationally accepted procedures. 

1. History and development of EIA procedures and regulations in different parts of the world: Western 

Europe, USA, non-industrialized countries, and international organizations; 

2. Principles, structure and contents of EIA studies: general principles, comparison of the different kinds of 

procedures; 

3. Environmental screening of projects: aim, typology of screening procedures (lists of project types, manual 

check-lists, computer assisted screening), examples, documentation (procedures of several organizations: 

BADC, EU); 

4. Scoping of projects: identification of data, analysis of the proposed action, search for possible alternatives, 

techniques to identify the relations between the proposed action and the expected environmental impacts 

(check-lists, matrices, networks), identification of the significant impacts (use of criteria and standards), 

determination of the contents (items to analyse and techniques to use) of the complete EIA; and 

5. Prediction techniques for the complete EIA: in the fields of noise, use of land and soil, landscapes, 

ecosystems, water (underground and surface). 


Exercises on the screening and scoping of projects from countries of participating students and on the analysis 

of existing EIA’s. 


W5. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS 


Lecturer: TOLLENS E. 

Prerequisites: none 

Contact hours: 5 sessions of 3 hours each 

Time and place: 1st semester, K.U.Leuven 

Course syllabus: - 

Evaluation: on the basis of an exercise on economic project evaluation 

Comparable handbook: J. Price GITTINGER, Economic Analysis of Agricultural 

Projects, 2nd Edition, EDI Series in Economic Development, The Johns Hopkins 

University Press, Baltimore, 1982. 



The objective is to familiarize students with the economic and financial concepts and methods in project 

evaluation, applied to water resources projects. With the course, they will be able to do such an evaluation 

themselves, except determining shadow prices of resources, which an economist must do. They will also be 

able to fully understand the results (criteria) of such project evaluation. 


- General principles of project evaluation, including economic and financial analysis, shadow pricing, 

discounting and undiscounted measures of project worth. 

- Nature of costs and benefits in water resources projects. 

- Techniques of comparing costs and benefits: benefit-cost ratio, present net worth, internal rate of return and 

net benefit-investment ratio. 

- Sensitivity analysis and treatment of uncertainty, including inflation. 

- Farm accounts as the basis for preparing farm plans, making financial projections, and aggreation to project 

level. 

- Applications to water resources projects. 

- Manual exercises and case studies. 

21 / Course syllabi


MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING 

The total load of the study curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Engineering is 60 

units * , spread over 2 semesters, or 30 units per semester (13 effective weeks). The first semester lasts from 

September to January, the second semester from February to May. There are 2-week holidays at Christmas/New 

Year and at Easter. One lecture hour per week per semester represents approximately 1.75 units. Exercises, 

practicals and workshops have a value of approximately 0.75 units per hour per week. The figure below gives a 

list of the subjects taught, the volume of each subject expressed in number of contact hours for theory and 

practicals, and the equivalent load of the course in credit units. The seminars have a value of 3 units, the 

integrated project design of 5 units, and the thesis research project is equivalent to 17 units. 

Programme structure of the GGS ‘MSc programme in Water Resources Engineering’ 

2 nd year 

G.G.S. Total of ECTS 

Advanced Studies Credits: 60 

Common core 

GIS & remote sensing in WRE 5 

Engineering hydraulics 5 

Water quality modelling 5 

Systems approach to water management 5 

Management of water use and re-use 5 

Seminar 3 

Integrated project design 5 

Thesis research 17 

OPTIONAL COURSES (choose 2 courses): 

Surface water modelling 5 

Groundwater modelling 5 

Irrigation engineering and technology 5 

Planning, operation and management 5 

of irrigation systems 

Hydraulic modelling 5 

Water and waste-water treatment 5 

Monitoring of water quality 5 

Advanced aquatic ecology 5 

* ECTS : European Community Course Credit Transfer System 

22 / Course syllabi

3.1 COMMON CORE COURSES MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES 

ENGINEERING 

The following contains a description of the content of the common courses taught: 

- GIS & remote sensing in WRE 

- Engineering hydraulics 

- Water quality modelling 

- Systems approach to water management 

- Management of water use and re-use 

- Integrated project design 

- Seminars 

- Thesis research 

Advanced studies in Water Resources Engineering / 23

G1. GIS & REMOTE SENSING IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING 


Lecturer: BATELAAN O. 



Prerequisites: Introductory hydrological knowledge 

Time and place: 1 st semester, VUB 


Evaluation: Quotation on exercise problems and an individual project 

Comparable handbook: Maguire, D., M.F. Goodchild and D.W. Rhind (eds.), 1991. Geographical information 

systems: principles and applications. Longman Scientific and Technical. London, UK. 

Volume I (principles), 649 p and Volume II (applications): 447 p. 

Schultz, G.A. and E.T. Engman, eds. Remote sensing in hydrology and water 

management. 2000, Springer: Berlin. 483 p. 

Additional information: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~batelaan/g1_course/g1_course.html 


This course is instrumental in support of general objectives of the program such as (1) the modeling of process 

and water systems, (2) planning, budgeting and exploitation of water systems, (3) evaluation, optimalisation and 

management of water systems and (4) impact analyses and decision support systems. Its objective is to equip 

the student with a set of spatial data management and analysis tools, which can be applied to different water 

resources problems. The objective of the course is therefore not to concentrate on one specific water resources 

aspect or analysis/modeling technique but to stimulate and allow the student to integrate different data sets, 

analysis and modeling tools into a common environment from where he/she can tackle the water resources 

problem in an integrated manner. Practical learning objective for the student at the end of the course will 

therefore be that he/she independently is able to analyze a water resources problem with the help of GIS/RS. 

