Water Resources Engineering - Homepage Usask
Water Resources Engineering - Homepage Usask
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Interuniversity Programme in<br />
<strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
2-year Master of Science Programme<br />
The Course Syllabi<br />
Version 21-8-2002<br />
K.U.Leuven VUB<br />
Advanced Academic Education Department of Hydrology and<br />
Group Exact Sciences Hydraulic <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 Pleinlaan 2<br />
3001 Leuven (Heverlee) 1050 Brussel<br />
Tel: +32-16-32 17 44 Tel: +32-2-629 30 21<br />
Fax: +32-16-32 19 56 Fax: +32-2-629 30 22<br />
Email: greta.camps@agr.kuleuven.ac.be Email: hydr@vub.ac.be<br />
Telex: 61051 VUBCO-B<br />
http://www.iupware.be
Course syllabi / Contents<br />
CONTENTS<br />
1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 1<br />
2 THE COURSE SYLLABI OF THE STUDY CURRICULUM FOR THE DEGREE OF<br />
COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES (GAS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING............... 3<br />
2.1 COURSES ............................................................................................................................................4<br />
C1: CALCULUS .................................................................................................................................4<br />
C2. MATHEMATICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING .....................................................................5<br />
C3. STATISTICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING ............................................................................7<br />
C4. LAND EVALUATION ................................................................................................................9<br />
C5. HYDRAULICS...........................................................................................................................10<br />
C6. SURFACE HYDROLOGY ........................................................................................................11<br />
C7. GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY...........................................................................................12<br />
C8. IRRIGATION AGRONOMY.....................................................................................................13<br />
C9. AQUATIC ECOLOGY ..............................................................................................................15<br />
C10. WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT.............................................................................16<br />
2.2 WORKSHOPS....................................................................................................................................17<br />
W1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................17<br />
W2. HYDROMETRY ........................................................................................................................18<br />
W3. SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF WATER ENGINEERING ..19<br />
W4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .......................................................................20<br />
W5. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS .........................................21<br />
3 THE COURSE SYLLABI OF THE STUDY CURRICULUM FOR THE DEGREE OF<br />
MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING .......................... 22<br />
3.1 COMMON CORE COURSES MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES<br />
ENGINEERING .............................................................................................................................................23<br />
G1. GIS & REMOTE SENSING IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ..............................24<br />
G2. ENGINEERING HYDRAULICS...............................................................................................26<br />
G3. WATER QUALITY MODELING .............................................................................................27<br />
G4. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO WATER MANAGEMENT.........................................................30<br />
G5. MANAGEMENT OF WATER USE AND RE-USE .................................................................31<br />
G6. INTEGRATED PROJECT DESIGN..........................................................................................33<br />
SEMINARS ............................................................................................................................................34<br />
THESIS RESEARCH.............................................................................................................................35<br />
3.2 OPTIONAL COURSES .....................................................................................................................36<br />
G7. SURFACE WATER MODELING .............................................................................................36<br />
G8. GROUNDWATER MODELING...............................................................................................37<br />
G9. IRRIGATION ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY.................................................................38<br />
G10. PLANNING, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS...............39<br />
G11. HYDRAULIC MODELLING ....................................................................................................41<br />
G12. WATER AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT .....................................................................43<br />
G13. MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY...................................................................................44<br />
G14. ADVANCED AQUATIC ECOLOGY.......................................................................................46
1 INTRODUCTION<br />
The main objective of this publication is to provide a complete description of the syllabi of graduate courses<br />
offered by the Interuniversity Programme in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>. In addition the publication aims at<br />
assisting potential students in selecting one of the programme options offered in the 2nd year of the study<br />
programme in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>.<br />
The 1st year, which is a compulsory programme for all trainees, is an introductory year, also called "GAS" or<br />
Programme of Complementary Studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>. The number of courses in the 1st year<br />
is 10, complemented with one prerequisite in Calculus and 5 workshops on various aspects of <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong><br />
<strong>Engineering</strong>. A detailed description of the content of the courses taught in the 1st year is offered in Section 2 of<br />
this brochure.<br />
In the “GGS” programme or study curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong><br />
<strong>Engineering</strong>, a common core together with eight optional courses is offered. The optional courses make a<br />
specialization in Hydrology, Irrigation, <strong>Water</strong> Quality and Aquatic Ecology possible. A description of the<br />
courses is given in the Sections 3 of the brochure.<br />
Introduction / 1
2 THE COURSE SYLLABI OF THE STUDY CURRICULUM FOR THE DEGREE OF<br />
COMPLEMENTARY STUDIES (GAS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING<br />
The total load of the degree course of Complementary Studies is 60 units, spread over 2 semesters, or 30 units *<br />
per semester (13 effective weeks). The first semester lasts from September to January, the second semester from<br />
February to May. There are 2-week holidays at Christmas/New Year and at Easter. One lecture hour per week<br />
per semester represents approximately 1.75 units. Exercises, practicals and workshops have a value of<br />
approximately 0.75 units per hour per week.<br />
The summary table gives a list of the subjects taught, the volume of each subject expressed in number of<br />
contact hours for theory and practicals, and the equivalent load of the course in credit units.<br />
Programme structure of the GAS ‘Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
1 st Year<br />
3 / Course syllabi<br />
Total of<br />
ECTS<br />
G.A.S. Credits:.<br />
Complementary Studies Th. Pr. 60<br />
Courses 270 300 45<br />
C1 Calculus (pre-requisite) - 30 -<br />
C2 Mathematics for water engineering 30 30 5<br />
C3 Statistics for water engineering 30 30 5<br />
C4 Land evaluation 30 30 5<br />
C5 Hydraulics 30 30 5<br />
C6 Surface hydrology 30 30 5<br />
C7 Groundwater hydrology 30 30 5<br />
C8 Irrigation agronomy 30 30 5<br />
C9 Aquatic ecology 30 30 5<br />
C10 <strong>Water</strong> quality and treatment 30 30 5<br />
Workshops 180 15<br />
W1 Information technology - 60 3<br />
W2 Hydrometry - 30 3<br />
W3 Social, political and institutional aspects of - 30 3<br />
water engineering<br />
W4 Environmental impact assessment - 30 3<br />
W5 Economic analysis of water resources projects - 30 3<br />
In the following section a description of the content of courses and workshops taught in the “GAS” is given:<br />
Calculus (pre-requisite), Mathematics for water engineering, Statistics for water engineering, Land evaluation,<br />
Hydraulics, Surface hydrology, Groundwater hydrology, Irrigation agronomy, Aquatic ecology, <strong>Water</strong> quality<br />
and treatment, Information technology, Hydrometry, Social, political and institutional aspects of water<br />
engineering, Environmental impact assessment and Economic analysis of water resources projects.<br />
* ECTS : European Community Course Credit Transfer System
2.1 COURSES<br />
C1: CALCULUS<br />
(KUL-code: I725)<br />
Lecturer: MONBALIU J.<br />
ECTS-credit: -<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus and matrix algebra<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 7 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Exercises (written, closed book, sheet with formulas permitted)<br />
Comparable handbook: Schaum's outline of "Theory and problems of advanced calculus"; "Theory and<br />
problems of matrices"; and "Theory and problems of vector analysis"<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
Refresh basic knowledge of calculus and matrix algebra. Mathematical models are commonplace and are<br />
widely used by engineers dealing with water resources. Basic calculus and some knowledge of matrix algebra<br />