Further objective of the course is the build up of a framework of notions and understanding for the student of 

the diverse GIS and remote sensing technologies, systems and techniques in order that he/she will able to 

communicate with experts in this field and can follow new trends and technologies. 


The course intends to give the state of the art of spatial information processing using GIS and earth observation 

techniques and image processing methods, applied to water resources engineering problems. Student’s 

acquisition of practical skills is promoted by computer exercises in GIS analyses and remote sensing processing 

techniques with different GIS/RS packages. 

1. GIS techniques: 

- Basic principles of digital cartography, LIS and GIS: history and definitions; 

- Spatial data models: vector models, tesselation models, raster, TIN, etc; 

- Data input techniques: digitizing, scanning, and V/R en R/V conversion; 

- Planimetric integration: map projections and coordinate transformations; 

- Spatial interpolation techniques: trend surface analysis, local interpolation techniques; 

- Accuracy of spatial data analyses: type of errors, error modeling, error propagation; and 

- Cartographic modeling techniques: local, focal and zonal operations, model building. 

2. Remote sensing techniques: 

- Introduction to remote sensing: physical principles of earth observation, energy sources, radiation 

principles, energy interactions, data acquisition and interpretation; 

- Remote sensing scanning techniques: optical spectrum, multispectral, thermal, and hyperspectral; 

- Microwave remote sensing: physics, platforms, sensors, image processing and interpretation; and 

- Present and future observation platforms, sensors and their characteristics. 

3. Image processing methods: 

- Digital image processing: rectification, restoration, enhancement, multi-image manipulation; 

24 / Course syllabi

- Image classification and post processing: image interpretation, unsupervised, supervised 

classification, accuracy analysis, data merging. 

Case studies of practical GIS and remote sensing use in water resources engineering are presented. Future 

possibilities and impact of GIS and remote sensing techniques are discussed. 

Practical introduction and hands on exercises are given in both IDRISI and ArcView. Exercises include: 

“Carthographic modeling”, “Database query”, “Distance and context operators”, “Map algebra”, “Image 

exploration”, “Supervised classification”, “Principal Components Analysis”, “Unsupervised classification”, 

“Introduction to spatial hydrology” and “Catchment water balance determination”. The course includes as well 

an individual project, during two months, in GIS or remote sensing related to the background of the student and 

or the thesis topic. The definition and guidance of these individual projects is done in cooperation with the 

lecturers of other courses and promoters of theses. 


G2. ENGINEERING HYDRAULICS 


Lecturer: PETERS J. / DELLEUR J.W. 



Prerequisites: A basic course in hydraulics and open channel hydraulics. 

Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB 


Evaluation: On basis of oral and written exam 

Comparable handbook: Walter Graf, Fluvial Hydraulics, Wiley 1998. (2 vols.) 

Larry W. Mays, Hydraulic Design handbook, McGraw-Hill, 1999. 

Additional information: Professional software is used (see practical work, below). 


The aim of the course is to provide students with the basis for the analysis of river systems and of the hydraulic 

structures regulating them. The course provides a deeper insight in the phenomena of rapidly varied flow, 

unsteady flow and sediment transport, and provides them with a methodology for problem analysis and design, 

using physical and/or numerical models. 


1. Methodology of hydraulic studies; data needs and sources; 

2. Principles of similitude: 

fixed bed models; mobile bed models; thermal models; 

3. Rapidly varied flow in open channels: 

hydraulics of spillways; hydraulic jump and energy dissipation; flow in channels; nonprismatic channels; 

4. Unsteady flow in open channels: 

derivation of the equations of continuity and of motion for unsteady free surface flow (Saint Venant 

equations); solution by the method of characteristics, physical interpretation of the characteristic directions; 

finite difference solutions by explicit and implicit schemes; parabolic and diffusion approximations; 

Muskingum-Cunge approximation; kinematic wave approximation. Computer based exercises: Two 

didactic computer programs and two professional softwares are used to illustrate the principles of unsteady 

flow analysis, the application of flood routing in large streams and the modeling of flow propagation in 

small upland watersheds. 

5. Sediment transport: 

physical basis of flow in eroding channels; mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of riverbeds and 

sediment transport; mechanism of sediment transport; and 

6. Channel processes: 

hydrodynamic and hydromorphological approach to the channel processes theory; basic riverbed processes 

produced by the construction of hydraulic structures, channel stabilization and dredging. 


- Design of physical models; 

- Spillway design; 

- Flood routing models: FLDWAV (Hydrologic Research Laboratory, National Weather Service, USA), 

- Simulation of flows in upland watersheds: KINEROS ( Agricultural Research Service, USA) 

- Sediment transport. 

26 / Course syllabi

G3. WATER QUALITY MODELING 


Lecturer: JOLANKAI G. / VAN DER BEKEN A. 



Prerequisites: Hydraulics (C5), Mathematics for water engineering (C2), Water quality and treatment 

(C10), Information technology (W1) 

Time and place: 1 st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB 

Course syllabus: Lecture notes (+ teaching software WQMCAL and its manual) 

Evaluation: Quotation of exercises (1/2) and presentation and discussion of an individual project (1/2) 

(detailed test and calculation exercises) 

Comparable handbook: De Smedt, F., 1989. Introduction to river water quality modeling. Hydrology-VUB, no. 

16 

Additional information: A comprehensive book (844 pages) was published, fairly recently, on this topic, which 

the students might use as additional information (extra learning tool): Chapra S.C. 

(1997) Surface Water Quality Modelling, McGraw-Hill Civil Engineering Series 


The basic learning objective is to get the students acquainted with the basics of water quality modelling, that is 

to get knowledge on the basic transport and transformation processes on which the water quality models (all 

models) are based. This knowledge is (would be) unconditionally needed in using any commercially available 

model software and even more so in developing models for special purposes, to suit special tasks. 

More specific objectives include: 

General understanding of the system’s approach to managing the aquatic environment (with the meaning that a 

tool describing the response of aquatic systems to natural and anthropogenic inputs is needed to enable the 

efficient management of the water-environment). Another special objective is to help understand the basic 

principles of Integrated Catchment Management and of Integrated Water Resources Management. Another 

important objective is to teach the basic principles of the novel “ecohydrological” approach to managing water 

resources (with the meaning that the improvement of the aquatic and ecotone ecosystems by the appropriate 

hydrological control means, can help solving other water resources management problems of the same 

catchment). The very specific objective of the course is to enable students to see (through the use of the 

computer aided learning tool WQMCAL) the models in work and carry out a series of management-planning 

exercises (a kind of simulation of the actual work in managing the aquatic environment and assessing 

environmental impacts) 

The course contributes to the achieving of the objectives of the IUPWARE course in the following items: 

- A strong emphasis is laid on the Integrated Catchment Management concept (and not only on its modelling 

implications) and thus it deals with the interactions of the society and the water systems; 

- It deals with the modelling of water systems, mostly but not only regarding its water quality aspects; 

- It teaches the basic principles and tools of planning the management of the aquatic environment and along 

with it that of an integrated water system; 

- It will teach the basic management aspects of water systems, with special regard to pollution control; 

- It teaches the basic principles and tools of environmental impact assessment (the water and environmental 

engineering, but not the legal-administrative part of it). 


The aim of the course is to provide insight in the structure and application of water quality models for rivers and 

lakes (more details of the objectives are given above). 

The major lecture topics are as follows: 


1. Introduction to the basic problems of water quality management and the role of hydrologists in solving 

these problems. 

2. Systems approach to managing the aquatic ecosystem 

- Elements of the management procedure: 

- Setting of objectives (W.Q. criteria and standards) 

- Monitoring networks, emission-immission (Objectives and tasks of designing monitoring networks, 

the Hungarian case study) 

- Exploring input-response, cause-and-effect, relationships, the importance of models as the basic tool 

of systems approach. 

- Basic options of water quality management (strategies: waste water treatment, non-point source 

control, in-stream and in-lake treatment techniques; low flow augmentation, river training, lake 

regulation); 

- Role of process oriented field measurements; 

- Economic, legal and administrative aspects (constrains) 

3. Modelling as the basic tool of assessing the impacts on the aquatic system and identifying cause and 

effect relationships 

4. Basics of modelling river water quality * 

- Basic theory 

- Basic models of the oxygen household 

- Advanced oxygen household models (Case studies on the application of oxygen household models 

- Longitudinal dispersion models (accidental pollution models). Case studies with the Hungarian 

Dyndis model 

- Traversal mixing models (description of the waste water plume). Case study on the application of a 

transversal mixing model 

5. Basics of modelling lake ecosystems 

- Experimental lake models (the OECD/Vollenveider approach) 

- Simple nutrient budget models 

- Some versions of dynamic lake ecosystem models (Case study: the Lake Balaton eutrophication 

modelling and control) 

- Briefing on the possibilities of coupled hydraulic and ecosystem models 

6. The integrated catchment basin management approach and the non-point source (modelling) prob 

- Basics of runoff-export pollution calculation methods 

- Evaluation of hydrological and water quality data and the experimental (regression) approaches 

- More advanced, hydrologically based NPS models, 

- Basics of GIS based approaches (Case study on the modelling of point and non-point source loading 

of selected chemicals in the Rhine River Basin; Case study on the GIS based point and non-point 

source pollution modelling of the Zala River Basin, Hungary) 

7. Summary, need for further knowledge, options of practical use 

Remarks: 

*- In teaching this subject the lecturer will utilise the respective Computer Aided Learning software 

which has been prepared by himself and colleagues for the UNESCO/IHP programme. 

Teaching will be rather "modelling" oriented as this lecturer believes that modelling is the basic means of 

assessing the impact on aquatic systems and thus the cause and effect relationship, which is the key to finding 

the appropriate solution. 

There will be 10 types of exercises, each one with a given example and each with an approximate time demand 

of 1-3 h. As many or most of these are supported by some model programmes (of the CAL, the computer aided 

learning programme) the students will have the options of preparing some other examples for themselves. 

Nevertheless the use of scientific hand calculators will be also required in each exercise. 

Exercise 0 Checking the ability of students in calculating mass balances, the basis of modelling 

Exercise 1. Analysis of a pollution case with the traditional BOD-DO model (using the CAL programme) 

Exercise 2. Analysis of a pollution case with an expanded BOD-DO model (using the CAL programme) 

Exercise 3. Analysis of a complex, multi source, pollution situation with the simple BOD model (with 

scientific hand calculator) 

28 / Course syllabi

Exercise 4. Analysis of an accidental pollution case (using the CAL programme, two case studies) 

Exercise 5. Analysis of transversal mixing cases (using the CAL programme) 

Exercise 6. Analysis of lake eutrophication with experimental regression models (based on the OECD 

study, with hand calculator) 

Exercise 7. Analysis of Lake eutrophication with simple lake model (using the CAL programme and also 

manual) 

Exercise 8. Lake eutrophication analysis with the various lake models of the CAL programme 

Exercise 9. Analysis of the nutrient load conditions of a complex drainage basin (using hand calculator) 


G4. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO WATER MANAGEMENT 


Lecturer: LABADIE J. 