are needed to be able to understand the more advanced analytical and numerical techniques applied.<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the prerequisite is to review basic mathematical techniques frequently encountered and applied in<br />
the field of water engineering resources.<br />
1. Calculus:<br />
- functions;<br />
- series expansion of functions;<br />
- continuity and limits;<br />
- differentials and integrals with one or more variables;<br />
- numerical methods for differentiation and integration;<br />
- zero of a function (Newton's method) ; maxima and minima (generalization towards optimization<br />
problems); and<br />
- differential equations.<br />
2. Linear algebra:<br />
- matrices: definition, add, multiply, transpose,..;<br />
- equivalence: row, column;<br />
- determinant of a square matrix;<br />
- inverse of a square matrix;<br />
- solution of linear equations; and<br />
- Jacobian and Hessian matrices.<br />
3. Vectors and scalars:<br />
- vector fields;<br />
- scalar fields;<br />
- gradient;<br />
- divergence; and<br />
- curl.<br />
Basic theory is given (without rigorous proofs). Classroom exercises and home assignments are given to<br />
assimilate the material.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 4
C2. MATHEMATICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING<br />
(KUL-code: HF38 (Th); HF39 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: MONBALIU J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus, matrix algebra and numerical methods; use of a<br />
spreadsheet<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral exam with written preparation<br />
Comparable handbook: C.R. Wylie & L.C. Barret. Advanced engineering mathematics. Mc Graw-Hill<br />
K. Arbenz & A. Wohlhauser. Advanced mathematics for practicing engineers. Artech<br />
House<br />
Lecture notes on computational hydraulics<br />
Additional information: Emphasis is on exercises (hand-on experience); many exercises need to be solved on<br />
computer (spreadsheet); students are introduced to the matlab software package for the<br />
solution of certain problems.<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
- become familiar with mathematical formulations in fluid flow problems<br />
- become familiar with some elementary numerical techniques for solving fluid flow problems<br />
- distinguish between ‘exact’ solution and numerical approximation<br />
- learn how to deal with different notations in different text books<br />
Mathematical models are commonplace and are widely used by engineers dealing with water resources.<br />
Knowledge of and critical insight in analytical and numerical techniques is however essential not only when<br />
one wants to use these models, but also for understanding and evaluating their outcome.<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the course is to introduce advanced mathematical techniques for analyzing fluid mechanics and for<br />
obtaining practical solutions for fluid flow problems. The course covers a selection from each of the three<br />
topics given below.<br />
1. Mathematical theory of fluid mechanics:<br />
- functions, vectors and tensors;<br />
- gradient, divergence and rotation operators; theorems of Green and Stokes; properties of irrotational,<br />
conservative and potential flow fields;<br />
- time derivatives; velocity and acceleration, material derivatives; particle paths, equipotential and<br />
streamlines;<br />
- coordinate systems and transformation rules; Jacobian and Hessian matrices.<br />
2. Partial differential equations for describing fluid dynamics:<br />
- characteristics and classification of differential equations;<br />
- properties of first order differential equations; solutions of kinematic wave equations and advection<br />
equations;<br />
- properties of 2nd order elliptic partial differential equations; Laplace and Poisson equations related to<br />
stationary flow problems; and<br />
- properties of 2nd order parabolic partial differential equations; diffusion problems, advection dispersion<br />
equations.<br />
3. Numerical techniques:<br />
- numerical solution of systems of linear equations; relaxation techniques and conjugate gradient methods;<br />
- numerical solution of nonlinear equations, and systems of nonlinear equations;<br />
- numerical techniques for interpolation, differentiation and integration; and<br />
- least squares fitting and optimization techniques.<br />
The practical work consists of a selection from:<br />
5 / Course syllabi
- Exercises on functions and vector fields; calculation of potential functions and velocity fields, verification of<br />
conservation and rotation properties;<br />
- Calculation of path lines and streamlines for simple fluid flow problems;<br />
- Transformation of coordinate systems;<br />
- Solution of a kinematic wave equation problem, determination of wave velocities and mass transport<br />
velocities;<br />
- Solution of a Laplace problem with Fourier transformation: principle of superposition;<br />
- Solution of a diffusion problem with the Laplace transformation;<br />
- Computer exercises on solution of systems of linear equations;<br />
- Computer exercises on solutions of nonlinear problems;<br />
- Computer exercises on interpolation, differentiation and integration of discrete data sets; and<br />
- Computer exercises on curve fitting techniques.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 6
C3. STATISTICS FOR WATER ENGINEERING<br />
(KUL-code: I742 (Th); I743 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: WILLEMS P.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory / 30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes + selection of texts from different handbooks<br />
Evaluation: Oral exam with prepared exercises, additional information on the exam will be provided<br />
to the students.<br />
Comparable handbook: Shahin, M., H.J.L. Van Oorschot and S.J. Lange, 1993. Statistical analysis in water<br />
resources engineering. Applied Hydrology Monographs 1. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam,<br />
394 p.<br />
Benjamin, J.R. and C.A. Cornell, 1987. Probability, statistics, and decision for civil<br />
engineers. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 652 p.<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The learning objective of the course is to give the students a fundamental knowledge and a pratical<br />
understanding of the common techniques for data processing in hydrology and water management. This<br />
knowledge and understanding must allow the students to select and apply most appropriate techniques to<br />
summarize and organize data. It also allows them to have an insight in the limitations of data collection, and the<br />
corresponding consequences for the water management. More specifically, the consequences to the<br />
development and the calibration of mathematical models and other predictive tools are discussed. Also the<br />
consequences to the evaluation, the exploitation and the management of the water systems are addressed. The<br />
latter water management and research tasks may be based on mathematical modelling or not. The understanding<br />
of the data limitations and their consequences are also useful in setting up most appropriate data collection<br />
programs for specific water management and planning problems. Based on discussions of the different<br />
uncertainty sources, also a fundamental insight is given in the general process of mathematical modelling. By<br />
using examples from specific water fields (surface hydrology, hydraulics, wastewater treatment, …) in the<br />
lectures and the pratical sessions, this course has an important interaction with the other courses.<br />
Course description:<br />
An overview is given of the important concepts of probability and statistics as they are used in hydrology and<br />
water management. After an introduction of the basic terminology, an overview is given of techniques for data<br />
handling and data processing. These techniques can be classified into two groups: descriptive statistics and<br />
inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, most common techniques are considered for summarizing and<br />
organizing the data in a sample (a dataset). These consist of both numerical and graphical techniques. In<br />
inferential statistics, techniques are studied to draw conclusions about the physical reality (the full population),<br />
based on a limited amount of data available (a sample). Regarding the latter techniques, also the notion of<br />
mathematical modelling is explained together with the different sources of uncertainty involved. In this way,<br />
the students are given a basic understanding of the limitations of mathematical modelling and their<br />
consequences to water management and planning decisions.<br />
The course uses examples in theory as well as for the exercises. These examples are mainly hydrological and<br />
water quality data that are typically available for surface waters.<br />
The following topics are addressed in the course, in chronological order:<br />
1. Initial definitions:<br />
statistics, probability, hydrological variables, -series, -processes and -data;<br />
population vs. sample, errors in data<br />
2. Descriptive statistics:<br />
- Presentation of data:<br />
7 / Course syllabi
- histogram, frequency distribution, frequency density distribution<br />
- cumulative frequency distribution<br />
- box-plot<br />
- graphical representations of a time series<br />
- empirical quantile plot<br />
- Q-Q plot<br />
- Statistical descriptors of data:<br />
- mean, root mean square, median<br />
- quantiles<br />
- variance, st. dev., mean dev., coefficient of variation, moments<br />
- coeff. of skewness, coeff. of kurtosis<br />
3. Probability theory:<br />
- Elementary probability theory<br />
- probability laws<br />
- probability mass function, probability density function, cum. distribution function<br />
- moments of distributions of random variables<br />
- Probability distributions<br />
- model of sums: normal; model of products: lognormal<br />
- model of time between events: exponential (Poisson process), Gamma, Pearson III<br />
- Pareto, Weibull, beta, uniform prob. distributions<br />
- normal related or sampling distributions: t-, Chi-square, F- distributions<br />
- modified distributions: truncated and compound distributions<br />
- multivariate distributions<br />
- Estimation of parameters<br />
- method of moments<br />
- maximum likelihood method<br />
- confidence intervals<br />
- Testing statistical hypotheses<br />
incl. trend tests, goodness-of-fit tests, serial correlation tests<br />
- Frequency analysis / Extreme value analysis<br />
- periodic maxima method vs. peak-over-threshold method<br />
- GEV vs. GPD distributions<br />
- extreme value index, distribution classes<br />
- return period<br />
4. Regression and correlation<br />
incl. discussion on different types of uncertainty sources in modelling<br />
and the calculation of parameter uncertainties and prediction uncertainties<br />
5. Introduction to time series analysis and stochastic modelling<br />
- autocorrelation, autocovariance<br />
- (semi-)variogram<br />
- ARMA model<br />
- Kalman filter<br />
- Random simulations<br />
The practical work consists of the application of these techniques for a number of datasets (time series of river<br />
discharges, simultaneous measurements of water levels and discharges in a river, BOD concentrations at the<br />
influent and the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant, …). The following techniques are applied to these<br />
datasets:<br />
- selection, calibration and plotting of probability distributions<br />
- regression and correlation + error analysis + statistical hypothesis tests<br />
- confidence limits for model parameters, model prediction uncertainty<br />
- extreme value analysis, return period calculation<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 8
C4. LAND EVALUATION<br />
(KUL-code: I839 (Th); I700 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DECKERS J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of general pedology<br />
Time and place: 2 nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Oral examination, submission of a paper and quotation on seminar work<br />
Comparable handbook: Driessen, P., Deckers, J., Spaargaren, O., and Nachtergaele, F., (Eds), 2001. Lecture<br />
Notes on the Major Soils of the World, World Soil <strong>Resources</strong> Reports Nr. 94, FAO,<br />
Rome, Italy.<br />
Deckers, J., Nachtergaele, F., Spaargaren, O., 1998. World Reference Base for Soil<br />
<strong>Resources</strong>. Introduction, ACCO Publishers, ISBN 90-334-4124-1, 165 pp.<br />
Additional information: Students who have interesting case studies from their home country are welcome to<br />
bring them during the seminars for discussion.<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
This course aims to bring awareness among the students on land as a carrier of all our economic activities and<br />
of the natural ecosystem. The students therefore will have to get acquainted with basic principles of soil,<br />
climatic and socio-economic assessment as well as with specific requirements of land utilization types. For the<br />
end terms more emphasis is given on general comprehension than to mere encyclopedial knowledge. The<br />
alumni of this programme should be well enough informed to ask the right questions, to think in an<br />
interdisciplinary way, whenever they are in a decision making position.<br />
Course description:<br />
The objective of the course Land Evaluation is to train the students in a series of methodologies and approaches<br />
to predict the suitability of land for specific uses from land properties. These approaches are based on the<br />
physical, chemical and biological land properties, and incorporate hydrological features, socio-economic factors<br />
and environmental and health aspects.<br />
The course encompasses the following topics:<br />
1. Basic principles of land evaluation;<br />
2. Agro-ecological zoning: an overview of soil and climate inventory procedures;<br />
3. Requirements of land utilization types;<br />
4. Land evaluation for irrigation;<br />
5. Sustainability issues for land evaluation with emphasis on irrigated agriculture; and<br />
6. Processes of land degradation and soil conservation measures for sustainable land use.<br />
7. Land evaluation for forestry<br />
8. Land evaluation for extensive grassland<br />
9. Global change issues<br />
The practical exercises aim to highlight the practice of land evaluation, through excursions, contacts with guest<br />
speakers and the analysis of land evaluation case studies.<br />
9 / Course syllabi
C5. HYDRAULICS<br />
(KUL-code: H518 (Th); H965 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: BERLAMONT J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of advanced mathematics<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral exams with written preparation<br />
Comparable handbook: French, 1985. Open channel hydraulics. Mc Graw Hill<br />
A.L. Simon, 1976. Practical hydraulics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.<br />
A. Chadwick and J. Morfett, 1998. Hydraulics in civil and environmental engineering,<br />
Spon<br />
J.F. Douglas et al., 1995. Fluid Mechanics. Longman<br />
M. C. Potter and D.C. Wiggert, 1997; Mechanics of Fluids, Printice Hall<br />
R. L. Street et al, 1996. Elementary Fluid Mechanics, J. Wiley & Sons, Inc.<br />
I. Shames. 1992. Mechanics of Fluids, McGraw Hill<br />
R. L. Mott, 2000. Applied Fluid Mechanics, Prentice Hall<br />
H. Chanson, 1999. The hydraulics of open channel flow, Arnold<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The aim of the course is to enable the students to analyze and design: (i) pipes and pipe networks; (ii) open<br />
channels and open channel networks; and (iii) drainage canals.<br />
Course description:<br />
1. Review of relevant hydraulics;<br />
2. Pipe flow: friction losses, local head losses;<br />
3. Pipe networks (branched and looped networks):<br />
- H. Cross, Newton Raphson, linear method; and<br />
- (cost) optimization;<br />
4. Pumps and pumping stations;<br />
5. Steady flow in open prismatic channels:<br />
- Concept of specific energy, uniform depth, critical depth;<br />
- <strong>Water</strong> surface profiles;<br />
- Upstream & downstream boundary conditions; and<br />
- Determination of water surface profiles;<br />
6. Erosion and sedimentation criteria; and<br />
7. Design of stable (unlined) canals.<br />
The students are trained in :<br />
- Measurement of pump and pipe characteristics;<br />
- Manual calculations (cfr. objectives); and<br />
- Use of computer programs for the design of:<br />
* pipe systems (incl. optimization);<br />
* open channels; and<br />
* stable unlined canals.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 10
C6. SURFACE HYDROLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: I746 (Th); I747 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: BAUWENS W.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Graduate level mathematics, physics, fluid dynamics<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Examination on the lectured topics: written preparation (2hrs) followed by an oral<br />
discussion (closed book) (3/4) and assessment of tutorial reports (1/4). The exam<br />
requirements are stated – for each subject – in the lecture notes.<br />
Comparable handbook: Chow V.T., 1988. Applied hydrology. Mc. Graw Hill (ISBN 0-07-010810-2)<br />
Bauwens W, 1996. Surface hydrology (Lecture notes and solved exercises)<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The course provides the basic knowledge about the hydrologic cycle, the rainfall-runoff process and flood<br />
routing techniques. Additional topics include statistical models and an introduction to hydrologic modelling.<br />
With this background, the students should be able to deal with the classical hydrologic design procedures.<br />
Moreover, these basics should allow them to understand the concepts used in more elaborate techniques and in<br />
integrated hydrologic models.<br />
Course description:<br />
• The hydrologic cycle, runoff mechanisms and water balances<br />
• Rainfall data for hydrologic design<br />
• Rainfall losses (interception, storage, infiltration, evapotranspiration)<br />
• The runoff concentration (unit hydrograph, reservoir models)<br />
• Flood routing (hydraulic and hydrologic methods)<br />
• Statistical methods for hydrologic problems<br />
• Introduction to hydrologic modelling<br />
11 / Course syllabi
C7. GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: I748 (Th); I749 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DE SMEDT F.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Hydraulics, Hydrology and Geology contents<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Course notes are available<br />
Evaluation: The exam is open book. The students are tested on their insight in fundamental<br />
understanding of the material and their ability to interpret and process information<br />
concerning groundwater occurrence and dynamics. The overall result is obtained as 2/3<br />
on the exam and 1/3 of marks given on the exercises.<br />
Comparable handbook: Freeze, R.A., and G.A. Cherry, 1979. Groundwater. Prentice Hall, Inc., 604 p.<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The goal of this course is to give the student a fundamental understanding of the principles and practical<br />
applications of groundwater occurrence and behavior, such that the student can interpret observations in a<br />
correct way, calculate and predict groundwater amounts and movement, and in general be able to manage<br />
groundwater in a sustainable way.<br />
Course description:<br />
1. Fundamentals: groundwater and the hydrologic cycle; occurrence of underground water; basic properties as<br />
porosity, water content, groundwater potential, flux and velocity; Darcy's law; measurement techniques for<br />
groundwater potential and conductivity;<br />
2. Natural groundwater flow: hydrogeological classification of ground layers; aquifer types; groundwater flow<br />
systems; unsaturated zone; saturated groundwater flow and storage in artesian and phreatic aquifers and in<br />
aquitards; the hydraulic groundwater flow approach and the flow net theory;<br />
3. Groundwater abstraction techniques: advantages of groundwater use; wells and galleries; principles of well<br />
flow as cone of depression, radius of influence, maximum and specific capacity; interference between wells<br />
and aquifer boundaries; pumping test analysis; design of well fields; safe yield and groundwater<br />
management;<br />
4. Groundwater chemistry: groundwater chemical constituents and main processes; oxygen status and organic<br />
matter decay in unsaturated and saturated groundwater layers; mineral dissolution and ion evolution cycle;<br />
groundwater isotopes; groundwater pollution sources and major pollutants; measurement techniques and<br />
interpretation and classification of water types; groundwater quality assessment and protection techniques;<br />
Practical exercises:<br />
- Analyses of field samples: determination of porosity, water content, density and hydraulic conductivity;<br />