Prerequisites: Mathematics for water engineering (C2), Statistics for water engineering (C3), Surface 

hydrology (C6), Information technology (W1) and programming experience in PASCAL, 

C, FORTRAN, or BASIC 

Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB 


Evaluation: Written examination 

Comparable handbook: Mays, L. and Y.K. Tung, 1992. Hydrosystems modeling engineering and management, 

McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 


The purpose of this course is to understand and apply the modern tools of systems analysis to the management 

and control of water resources and environmental systems. Topics covered include: 

- optimal operation of multipurpose reservoir systems 

- integrated design of water storage and conveyance systems 

- optimal cropping patterns and intraseasonal allocation of irrigation supply 

- risk-based design of stochastic reservoir operating rules 

- optimal reservoir operation for water quality management 

- optimal hydraulic control of canal operations 

- river basin management and conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water 

- optimal operation of complex multireservoir hydropower systems 

- optimal sizing and operation of detention storage for estuarine water quality management 

- optimal control of stormwater and combined sewer systems. 

Specific systems analysis tools studied for optimal management and control include: 

- dynamic programming 

- stochastic optimization 

- optimal control theory 

- network flow optimization 

- multiobjective optimization 

- expert systems 

- genetic algorithms 

Class workshops present example problems and train the students on how to use computer software on PC´s for 

implementing many of this optimal water management techniques. The practical work applies these tools to a 

wide range of water management case studies in the U.S., Brazil, Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Egypt, 

Pakistan, and Korea. 

30 / Course syllabi

G5. MANAGEMENT OF WATER USE AND RE-USE 

(KUL-code: IC01 (Th); IC02 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: FEYEN J. 


Contact hours: 30 hrs. theory/30 hrs. practical 

Prerequisites: - 

Time and place: 1st semester, VUB 


Evaluation: Quotation on exercise problems and oral exam 

Comparable handbook: Gleick, P.H. (ed.), 1993. Water in crisis: a guide to the World’s fresh water resources. 

Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security, Stockholm 

Environment Institute, Oxford University Press, UK. 

Mays, LW. (ed.), 1996. Water resources handbook, McGraw-Hill, NY, USA. 

Stauffer, J., 1998. The water crisis: constructing solutions to freshwater pollution. 

Earthscan Publications Ltd., London, UK. 

Tanji, K.K. and B. Yaron (eds.), 1994. Management of water use in agriculture. 

Advanced Series in Agricultural Sciences 22, Springer Verlag Berlin, 320 p. 

Thompson, S.A., 1999. Water use, management and planning in the United States. 

Academic Press, NY, USA. 

Winpenny, J., 1994. Managing water as an economic resource. Overseas Development 

Institute, London, UK. 

Additional information: In the practical sessions students are exposed to the use of simulation tools for 

predicting the impact of fertilizers in agriculture (diffuse pollution) on the water quality 

in rivers, and to use numerical models as instrument in decision making. Exam results 

are based on the works submitted during the year and on the oral interview during the 

exam. Students are allowed to consult study material during the exam. 


The main objective is to familiarize students with the extent of the off- and instream water uses; the global 

water questions and uncertainties in the 21 st century; the impact of agriculture, industry, domestic and urban 

water use on the quantity and quality of groundwater and surface water; solutions to freshwater pollution; the 

use of saline water for irrigation; the use of treated waste water for irrigation and other uses; demand 

management, water pricing and reliability; and water-transfer systems. By the end of the course the students are 

expected to have a global picture of the complexity of water demand and supply, to have been exposed to 

different possible solutions, the management and planning of the earth’s water resources. 


The aim of the course is to inform the students of the increasing competition for water quantity as well as water 

quality, and the need for more efficient use of water for human consumption, industry and agriculture. The 

course contains the elements required to focus on water management from a wide range of perspectives and 

present them in four sections: water resources and water quality (Part A), water suitability (part B), water 

conservation and technology (part C), and re-use of treated waters (part D). 

A) Water resources and quality 

- global and continental water resources; 

- domestic, industrial and agricultural uses of water; 

- anticipated impacts on future water uses (competition for water quantity and quality between the 

socio-economic sectors of the society; increasing of regulation on water use and quality); and 

- strategies for the future (new water supplies, water conservation, better use of rainwater, 

institutional and policy changes). 


B) Water suitability 

- water quality (origin dependence, man’s interference); 

- quality parameters relevant to human consumption, industrial activities and agriculture; and 

- water quality and the impact on the environment. 

C) Water conservation and technology 

- methods and techniques of water reduction in human consumption, industry and agriculture (e.g., 

runoff irrigation, deficit irrigation, etc.); 

- collection and storage of runoff water; 

- collection and storage of drainage and subsurface waters; and 

- collection and storage of municipal waste-water and sewage effluents. 

D) Re-use of treated waters 

- re-use of treated water for human consumption, industry and agriculture (water quality guidelines, 

health and safety aspects of using reclaimed waste-water; disposal of residual effluent waters); and 

- policy, institutional and management aspects related to the re-use of treated waters. 

The practical work consists in estimating the impact on the quantity and quality of the water resources systems 

and the environment using water conservation techniques and re-using treated effluent waters. Throughout the 

course and the exercises students will be familiarised with a large variety of simulation tools for the assessment 

of the ‘impact-effect’ relation. 

32 / Course syllabi

G6. INTEGRATED PROJECT DESIGN 


Lecturer: VERHAEGHE R.J. 


Contact hours: 90 hrs 

Prerequisites: - 

Time and place: 2 nd semester, VUB 

Course syllabus: 

Evaluation: Project report per group and presentation 

Comparable handbook: 


The integrated project design is intended to confront students with a real life project in the field of surface or 

groundwater hydrology, irrigation, aquatic ecology or water quality. The overall goal is to learn the trainees 

getting the skill to design a project from A to Z, making feasibility analysis with the help of economic tools and 

in proposing a management strategy accounting for production system sustainability issues. 

In the project, knowledge and skills of different disciplines, taught in different courses, will be integrated and 

linked. As such students will be trained to solve problems and projects in a holistic way. 

The Integrated Project Design will be taught by engineers working in practice, having a long lasting experience 

in the engineering field of water resources planning and management. The tasks to be completed by the trainees 

consist of: 

(i) a brief description of the project (project location, objectives and environmental features; collected data 

characteristics, etc.); 

(ii) scope of the works including the planning and layout of ancillary facilities; 

(iii) physical conditions of the project; 

(iv) design and management criteria; 

(v) project design, including a comprehensive reporting on the methodology, criteria and results. 


SEMINARS 


Lecturer: N. 


Contact hours: 60 hrs. 


Time and place: 2nd semester, VUB 


Evaluation: Quotation of assignments 



The seminars (60 contact hours) programmed in the Advanced Study Programme in Water Resources 

Engineering are common for all trainees, independent the programme option. The main objective of the 

seminars is to expose students to general, technical, socio-economic, environmental, political and institutional 

aspects of water resources planning, operation and management. The subjects of the seminars will be related to 

one of the following disciplines: hydrology, irrigation, water quality, aquatic ecology, etc. Most of the seminars 

will be given by experts in water resources planning, engineering and management, belonging to international 

and national administrations, universities, research institutes, consulting companies, etc. 

34 / Course syllabi

THESIS RESEARCH 


Lecturer: N. 


Contact hours: 120 hrs. 


Time and place: 1 st and 2nd semester, VUB or K.U.L. 


Evaluation: Quotation on submitted thesis and oral presentation 


Description: 

The thesis research programmed in the Advanced Study Programme in Water Resources Engineering is 

common for all trainees. The main objective of the thesis research is to extend the knowledge in a specific water 

resources subject by independently researching the topic. The student is able to choose, from an extensive list, a 

topic in hydrology, irrigation, water quality or aquatic ecology (dependent on their chosen option). Topics 

related to problems with the home country of the student are preferred. The thesis is guided, on a regular basis 

by a promotor and an advisor. 


3.2 OPTIONAL COURSES 

G7. SURFACE WATER MODELING 


Lecturer: BAUWENS W. 


Contact hours: 30 hrs 

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of surface hydrology, groundwater hydrology and hydraulics is 

essential 



Evaluation: Report on SWAT (report + presentation) (25%), report on the application (report + 

presentation) (25%) and examination: discussion on the reports (50%). 

Comparable handbook: Arnold et al. (1996). SWAT. Soil and Water Assessment Tool. USDA, Temple, Tx, 

USA. 

Additional information: SWAT www site: http://www.brc.tamus.edu/swat/index.html 


The aim of the workshop is to familiarise the students with the problems associated to the use of comprehensive 

hydrologic models. Additional aims are the fostering of the self-learning capacities of the students, training on 

multidisciplinary group work, on the search for information (including the use of the www), on the redaction of 

scientific reports and on the presentation of research results. 


The workshop is built around the use of the hydrologic simulator SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). 

SWAT consists of a semi-distributed hydrologic rainfall-runoff model and hydrologic river and reservoir 

routing models, as well as erosion, sediment transport and diffuse pollution wash-off modules. The simulator is 

also suited to analyse the impact of alternative management (soil, vegetation, irrigation) and climate change 

scenario's. 

In a first stage, the students have to learn about modelling problems in general. To this purpose, lectures will be 

organised, dealing with the classification and the use of models, data assessment problems and model 

calibration and evaluation. Also, a general introduction of the SWAT simulator will be provided. 

The students will then be subdivided into working groups, to analyse the theory underlying SWAT. Within each 

group, individual students will analyse in detail a specific component of SWAT (surface runoff, groundwater, 

erosion, river processes, soil and plant interactions,...). Each group will present its results (written and orally) in 

plenary sessions, so that the entire group will be informed about the different components. 

In a second stage, SWAT will be applied to analyse the impact of climate change scenario's on the hydrologic 

response, erosion and water quality for a real river basin. The application results will be presented and 

discussed in plenary sessions. 

36 / Course syllabi

G8. GROUNDWATER MODELING 

(KUL-code: I864 (Th); I865(Pr)) 

Lecturer: DE SMEDT F. 


Contact hours: 30 hrs. theory and computer sessions/30 hrs. study case 

Prerequisites: Groundwater hydrology (C7), Mathematical methods (C1), Information technology 

(W1) 

Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB. 

Course syllabus: Course notes are available 

Evaluation: There is no formal exam. The students are asked to work a practical problem, i. e. the 

Woburn groundwater pollution case, for which all relevant material is available in the 

department. The students have to prepare a report and individual presentation of the 

conducted and achieved results, which will be graded as end result of the course. 

Comparable handbook: Wang, M.F., and M.P. Anderson, 1982. Introduction to groundwater modeling - Finite 

difference and finite element methods. W.M. Freeman and Co. 



The goal of the course is to teach the students how to use professional software for simulation and prediction of 

groundwater flow and pollutant transport, such that they are able to analyze any groundwater problem that they 

would encounter in their professional career by the computer programs that are available in scientific and 

commercial circuits. 


1. Introduction to groundwater modeling: 

Numerical techniques for steady and transient flow; numerical approximation of boundary conditions; 

matrix inversion techniques and iterative solvers; linear and non-linear problems; stability and convergence 

criteria. 

2. Introduction to groundwater pollution modeling: 

Numerical techniques for simulation of groundwater pollution; boundary conditions; flow tracking; 

numerical solvers; stability and convergence criteria. 

3. Introduction to MODFLOW and MT3D: 

Grid design; input of aquifer characteristics and boundary conditions; choice of solvers and stopping 

criteria; output facilities and graphical representation of results. 