- Field measurement techniques: interpretation of slug tests in auger holes and piezometers;<br />
- Calculations of groundwater flow in artesian and phreatic aquifers using piezometric readings;<br />
- Flow net analyses using piezometric data and field reconnaissance for hydrogeological mapping and<br />
interpretation;<br />
- Analyses and interpretation of drawdown around pumping wells and pumping test experiments;<br />
- Design of groundwater pumping wells and well fields; and<br />
- Interpretation of hydro-geochemical data: Stiff and Piper diagrams, classification of water types and<br />
identification of chemical evolution.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 12
C8. IRRIGATION AGRONOMY<br />
(KUL-code: I736 (Th); I737 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: RAES D.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites:<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems and oral examination<br />
Comparable handbook: Crop evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water requirements. 1998.<br />
FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper N°56. Rome, Italy; 300 p.<br />
Additional information: Teaching is in English<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The course of Irrigation Agronomy aims to provide the students a comprehensive introduction in the climatic,<br />
crop, soil and environmental aspects that determine the water losses of a cropped soil and in the calculation of<br />
the crop water and irrigation water requirement at field and scheme level. During practical sessions the students<br />
receive training in the use of software packages that are helpful for the processing of climatic data and for the<br />
simulation of a soil water balance. At the end of the course the students should be able to plan and evaluate the<br />
water supply for irrigation schemes.<br />
Course description:<br />
The course encompasses a section on agro-climatology, the water balance of a cropped soil, irrigation water<br />
requirement and irrigation scheduling principles.<br />
Part 1. Agro-climatology<br />
1. Measurement, collection and processing of climatic data such as air temperature, air humidity, wind<br />
speed, solar radiation, evaporation and precipitation and an introduction to agro-meteorological<br />
field stations;<br />
2. Definition, concepts, measurements and computation of reference (ETo) and crop (ETc)<br />
evapotranspiration under standard conditions;<br />
3. Definition and calculation of dependable and effective rainfall from historical rainfall data;<br />
Part 2. <strong>Water</strong> balance of a cropped soil<br />
1. Soil physical characteristics;<br />
2. Soil water content;<br />
3. Soil water retention;<br />
4. Crop water uptake;<br />
5. Soil water movement;<br />
6. Soil water balance.<br />
Part 3. Irrigation water requirements<br />
1. Net irrigation requirement;<br />
2. Gross irrigation requirement;<br />
3. Field and scheme water supply.<br />
Part 4. Irrigation scheduling principles<br />
1. Irrigation depth and interval;<br />
2. Real time scheduling;<br />
3. Planning irrigation schedules.<br />
The practical exercises aim to train the students in methods for the processing of climatic data, the computation<br />
of reference and crop evapotranspiration, the calculation of the water balance of cropped soils, and the<br />
calculation of net and gross water requirements. During the practical sessions the students receive an<br />
introduction in the use of the following software packages:<br />
- ETO: reference evapotranspriation (K.U. Leuven);<br />
- RAINBOW: frequency analysis of hydrological data (K.U.Leuven);<br />
- FOACLIM: world-wide agroclimatic data (FAO);<br />
13 / Course syllabi
- BUDGET: a soil water and salt balance model (K.U.Leuven);<br />
- UPFLOW: water movement in a soil profile from a shallow water table to the topsoil (K.U.Leuven).<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 14
C9. AQUATIC ECOLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: GM22 (Th); GM23 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DE MEESTER L.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical (including field excursion)<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of biology<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Oral exam with written preparation<br />
Comparable handbook: Freshwater ecology<br />
- Horne, A.J. & C.R. Goldman, 1994. Limnology, 2nd ed., McGraw-Hill, New York<br />
- Wetzel, R.G., 1983. Limnology, 2nd ed., Saunders College Publishing, Forth Worth<br />
- Moss, B., 1998. Ecology of Fresh <strong>Water</strong>s, Man and Medium, Past to future. Third ed.<br />
Blackwell Science.<br />
Marine ecology<br />
- Levinton, J.S., 1995. Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. Oxford<br />
University Press, New York<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The course aims to provide an introduction to the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, in such a<br />
way that the information can be usefully applied in water quality assessment, water quality management and<br />
rehabilitation of natural aquatic environments. It is aimed to provide the student with the necessary background<br />
on ecology in general and fresh water ecology in particular, so as to guide him/her in judging on the impact of<br />
certain measures or disturbances on aquatic ecosystems, in developing and evaluating restoration measures,<br />
interpreting reports on environmental degradation, etc.<br />
Course description:<br />
Emphasis is on the structure and functioning of freshwater systems, but comparative information on marine<br />
systems is provided. Wherever possible, the concepts and ideas developed in the course are also illustrated<br />
using examples from and studies carried out in the tropics.<br />
A) Freshwater ecology:<br />
1) Characteristics of water;<br />
2) Hydrological cycle;<br />
3) Lentic habitats (lakes, ponds,...):<br />
- Distribution, genesis, typology and morphology of inland waters;<br />
- Physico-chemical characteristics of lakes and ponds: light; thermal stratification; oxygen; salinity;<br />
inorganic carbon; nitrogen cycle; phosphorus cycle; micronutrients;<br />
- Productivity of aquatic ecosystems;<br />
- Living biota: phytoplankton community, zooplankton community, fish and the trophic cascade;<br />
4) Lotic habitats (streams and rivers): typology, community structure, floodplains;<br />
5) Estuaries;<br />
6) Notes on tropical limnology;<br />
B) Marine ecology: general characteristics in comparison to freshwater ecosystems; physical and chemical<br />
characteristics; living biota; phytoplankton; zooplankton; fish and fisheries; productivity.<br />
Practical exercises consist of:<br />
- Introduction to sampling equipment for determination of physico-chemical characteristics of water, the<br />
sampling of phyto- and zooplankton, periphyton and benthos;<br />
- Freshwater communities (phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos);<br />
- Introduction to marine communities; excursion.<br />
15 / Course syllabi
C10. WATER QUALITY AND TREATMENT<br />
(KUL-code: I787 (Th); I788 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: VAN DER BEKEN A.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: General courses on physics and chemistry<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Practical exercises and reports (1/3) and written examination with optional oral<br />
examination (2/3)<br />
Comparable handbook: Text Module on 'Municipal water and waste water treatment’. Unesco, Paris, France<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
<strong>Water</strong> quality must be understood by the students as an "indefinite" characteristic of water (vs. quantity which<br />
is definite). The many sources of natural and man-made pollution and the unlimited quality variables must be<br />
recognized in an integrated approach, allowing for further detailed analysis if and when needed, e.g. with<br />
respect to treatment processes and regulation measures on short term and long term. The distinction between<br />
water quality standards, licences, emission and immission criteria is essential. The basics of water and waste<br />
water treatment processes and their limitations must be understood in order to be able to communicate and<br />
cooperate with specialists in these matters.<br />
Course description:<br />
The course aims to provide an introduction to water quality assessment and water and waste-water treatment.<br />
1. Definition(s) of water quality; Integrated water quality management<br />
2. Types and sources of pollution;<br />
3. Physical-chemical water quality:<br />
4. Characteristics of waste water;<br />
5. Biological and microbiological water quality;<br />
6. <strong>Water</strong> quality monitoring;<br />
7. Self-purification in rivers, and waste water discharge regulation;<br />
8. Review of major physical, chemical and (bio)technological processes of water and waste water treatment.<br />
The practical work consists of:<br />
- Calculation and interpretation of various water quality indices;<br />
- Calculation of self-purification and waste water discharge regulation;<br />
- Elementary design of a waste water treatment plant; and<br />
- Visit to drinking water production or waste-water treatment plants.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 16
2.2 WORKSHOPS<br />
ECTS-credit: 15 pts<br />
W1. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: I840)<br />
Lecturer: WYSEURE G.<br />
Contact hours: 60 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Elementary calculus<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes available<br />
Evaluation: Evaluation by continuous assessment of the exercises and submitted tasks<br />
Comparable handbook: For Spreadsheet: Orvis W.J., 1996 (2nd edition). Excel for Scientists and Engineers.<br />
Sybex. San Francisco. (ISBN 0-7821-1761-9; 547 pages).<br />
Additional information: WWW-pages: http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/vakken/i840/<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The learning objective of the workshop is to enable students to effectively use Information and Communication<br />
Technology for <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>. The training on networked PC's aims specificaly at finding<br />
information, electronic communication, solving quantitative problems, reporting and presentation skills etc.<br />
Emphasis is on learning how to tackle problems and find solutions rather than on specific (fastly outdating)<br />
ICT-techniques.<br />
Course description:<br />
The fast evolution in ICT requires a continuous update of the content of the workshop and the hard- soft and<br />
netware tools. Emphasis is on spreadsheet as a example of a software and as a tool for quantitative analysis. A<br />
more detailed training in spreadsheet is preferred above a superficial review of many ICT-tools.<br />
1. Introduction to PC, network, electronic communication and WWW.<br />
2. Integrated offices as general toolbox for texts, databases, spreadsheets, presentations. Special attention to<br />
equation editing in wordprocessing and graphical illustrations in presentations and documents.<br />
3. Spreadsheet as calculation tool for water resource engineering. General principles of spreadsheet, formula's,<br />
used defined functions, graphing, numerical techniques.<br />
4. Editing of Web-pages by WYSIWIG-editors.<br />
5. Illustrations and examples of custom-made programmes and programming (VBA in spreadsheet as an<br />
example). Examples in statistical analysis, CAD etc...<br />
The workshop consists of a combination of time-tabled PC-classes and independently executed tasks. During<br />
the organized PC-classes exercises are solved with a "hands-on" approach and prepare the students for<br />
individual tasks, relevant to <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> and tailored to their options. Each student selects a<br />
relevant subject as a central theme to all tasks. These tasks are solved as supervised self-activity and submitted<br />
for evaluation.<br />
17 / Course syllabi
W2. HYDROMETRY<br />
(KUL-code: I789)<br />
Lecturer: VERHOEVEN R.<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practicals<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of hydraulics<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 5 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven/U.Gent<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation of the field and laboratory exercises report<br />
Comparable handbook: Herschy, R.W., 1987. Hydrometry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.<br />
Herschy, R.W., 1984. Streamflow measurement. E&FN Spon.<br />
Additional information: The workshop consists of 3 x 3 hours of theoretical introduction and 2 full day sessions<br />
of practical training: 1 day laboratory measurements and 1 day field exercises.<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
To familiarize students with different measurement methods and techniques for hydrometric data acquisition.<br />
As data is a first requirement for all matters concerning water systems management, this workshop meets the<br />
fundamental learning objectives of the program.<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the workshop is to get the students acquainted with different devices and techniques for flow,<br />
velocity, pressure, waterlevel and sediment transport, measurements in pipes, open channels, rivers and<br />
laboratory.<br />
The following subjects are explained: (L = laboratory exercise; F = Field exercise)<br />
1. The need for data;<br />
2. <strong>Water</strong>-level determination; (L & F)<br />
- Importance - datum plane<br />
- Instruments for water-level determination (direct stage read off gauges and recording limnimeters)<br />
3. <strong>Water</strong>depth and bottom-level (mechanical and electronic devices; practical stage and depth measurements);<br />
(F)<br />
4. Flow velocity measurement;<br />
- Surface velocity (F)<br />
- Velocity in a single point (propeller type current meter (F), Pitot-tube (L), electromagnetic current meter<br />
(L), hot wire/hot film anemometer, laser Doppler anemometer, acoustic – ultrasonic – velocity meter (L))<br />
- Mean velocity (salt screen (Allan's method), floats, etc.) (F)<br />
5. Measuring discharges;<br />
- Single measurement (methods based on the measurement of volume and time (L&F); volumetric and<br />
chemical methods (F); methods based on the measurement of the main velocity; methods based on the<br />
integration of the velocity field over the cross section (F))<br />
- Continuous discharge measurements (gauging stations with limnimeters (L&F); ultrasonic methods,<br />
electromagnetic methods (L))<br />
- Discharge measurements in laboratory (L)<br />
6. Sediment transport measurements<br />
- Bed load samplers (trap sampling; bed form tracking) (L&F)<br />
- Suspended load samplers (classification of samplers; instruments for concentration, point-integrating<br />
measurements (bottle and trap samplers, pump-samplers, optical and acoustical sampling methods);<br />
instruments for discharge, point-integrating measurements; instruments for concentration, depth-integrating<br />
measurement) (L&F)<br />
- Computation of sediment transport and presentation of results (rivers; estuaries)<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 18
W3. SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF WATER ENGINEERING<br />
(KUL-code: I792)<br />
Lecturer: PETERS J.J.<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: No<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 5 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U. Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Some reference work and few lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Through an oral presentation of a case study, preferably situated in the student’s home<br />
country<br />
Comparable handbook: No comparable handbook available<br />
Additional information:<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The aim of the workshop is to make the students better aware about the variety of problems and issues related to<br />
the social, political and socio-economic aspects of water resources development projects and of water resources<br />
management, including the institutional aspects. Purely financial and economic aspects are not included.<br />
Course description:<br />
The course orientation is based on the lecturer’s experience in a large variety of water resources projects,<br />
showing how, why and when the approach to these aspects has failed or succeeded. The workshop aims at<br />
developing the consciousness of the students about the role of the various “actors” in relation to water resources<br />
systems development and management. It also aims at showing how politics may affect the so much needed<br />
sustainable, integrated WR management, and the implementation of WR development projects. It should make<br />
the students aware of the social implications of WR engineering projects, either the direct or the indirect ones,<br />
eventually through an environmental impact. It is important for the student to realise that it is not possible to<br />
dissociate the various aspects: social, political, socio-economic, and institutional.<br />
The workshop starts with descriptions, with the following:<br />
1. Definitions: What is a water resource (WR)? How to define a WR system on which to work/engineer<br />
(description, limits)? What do we call engineering, management, development?<br />
The accent is put on the way each society is having its own view, its own approach, depending on the 3<br />
factors: availability of water resources, of financial resources and awareness about the water issue.<br />
2. Presentation by the lecturer and discussion of some results, conclusions and recommendations by<br />
international organisations (Mar del Plata 1977, Rio de Janeiro 1991, EU-SAST 6 - 1992, 1991 WMO-<br />
UNESCO report on <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> Assessment Activities, etc.), all which he contributed to, but the first.<br />
3. Presentation and discussion by the lecturer of case studies in Asia, Africa and South America. These cover<br />
a large variety of situations, such as lakes, coastal areas, large and small rivers, master plan studies, floods<br />
and droughts, fluvial problems, water development, irrigation schemes, conjunctive use projects, etc.<br />
Special attention is paid to aspects such as correct problem definition, setting up relevant Terms of<br />
Reference, multi-disciplinary approach. For this part, he illustrates with slides, photographs and video,<br />
among which “After the Floods” (BBC Horizon). He personally contributed to this last video by inviting<br />
the BBC to a workshop he organised in 1993 in Bangladesh.<br />
4. Presentation by the students of projects or case studies, preferably case studies in which they have been<br />
actively involved. All presentations are short, and always followed by lively discussions and possibly<br />
confrontations.<br />
19 / Course syllabi
W4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT<br />
(KUL-code: I793)<br />
Lecturer: RAMMELOO R.<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: none<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 5 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Personal work: environmental screening of a project proposal from a developing<br />
country (or from another country with comparable climatological and environmental<br />
conditions), scoping of the same project, analysis and evaluation of an existing EIA<br />
Comparable handbook: none (course aimed at the specificities of EIA’s in the third world)<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
At the end of the workshop the students should be able<br />
- to do an environmental screening (first elementary environmental analysis) of a project proposal, in order to<br />
determine if a more complete environmental evaluation (EIA or other) is needed<br />
- if a more complete evaluation is needed, to determine the scope and contents of it (scoping) in order to give<br />
precise instructions to the specialists going to make the final EIA<br />
- to evaluate the general value, the correctness end the completeness of an EIA that has been made<br />
- to integrate the conclusions of an EIA in the final decisions about a project proposal<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the workshop is to provide information on procedures, which have to be followed to assess the<br />
environmental impacts of water engineering works. Its final aim is that the students should be able to do<br />
themselves the environmental screening and scoping of a project proposal, to propose mitigating measures for it<br />
and to determine the contents of a complete EIA, using internationally accepted procedures.<br />
1. History and development of EIA procedures and regulations in different parts of the world: Western<br />
Europe, USA, non-industrialized countries, and international organizations;<br />
2. Principles, structure and contents of EIA studies: general principles, comparison of the different kinds of<br />
procedures;<br />
3. Environmental screening of projects: aim, typology of screening procedures (lists of project types, manual<br />