4. Introduction to the Woburn pollution case. 

Practical study case: 

- Application of the MODFLOW and MT3D model to the Woburn groundwater pollution case. 


G9. IRRIGATION ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 


Lecturer: WYSEURE G. 



Prerequisites: hydraulics; irrigation agronomy 



Evaluation: Common mark for theory and practical. Evaluation on submitted projects. 

Comparable handbook: James, G.L., 1988. Principles of farm irrigation system design. John Wiley & Sons, 

Inc., 543 p. 

Ritzema H.P. (Ed. In chief). 1994. Drainage principles and applications. ILRI 

publication 16. Wageningen.1125 pages (ISBN 90 70754 3 39) 

Keller, J. and R.D. Bliesner, 1990. Sprinkle and trickle irrigation. A. Van Nostrand 

Reinhold Book, 652 p. 

Additional information: WWW-site: http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/vakken/G9IET.htm 


The learning objective is to learn how to design field application methods for drainage and irrigation. Rather 

than a systematic study of all possible systems selected design examples and projects are worked out. This 

course also aims at developing a problem-solving attitude with aid of ICT-tools. 


Within the framework of the MSc with courses in water management, hydrology and hydraulics and alongside a 

course in irrigation planning, operation and management and with a preceding course in irrigation agronomy 

this course focuses on the field application methods in drainage and irrigation. As a consequence water 

resources and distribution for irrigation engineering are not covered. 

1. General design criteria: General review of irrigation and drainage techniques. Importance of soil, climate 

and water resource in the selection of an irrigation and/or drainage method. Definition of objectives: 

application uniformity, adequacy and efficiency. General principles of lateral design. 

2. Drip Irrigation: Emitter hydraulics. Soil reservoir under drip irrigation. Filter and system head 

characteristics. Lateral design. 

3. Sprinkler Irrigation: Sprinkler hydraulics. Types of sprinkler systems. Lateral design 

4. Surface Irrigation: Surface irrigation hydraulics: advance, storage, depletion and recession. Land leveling 

for irrigation. Design of furrow, border and basin. 

5. Runoff Irrigation: Feasibility study based on socio-economical, climatological, hydrological, agromomical 

and soil conditions. Use of a simulation model (Parched-Thirst) as a design tool for Rainwater Harvesting. 

Choice of external/internal runoff and appropriate runoff catchment/cropped area proportion. Infrastructure 

for erosion and water excess control. 

6. Agricultural Drainage: Drainage principles; Subsurface drainage and modelling of water table dynamics; 

Surface drainage; Salinity control; Design criteria; Determination of physical parameters; Practical realization 

Contact time for general principles and as an introduction to design case-studies in supervised self-study. Field 

visits and practical fieldwork for basic data collection. Students complete a design project, which is reported in 

written and oral form. 

38 / Course syllabi

G10. PLANNING, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS 

(KUL-code: I717(Th); I893 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: RAES D. 



Prerequisites: Irrigation agronomy (C8) 



Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems 

Comparable handbook: FAO Irrigation and Drainage Papers (Rome, Italy): 

N° 33 (1979) - Yield response to water. 193 p. 

N° 40 (1982) - Organization, operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes. 166 p. 

N° 45 (1989) - Guidelines for designing and evaluating surface irrigation systems. 137 p. 

N° 46 (1992) - CROPWAT, A computer program for irrigation planning and management. 

126 p. 

N° 56 (1998) - Crop Evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water 

requirements. 300 p. 

Additional information: The course consists of a number of theoretical classes and a set of practical real-live 

problems that the students have to solve (examination). 

Teaching is in English 


The aim of the course is to provide techniques and calculation procedures for achieving optimal and efficient 

operation and management of irrigation systems. During practical sessions the students receive training in the 

use of software packages that are helpful for the development of irrigation plans and for the management of 

multicrop systems and rice schemes. At the end of the course the students should be able to optimize and 

manage the water supply for irrigation schemes. 


1. Planning of irrigation systems (Why develop irrigated agriculture? Development stages). 

2. Management of irrigation systems (Operation, maintenance and assistance services; Associations of 

irrigation water users). 

3. Planning water supply (Estimating future water supply and water demand; Setting up rotation delivery 

schedules. Planning water supply for flooded rice). 

4. Distribution of water (Water distribution methods; Water delivery control systems; Principles of the 

operation of hydraulic structures). 

5. Measures to match supply and demand (Reduction of the water deficit; Use of unconventional water 

sources; Optimization of the water allocation). 

6. Monitoring the water supply and performance of the system. 

The practical exercises aim to train the students in the development of irrigation plans for multiple cropping 

systems and rice schemes. Charts for guiding irrigation in real time in response to actual weather and water 

limiting conditions have to be worked out as well. The following software packages are used in the practical 

sessions: 

- IRSIS: Irrigation scheduling information systems (K.U.Leuven). 

- CROPWAT: (FAO) 

- BUDGET: a soil water and salt balance model (K.U.Leuven) 

- BIRIZ: water requirements for rice schemes (K.U.Leuven) 

- SIMIS: scheme irrigation management information system (FAO) 


40 / Course syllabi

G11. HYDRAULIC MODELLING 

(KUL-code: HF40 (Th); HF41 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: DELLEUR J. / BERLAMONT J. 



Prerequisites: Mathematics for water engineering (C2), Hydraulics (C5) 


Part 1 (Delleur J.) 


Evaluation: One closed book examination on theory, one open book examination on problems, four 

reports on computer-based exercises. 