check-lists, computer assisted screening), examples, documentation (procedures of several organizations:<br />
BADC, EU);<br />
4. Scoping of projects: identification of data, analysis of the proposed action, search for possible alternatives,<br />
techniques to identify the relations between the proposed action and the expected environmental impacts<br />
(check-lists, matrices, networks), identification of the significant impacts (use of criteria and standards),<br />
determination of the contents (items to analyse and techniques to use) of the complete EIA; and<br />
5. Prediction techniques for the complete EIA: in the fields of noise, use of land and soil, landscapes,<br />
ecosystems, water (underground and surface).<br />
The practical work consists of:<br />
Exercises on the screening and scoping of projects from countries of participating students and on the analysis<br />
of existing EIA’s.<br />
Complementary studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 20
W5. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF WATER RESOURCES PROJECTS<br />
(KUL-code: I997)<br />
Lecturer: TOLLENS E.<br />
Prerequisites: none<br />
Contact hours: 5 sessions of 3 hours each<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: -<br />
Evaluation: on the basis of an exercise on economic project evaluation<br />
Comparable handbook: J. Price GITTINGER, Economic Analysis of Agricultural<br />
Projects, 2nd Edition, EDI Series in Economic Development, The Johns Hopkins<br />
University Press, Baltimore, 1982.<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The objective is to familiarize students with the economic and financial concepts and methods in project<br />
evaluation, applied to water resources projects. With the course, they will be able to do such an evaluation<br />
themselves, except determining shadow prices of resources, which an economist must do. They will also be<br />
able to fully understand the results (criteria) of such project evaluation.<br />
Course description:<br />
- General principles of project evaluation, including economic and financial analysis, shadow pricing,<br />
discounting and undiscounted measures of project worth.<br />
- Nature of costs and benefits in water resources projects.<br />
- Techniques of comparing costs and benefits: benefit-cost ratio, present net worth, internal rate of return and<br />
net benefit-investment ratio.<br />
- Sensitivity analysis and treatment of uncertainty, including inflation.<br />
- Farm accounts as the basis for preparing farm plans, making financial projections, and aggreation to project<br />
level.<br />
- Applications to water resources projects.<br />
- Manual exercises and case studies.<br />
21 / Course syllabi
3 THE COURSE SYLLABI OF THE STUDY CURRICULUM FOR THE DEGREE OF<br />
MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING<br />
The total load of the study curriculum for the degree of Master of Science in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> is 60<br />
units * , spread over 2 semesters, or 30 units per semester (13 effective weeks). The first semester lasts from<br />
September to January, the second semester from February to May. There are 2-week holidays at Christmas/New<br />
Year and at Easter. One lecture hour per week per semester represents approximately 1.75 units. Exercises,<br />
practicals and workshops have a value of approximately 0.75 units per hour per week. The figure below gives a<br />
list of the subjects taught, the volume of each subject expressed in number of contact hours for theory and<br />
practicals, and the equivalent load of the course in credit units. The seminars have a value of 3 units, the<br />
integrated project design of 5 units, and the thesis research project is equivalent to 17 units.<br />
Programme structure of the GGS ‘MSc programme in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong>’<br />
2 nd year<br />
G.G.S. Total of ECTS<br />
Advanced Studies Credits: 60<br />
Common core<br />
GIS & remote sensing in WRE 5<br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> hydraulics 5<br />
<strong>Water</strong> quality modelling 5<br />
Systems approach to water management 5<br />
Management of water use and re-use 5<br />
Seminar 3<br />
Integrated project design 5<br />
Thesis research 17<br />
OPTIONAL COURSES (choose 2 courses):<br />
Surface water modelling 5<br />
Groundwater modelling 5<br />
Irrigation engineering and technology 5<br />
Planning, operation and management 5<br />
of irrigation systems<br />
Hydraulic modelling 5<br />
<strong>Water</strong> and waste-water treatment 5<br />
Monitoring of water quality 5<br />
Advanced aquatic ecology 5<br />
* ECTS : European Community Course Credit Transfer System<br />
22 / Course syllabi
3.1 COMMON CORE COURSES MASTER OF SCIENCE (GGS) IN WATER RESOURCES<br />
ENGINEERING<br />
The following contains a description of the content of the common courses taught:<br />
- GIS & remote sensing in WRE<br />
- <strong>Engineering</strong> hydraulics<br />
- <strong>Water</strong> quality modelling<br />
- Systems approach to water management<br />
- Management of water use and re-use<br />
- Integrated project design<br />
- Seminars<br />
- Thesis research<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 23
G1. GIS & REMOTE SENSING IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING<br />
(KUL-code: I998 (Th); I999 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: BATELAAN O.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Introductory hydrological knowledge<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on exercise problems and an individual project<br />
Comparable handbook: Maguire, D., M.F. Goodchild and D.W. Rhind (eds.), 1991. Geographical information<br />
systems: principles and applications. Longman Scientific and Technical. London, UK.<br />
Volume I (principles), 649 p and Volume II (applications): 447 p.<br />
Schultz, G.A. and E.T. Engman, eds. Remote sensing in hydrology and water<br />
management. 2000, Springer: Berlin. 483 p.<br />
Additional information: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~batelaan/g1_course/g1_course.html<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
This course is instrumental in support of general objectives of the program such as (1) the modeling of process<br />
and water systems, (2) planning, budgeting and exploitation of water systems, (3) evaluation, optimalisation and<br />
management of water systems and (4) impact analyses and decision support systems. Its objective is to equip<br />
the student with a set of spatial data management and analysis tools, which can be applied to different water<br />
resources problems. The objective of the course is therefore not to concentrate on one specific water resources<br />
aspect or analysis/modeling technique but to stimulate and allow the student to integrate different data sets,<br />
analysis and modeling tools into a common environment from where he/she can tackle the water resources<br />
problem in an integrated manner. Practical learning objective for the student at the end of the course will<br />
therefore be that he/she independently is able to analyze a water resources problem with the help of GIS/RS.<br />
Further objective of the course is the build up of a framework of notions and understanding for the student of<br />
the diverse GIS and remote sensing technologies, systems and techniques in order that he/she will able to<br />
communicate with experts in this field and can follow new trends and technologies.<br />
Course description:<br />
The course intends to give the state of the art of spatial information processing using GIS and earth observation<br />
techniques and image processing methods, applied to water resources engineering problems. Student’s<br />
acquisition of practical skills is promoted by computer exercises in GIS analyses and remote sensing processing<br />
techniques with different GIS/RS packages.<br />
1. GIS techniques:<br />
- Basic principles of digital cartography, LIS and GIS: history and definitions;<br />
- Spatial data models: vector models, tesselation models, raster, TIN, etc;<br />
- Data input techniques: digitizing, scanning, and V/R en R/V conversion;<br />
- Planimetric integration: map projections and coordinate transformations;<br />
- Spatial interpolation techniques: trend surface analysis, local interpolation techniques;<br />
- Accuracy of spatial data analyses: type of errors, error modeling, error propagation; and<br />
- Cartographic modeling techniques: local, focal and zonal operations, model building.<br />
2. Remote sensing techniques:<br />
- Introduction to remote sensing: physical principles of earth observation, energy sources, radiation<br />
principles, energy interactions, data acquisition and interpretation;<br />
- Remote sensing scanning techniques: optical spectrum, multispectral, thermal, and hyperspectral;<br />
- Microwave remote sensing: physics, platforms, sensors, image processing and interpretation; and<br />
- Present and future observation platforms, sensors and their characteristics.<br />
3. Image processing methods:<br />
- Digital image processing: rectification, restoration, enhancement, multi-image manipulation;<br />
24 / Course syllabi
- Image classification and post processing: image interpretation, unsupervised, supervised<br />
classification, accuracy analysis, data merging.<br />
Case studies of practical GIS and remote sensing use in water resources engineering are presented. Future<br />
possibilities and impact of GIS and remote sensing techniques are discussed.<br />
Practical introduction and hands on exercises are given in both IDRISI and ArcView. Exercises include:<br />
“Carthographic modeling”, “Database query”, “Distance and context operators”, “Map algebra”, “Image<br />
exploration”, “Supervised classification”, “Principal Components Analysis”, “Unsupervised classification”,<br />
“Introduction to spatial hydrology” and “Catchment water balance determination”. The course includes as well<br />
an individual project, during two months, in GIS or remote sensing related to the background of the student and<br />
or the thesis topic. The definition and guidance of these individual projects is done in cooperation with the<br />
lecturers of other courses and promoters of theses.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 25
G2. ENGINEERING HYDRAULICS<br />
(KUL-code: I870 (Th); I871 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: PETERS J. / DELLEUR J.W.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: A basic course in hydraulics and open channel hydraulics.<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: On basis of oral and written exam<br />
Comparable handbook: Walter Graf, Fluvial Hydraulics, Wiley 1998. (2 vols.)<br />
Larry W. Mays, Hydraulic Design handbook, McGraw-Hill, 1999.<br />
Additional information: Professional software is used (see practical work, below).<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The aim of the course is to provide students with the basis for the analysis of river systems and of the hydraulic<br />
structures regulating them. The course provides a deeper insight in the phenomena of rapidly varied flow,<br />
unsteady flow and sediment transport, and provides them with a methodology for problem analysis and design,<br />
using physical and/or numerical models.<br />
Course description:<br />
1. Methodology of hydraulic studies; data needs and sources;<br />
2. Principles of similitude:<br />
fixed bed models; mobile bed models; thermal models;<br />
3. Rapidly varied flow in open channels:<br />
hydraulics of spillways; hydraulic jump and energy dissipation; flow in channels; nonprismatic channels;<br />
4. Unsteady flow in open channels:<br />
derivation of the equations of continuity and of motion for unsteady free surface flow (Saint Venant<br />
equations); solution by the method of characteristics, physical interpretation of the characteristic directions;<br />
finite difference solutions by explicit and implicit schemes; parabolic and diffusion approximations;<br />
Muskingum-Cunge approximation; kinematic wave approximation. Computer based exercises: Two<br />
didactic computer programs and two professional softwares are used to illustrate the principles of unsteady<br />
flow analysis, the application of flood routing in large streams and the modeling of flow propagation in<br />
small upland watersheds.<br />
5. Sediment transport:<br />
physical basis of flow in eroding channels; mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of riverbeds and<br />
sediment transport; mechanism of sediment transport; and<br />
6. Channel processes:<br />
hydrodynamic and hydromorphological approach to the channel processes theory; basic riverbed processes<br />
produced by the construction of hydraulic structures, channel stabilization and dredging.<br />
The practical work consists of:<br />
- Design of physical models;<br />
- Spillway design;<br />
- Flood routing models: FLDWAV (Hydrologic Research Laboratory, National Weather Service, USA),<br />
- Simulation of flows in upland watersheds: KINEROS ( Agricultural Research Service, USA)<br />
- Sediment transport.<br />
26 / Course syllabi
G3. WATER QUALITY MODELING<br />
(KUL-code: I882 (Th); I883 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: JOLANKAI G. / VAN DER BEKEN A.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Hydraulics (C5), Mathematics for water engineering (C2), <strong>Water</strong> quality and treatment<br />
(C10), Information technology (W1)<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes (+ teaching software WQMCAL and its manual)<br />
Evaluation: Quotation of exercises (1/2) and presentation and discussion of an individual project (1/2)<br />
(detailed test and calculation exercises)<br />
Comparable handbook: De Smedt, F., 1989. Introduction to river water quality modeling. Hydrology-VUB, no.<br />
16<br />
Additional information: A comprehensive book (844 pages) was published, fairly recently, on this topic, which<br />
the students might use as additional information (extra learning tool): Chapra S.C.<br />
(1997) Surface <strong>Water</strong> Quality Modelling, McGraw-Hill Civil <strong>Engineering</strong> Series<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The basic learning objective is to get the students acquainted with the basics of water quality modelling, that is<br />
to get knowledge on the basic transport and transformation processes on which the water quality models (all<br />
models) are based. This knowledge is (would be) unconditionally needed in using any commercially available<br />
model software and even more so in developing models for special purposes, to suit special tasks.<br />
More specific objectives include:<br />
General understanding of the system’s approach to managing the aquatic environment (with the meaning that a<br />
tool describing the response of aquatic systems to natural and anthropogenic inputs is needed to enable the<br />
efficient management of the water-environment). Another special objective is to help understand the basic<br />
principles of Integrated Catchment Management and of Integrated <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> Management. Another<br />
important objective is to teach the basic principles of the novel “ecohydrological” approach to managing water<br />
resources (with the meaning that the improvement of the aquatic and ecotone ecosystems by the appropriate<br />
hydrological control means, can help solving other water resources management problems of the same<br />
catchment). The very specific objective of the course is to enable students to see (through the use of the<br />
computer aided learning tool WQMCAL) the models in work and carry out a series of management-planning<br />
exercises (a kind of simulation of the actual work in managing the aquatic environment and assessing<br />
environmental impacts)<br />
The course contributes to the achieving of the objectives of the IUPWARE course in the following items:<br />
- A strong emphasis is laid on the Integrated Catchment Management concept (and not only on its modelling<br />
implications) and thus it deals with the interactions of the society and the water systems;<br />
- It deals with the modelling of water systems, mostly but not only regarding its water quality aspects;<br />
- It teaches the basic principles and tools of planning the management of the aquatic environment and along<br />
with it that of an integrated water system;<br />
- It will teach the basic management aspects of water systems, with special regard to pollution control;<br />
- It teaches the basic principles and tools of environmental impact assessment (the water and environmental<br />
engineering, but not the legal-administrative part of it).<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the course is to provide insight in the structure and application of water quality models for rivers and<br />
lakes (more details of the objectives are given above).<br />
The major lecture topics are as follows:<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 27
1. Introduction to the basic problems of water quality management and the role of hydrologists in solving<br />
these problems.<br />
2. Systems approach to managing the aquatic ecosystem<br />
- Elements of the management procedure:<br />
- Setting of objectives (W.Q. criteria and standards)<br />
- Monitoring networks, emission-immission (Objectives and tasks of designing monitoring networks,<br />
the Hungarian case study)<br />
- Exploring input-response, cause-and-effect, relationships, the importance of models as the basic tool<br />
of systems approach.<br />
- Basic options of water quality management (strategies: waste water treatment, non-point source<br />
control, in-stream and in-lake treatment techniques; low flow augmentation, river training, lake<br />
regulation);<br />
- Role of process oriented field measurements;<br />
- Economic, legal and administrative aspects (constrains)<br />
3. Modelling as the basic tool of assessing the impacts on the aquatic system and identifying cause and<br />
effect relationships<br />
4. Basics of modelling river water quality *<br />
- Basic theory<br />
- Basic models of the oxygen household<br />
- Advanced oxygen household models (Case studies on the application of oxygen household models<br />
- Longitudinal dispersion models (accidental pollution models). Case studies with the Hungarian<br />
Dyndis model<br />
- Traversal mixing models (description of the waste water plume). Case study on the application of a<br />
transversal mixing model<br />
5. Basics of modelling lake ecosystems<br />
- Experimental lake models (the OECD/Vollenveider approach)<br />
- Simple nutrient budget models<br />
- Some versions of dynamic lake ecosystem models (Case study: the Lake Balaton eutrophication<br />
modelling and control)<br />
- Briefing on the possibilities of coupled hydraulic and ecosystem models<br />
6. The integrated catchment basin management approach and the non-point source (modelling) prob<br />
- Basics of runoff-export pollution calculation methods<br />
- Evaluation of hydrological and water quality data and the experimental (regression) approaches<br />
- More advanced, hydrologically based NPS models,<br />
- Basics of GIS based approaches (Case study on the modelling of point and non-point source loading<br />
of selected chemicals in the Rhine River Basin; Case study on the GIS based point and non-point<br />
source pollution modelling of the Zala River Basin, Hungary)<br />
7. Summary, need for further knowledge, options of practical use<br />
Remarks:<br />
*- In teaching this subject the lecturer will utilise the respective Computer Aided Learning software<br />
which has been prepared by himself and colleagues for the UNESCO/IHP programme.<br />
Teaching will be rather "modelling" oriented as this lecturer believes that modelling is the basic means of<br />
assessing the impact on aquatic systems and thus the cause and effect relationship, which is the key to finding<br />
the appropriate solution.<br />
There will be 10 types of exercises, each one with a given example and each with an approximate time demand<br />
of 1-3 h. As many or most of these are supported by some model programmes (of the CAL, the computer aided<br />
learning programme) the students will have the options of preparing some other examples for themselves.<br />
Nevertheless the use of scientific hand calculators will be also required in each exercise.<br />
Exercise 0 Checking the ability of students in calculating mass balances, the basis of modelling<br />
Exercise 1. Analysis of a pollution case with the traditional BOD-DO model (using the CAL programme)<br />
Exercise 2. Analysis of a pollution case with an expanded BOD-DO model (using the CAL programme)<br />
Exercise 3. Analysis of a complex, multi source, pollution situation with the simple BOD model (with<br />
scientific hand calculator)<br />
28 / Course syllabi
Exercise 4. Analysis of an accidental pollution case (using the CAL programme, two case studies)<br />
Exercise 5. Analysis of transversal mixing cases (using the CAL programme)<br />
Exercise 6. Analysis of lake eutrophication with experimental regression models (based on the OECD<br />
study, with hand calculator)<br />