Comparable books: Sturm, T.W. “Open Channel Hydraulics”, Mc Graw-Hill, 2001. Particularly chapter 7 

on Governing Equations of Unsteady Flow, Chapter 8 on Numerical Solution of the 

Unsteady Flow Equations and Chapter 9 on Simplified Methods of Flow Routing. 

Jain, S.C. “Open Channel Flow”, John Wiley and Sons, 2000. Presents clear and 

complete derivations of the basic equations and their solution. 

Learning objectives: Due to the variability of rainfall, most natural flows are time dependent. It is therefore 

important to grasp the analysis of unsteady flows. The objectives of the course are thus to understand the 

equations governing unsteady free surface flows, to comprehend the available methods of solution and to 

acquire some familiarity with a few of the professional softwares available for the solution of unsteady free 

surface flow problems. 


The course starts with the derivation of the hyperbolic partial differential equations of unsteady free surface 

flow (St. Venant Equations). Their theoretical solution by the method of characteristics is examined next. It is 

demonstrated by a computer exercise based on the Pin-Nam Lin method (Ven Te Chow). 

Then numerical solutions are considered: The first is the method of specified intervals, based on the 

characteristic equations. It is illustrated by a computer exercise. Following this, are the explicit and implicit 

formulations of the finite difference forms, of the St. Venant equations. These are illustrated in the model 

FLDWAV (unsteady flow in rivers). It is the most comprehensive software available for flood forecasting. 

Then simplified methods, including the diffusion and the kinematic wave are considered. The software program 

KINEROS illustrates the application of the kinematic wave to the modeling of overland flow and upland small 

streams. It includes infiltration and erosion components. It can be used for both agricultural and urban 

watersheds. An exercise is planned for the illustration of KINEROS. The combination of KINEROS for the 

upland watersheds and FLDWAV for the main rivers provides the necessary tools for complete hydraulic 

modeling of surface waters. 

Part 2 (Berlamont J.) 

Time and place: 1st semester, 7 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.L. 

Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems 

Comparable books: Butler D. & Davies J.W. (2000), “Urban drainage”, Spon, London 

Berlamont J. (1997), “Rioleringen” (in Dutch), Acco, Leuven 


The students should be able to design water supply systems and waste-water collection systems using modern 

commercial software packages (e.g. “Hydroworks” for sewer networks). They should be able to critically 

evaluate the numerical results. 



1. Water supply: analysis of water distribution networks incl. distributing reservoirs, pumps and surge tanks 

2. Waste-water collection systems: types of sewer systems; waste-water volumes; flow in partially filled 

pipes; sewer network analysis; sediment transport in sewers: minimum grades, limiting flow velocities; 

diversion frequency; pollution of the receiving surface water; pumping equipment; and modeling of 

sewer systems. 

Practical work consists of: 

- Design of water distribution networks 

- Design of sewer systems 

42 / Course syllabi

G12. WATER AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT 


Lecturer: VERELST H. 



Prerequisites: Principles of microbiology, biochemistry, fluid mechanics 

Time and place: 1 st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB 

Course syllabus: Lecture notes and copies of slides 

Evaluation: Written examination; oral 2 nd chance 

Comparable handbook: Henze, Harremoes,..; Wastewater Treatment, 2 nd edition, Springer Verlag, 1997, ISBN: 3- 

540-62702-2 

Coulson and Richardson, Chemical Engineering part 2, 4 th edition, Pergamon, 1991, ISBN: 

0-08-032957-5 



Students should obtain knowledge of properties, main parameters and the design of water treatment units, both 

for waste water treatment, as for drinking water production. They should be able to calculate primary and 

secondary treatment units, based on basic physical, chemical and biological phenomena. 


The aim of the course is to acquire an in-depth knowledge in the characteristics, functioning and design of 

different drinking water and waste-water treatment plants. 

1. Water and drinking water treatment unit operations: filtration, centrifugation, flocculation, ion exchange, 

chlorination. 

2. Mechanical treatment of waste-water. 

3. Aerobic waste-water treatment: biokinetics, conception of aerobic basins, design, activated sludge plants. 

4. Anaerobic waste-water treatment: biokinetics, biomethanation. 

5. Technological aspects of primary and secondary water treatment units. 

6. Advanced waste-water treatment: overview of new high-rate reactor designs 

7. Tertiary waste-water treatment: principle, chemical processes, biological processes for nutrient removal, 

design 

8. Sludge treatment: biomethanation, dewatering. 


Design, dimensioning and modeling of a drinking water treatment plant. Design, dimensioning and modeling 

of a lagoon system and a sludge treatment plant. 

Visits to wastewater treatment plants. 


G13. MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY 

(KUL-code: GM24 (Th); GM25 (Pr)) 

Lecturer: OLLEVIER F. / BRENDONCK L. 



Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of aquatic ecology, hydrology, microbiology, biochemistry, organic 

and inorganic chemistry 



Evaluation: Quotation on a personal work (case study) and an oral exam with written preparation 

Comparable handbook: Water quality monitoring, Eds. J. Bartram & R. Ballance, E&FN SPON (Chapman and 

Hall), London, 1996, ISBN 0-419-21730-4 

Water quality assessments, Ed. D. Chapman E&FN SPON (Chapman and Hall), 

London, 1996, ISBN 0-419-21590-5 

Principles of ecotoxicology, second edition, Eds. C.H. Walker, S.P. Hopkin, R.M. 

Sibly, D.B. Peakall, Taylor and Francis, London, 2001, ISBN 0-7484-0940-8 



The course aims at providing an in-depth knowledge of physical-chemical and biological methods for 

monitoring water quality, to provide the students with the necessary tools for the design of a purpose-oriented 

monitoring programme. Basic knowledge of the structure and function (e.g. courses C9- Aquatic Ecology and 

G14- Advanced Aquatic Ecology) and the hydrological characteristics (e.g. courses C6-7- surface and 

groundwater hydrology; courses G7-8- surface and groundwater modeling) of aquatic ecosystems is integrated 

for the proper interpretation of water quality data, to predict the impact of pollution on the natural environment 

and for water resource management. Special attention is given to the interdisciplinary character of 

ecotoxicological research and monitoring programmes and to the need for an integration of the monitoring data 

with the physical, hydrological and ecological characteristics of the catchment area and the various transport, 

transformation, degradation and accumulation pathways that lead to the observed distribution patterns of 

pollutants in the water and in organisms. Special emphasis is given to implementing monitoring programmes in 

remote areas and in developing countries taking into consideration any practical limitations (e.g. financial 

resources). As such the students will also get a good feeling of the vulnerability of the aquatic systems and the 

need for working out a realistic and well budgeted monitoring and management scheme in relation to any 

economical developments in the area considered. By this integration of monitoring and management strategies 

in an ecological and sociological context, several of the IUPWARE learning points are met. 


A) General: 

- Introduction to pollution: types of physical-chemical pollution of surface and groundwater; effects of 

contamination of water with pathogenic bacteria and viruses; effects of pollution and eutrophication on the 

ecology of streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries and marine waters; 

- Introduction to ecotoxicology: impact of environmental conditions on the toxicity of compounds; 

introduction to the criteria for the evaluation of toxicity (LC50, EC50, NOEC, MATC); biological 

transformation, biodegradation and bio-accumulation of compounds; advantages and shortcomings of singlespecies 

tests and tests using community or ecosystem responses; and 

- Critical evaluation of merits and problems with physical-chemical and biological monitoring; 

B) Physical-chemical monitoring: 

- Measuring physical properties of water; 

- Analysis of chemical properties of water; 

- Water quality assessment: water quality criteria, norms, water quality indices; and 

- Sampling strategies and techniques for physical-chemical monitoring of water quality; 

C) Biological and microbiological monitoring: 

44 / Course syllabi

- Biological monitoring systems for surface water, groundwater and sediments: early warning systems 

(continuous monitoring), bio-assays, ecotoxicological tests, assessment systems based on bio-indicators (e.g. 

macro-invertebrates, fish) and diversity criteria; 

- Microbiological methods for monitoring (pathogenic) bacteria and viruses in water; and 

- Sampling strategies and techniques for (micro)biological communities. 

D) The students should be able to produce, in an interactive way and making use of the course syllabus and 

suggested handbooks, a personal work that involves the design of a detailed monitoring scheme for a 

realistic situation, that takes into account practical limitations (e.g. limitation of resources, social 

constraints), and that aims at an optimal integration of hydrological information and physical, chemical and 

biological monitoring techniques. 


G14. ADVANCED AQUATIC ECOLOGY 


Lecturer: DE MEESTER L. 



Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of aquatic ecology and ecological concepts 



Evaluation: Quotation on a personal work and an oral exam with written preparation 

Comparable handbook: Limnoecology: The ecology of lakes and streams, W. Lampert & U. Sommer, Oxford 

University Press, 1997 

Introduction to ecological modeling, putting theory into practice, M. Gillman & R. 

Hails, Blackwell Science, 1997 

Moss, B., 1998. Ecology of Fresh Waters, Man and Medium, Past to future. Third ed. 

Blackwell Science. 

The ecology of tropical lakes and rivers, A.I. Payne, 1986, John Wiley & Sons, New 

York 



The course aims at providing the students an in-depth insight into central concepts and new developments in 

aquatic ecology, with emphasis on topics that are particularly relevant to tropical and subtropical systems. 

Building on a basic knowledge of the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems (e.g. course on Aquatic 

Ecology, GM22), it is the purpose that the student obtains the necessary insight and skills to design monitoring 

and experimental studies in aquatic ecosystems. Concepts are introduced in such a way that they can be 

incorporated into models describing ecological relationships within aquatic ecosystems, such that their 

responses to perturbations and management practices can be evaluated. In doing this, much emphasis is also 

given to the design of field and experimental studies that are intended to collect the data and parameter values 

necessary to build realistic models. 


A) Ecological concepts: 

- Concepts in population biology: dynamics of competitive and predator-prey interactions (data, case studies 

and models); meta-population dynamics; 

- Patterns and dynamics of bio-diversity; 

- Concepts in landscape ecology ; and 

- Concepts in evolutionary biology (e.g. life history evolution, dispersal in time and space, dia-pause 

strategies; uncertainty and bet-hedging); 

B) Tropical and subtropical aquatic biomes: 

- Tropical rivers and pseudo-terrestrial ecosystems; 

- Ephemeral pools; 

- Ancient lake biota; and 

- Salt lakes and salt marshes; 

C) Applied issues: 

- Resistance, resilience, recovery; 

- Dynamics of overexploitation; 

- The introduction of exotic species; 

- Global change and large-scale impacts; and 

- Lake management 

D) Tools: 

- Strengths and weaknesses of the experimental approach; experimental design; 

46 / Course syllabi

- Modeling of ecological processes: descriptive and predictive modeling; parameter implementation; 

simulation exercises 


K.U.Leuven VUB 

Advanced Academic Education Department of Hydrology and 

Group Exact Sciences Hydraulic Engineering 

Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 Pleinlaan 2 

3001 Leuven (Heverlee) 1050 Brussel 

Tel: +32-16-32 17 44 Tel: +32-2-629 30 21 

Fax: +32-16-32 19 56 Fax: +32-2-629 30 22 

Email:greta.camps@agr.kuleuven.ac.be Email: hydr@vub.ac.be 

Telex: 61051 VUBCO-B 

48 / Course syllabi 

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