Exercise 7. Analysis of Lake eutrophication with simple lake model (using the CAL programme and also<br />
manual)<br />
Exercise 8. Lake eutrophication analysis with the various lake models of the CAL programme<br />
Exercise 9. Analysis of the nutrient load conditions of a complex drainage basin (using hand calculator)<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 29
G4. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO WATER MANAGEMENT<br />
(KUL-code: I874 (Th); I875 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: LABADIE J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Mathematics for water engineering (C2), Statistics for water engineering (C3), Surface<br />
hydrology (C6), Information technology (W1) and programming experience in PASCAL,<br />
C, FORTRAN, or BASIC<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Written examination<br />
Comparable handbook: Mays, L. and Y.K. Tung, 1992. Hydrosystems modeling engineering and management,<br />
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.<br />
Course description:<br />
The purpose of this course is to understand and apply the modern tools of systems analysis to the management<br />
and control of water resources and environmental systems. Topics covered include:<br />
- optimal operation of multipurpose reservoir systems<br />
- integrated design of water storage and conveyance systems<br />
- optimal cropping patterns and intraseasonal allocation of irrigation supply<br />
- risk-based design of stochastic reservoir operating rules<br />
- optimal reservoir operation for water quality management<br />
- optimal hydraulic control of canal operations<br />
- river basin management and conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water<br />
- optimal operation of complex multireservoir hydropower systems<br />
- optimal sizing and operation of detention storage for estuarine water quality management<br />
- optimal control of stormwater and combined sewer systems.<br />
Specific systems analysis tools studied for optimal management and control include:<br />
- dynamic programming<br />
- stochastic optimization<br />
- optimal control theory<br />
- network flow optimization<br />
- multiobjective optimization<br />
- expert systems<br />
- genetic algorithms<br />
Class workshops present example problems and train the students on how to use computer software on PC´s for<br />
implementing many of this optimal water management techniques. The practical work applies these tools to a<br />
wide range of water management case studies in the U.S., Brazil, Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Egypt,<br />
Pakistan, and Korea.<br />
30 / Course syllabi
G5. MANAGEMENT OF WATER USE AND RE-USE<br />
(KUL-code: IC01 (Th); IC02 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: FEYEN J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. theory/30 hrs. practical<br />
Prerequisites: -<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on exercise problems and oral exam<br />
Comparable handbook: Gleick, P.H. (ed.), 1993. <strong>Water</strong> in crisis: a guide to the World’s fresh water resources.<br />
Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security, Stockholm<br />
Environment Institute, Oxford University Press, UK.<br />
Mays, LW. (ed.), 1996. <strong>Water</strong> resources handbook, McGraw-Hill, NY, USA.<br />
Stauffer, J., 1998. The water crisis: constructing solutions to freshwater pollution.<br />
Earthscan Publications Ltd., London, UK.<br />
Tanji, K.K. and B. Yaron (eds.), 1994. Management of water use in agriculture.<br />
Advanced Series in Agricultural Sciences 22, Springer Verlag Berlin, 320 p.<br />
Thompson, S.A., 1999. <strong>Water</strong> use, management and planning in the United States.<br />
Academic Press, NY, USA.<br />
Winpenny, J., 1994. Managing water as an economic resource. Overseas Development<br />
Institute, London, UK.<br />
Additional information: In the practical sessions students are exposed to the use of simulation tools for<br />
predicting the impact of fertilizers in agriculture (diffuse pollution) on the water quality<br />
in rivers, and to use numerical models as instrument in decision making. Exam results<br />
are based on the works submitted during the year and on the oral interview during the<br />
exam. Students are allowed to consult study material during the exam.<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The main objective is to familiarize students with the extent of the off- and instream water uses; the global<br />
water questions and uncertainties in the 21 st century; the impact of agriculture, industry, domestic and urban<br />
water use on the quantity and quality of groundwater and surface water; solutions to freshwater pollution; the<br />
use of saline water for irrigation; the use of treated waste water for irrigation and other uses; demand<br />
management, water pricing and reliability; and water-transfer systems. By the end of the course the students are<br />
expected to have a global picture of the complexity of water demand and supply, to have been exposed to<br />
different possible solutions, the management and planning of the earth’s water resources.<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the course is to inform the students of the increasing competition for water quantity as well as water<br />
quality, and the need for more efficient use of water for human consumption, industry and agriculture. The<br />
course contains the elements required to focus on water management from a wide range of perspectives and<br />
present them in four sections: water resources and water quality (Part A), water suitability (part B), water<br />
conservation and technology (part C), and re-use of treated waters (part D).<br />
A) <strong>Water</strong> resources and quality<br />
- global and continental water resources;<br />
- domestic, industrial and agricultural uses of water;<br />
- anticipated impacts on future water uses (competition for water quantity and quality between the<br />
socio-economic sectors of the society; increasing of regulation on water use and quality); and<br />
- strategies for the future (new water supplies, water conservation, better use of rainwater,<br />
institutional and policy changes).<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 31
B) <strong>Water</strong> suitability<br />
- water quality (origin dependence, man’s interference);<br />
- quality parameters relevant to human consumption, industrial activities and agriculture; and<br />
- water quality and the impact on the environment.<br />
C) <strong>Water</strong> conservation and technology<br />
- methods and techniques of water reduction in human consumption, industry and agriculture (e.g.,<br />
runoff irrigation, deficit irrigation, etc.);<br />
- collection and storage of runoff water;<br />
- collection and storage of drainage and subsurface waters; and<br />
- collection and storage of municipal waste-water and sewage effluents.<br />
D) Re-use of treated waters<br />
- re-use of treated water for human consumption, industry and agriculture (water quality guidelines,<br />
health and safety aspects of using reclaimed waste-water; disposal of residual effluent waters); and<br />
- policy, institutional and management aspects related to the re-use of treated waters.<br />
The practical work consists in estimating the impact on the quantity and quality of the water resources systems<br />
and the environment using water conservation techniques and re-using treated effluent waters. Throughout the<br />
course and the exercises students will be familiarised with a large variety of simulation tools for the assessment<br />
of the ‘impact-effect’ relation.<br />
32 / Course syllabi
G6. INTEGRATED PROJECT DESIGN<br />
(KUL-code: I718)<br />
Lecturer: VERHAEGHE R.J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 90 hrs<br />
Prerequisites: -<br />
Time and place: 2 nd semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus:<br />
Evaluation: Project report per group and presentation<br />
Comparable handbook:<br />
Course description:<br />
The integrated project design is intended to confront students with a real life project in the field of surface or<br />
groundwater hydrology, irrigation, aquatic ecology or water quality. The overall goal is to learn the trainees<br />
getting the skill to design a project from A to Z, making feasibility analysis with the help of economic tools and<br />
in proposing a management strategy accounting for production system sustainability issues.<br />
In the project, knowledge and skills of different disciplines, taught in different courses, will be integrated and<br />
linked. As such students will be trained to solve problems and projects in a holistic way.<br />
The Integrated Project Design will be taught by engineers working in practice, having a long lasting experience<br />
in the engineering field of water resources planning and management. The tasks to be completed by the trainees<br />
consist of:<br />
(i) a brief description of the project (project location, objectives and environmental features; collected data<br />
characteristics, etc.);<br />
(ii) scope of the works including the planning and layout of ancillary facilities;<br />
(iii) physical conditions of the project;<br />
(iv) design and management criteria;<br />
(v) project design, including a comprehensive reporting on the methodology, criteria and results.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 33
SEMINARS<br />
(KUL-code: I876)<br />
Lecturer: N.<br />
ECTS-credit: 3 pts<br />
Contact hours: 60 hrs.<br />
Prerequisites:<br />
Time and place: 2nd semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation of assignments<br />
Comparable handbook:<br />
Course description:<br />
The seminars (60 contact hours) programmed in the Advanced Study Programme in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong><br />
<strong>Engineering</strong> are common for all trainees, independent the programme option. The main objective of the<br />
seminars is to expose students to general, technical, socio-economic, environmental, political and institutional<br />
aspects of water resources planning, operation and management. The subjects of the seminars will be related to<br />
one of the following disciplines: hydrology, irrigation, water quality, aquatic ecology, etc. Most of the seminars<br />
will be given by experts in water resources planning, engineering and management, belonging to international<br />
and national administrations, universities, research institutes, consulting companies, etc.<br />
34 / Course syllabi
THESIS RESEARCH<br />
(KUL-code: I729)<br />
Lecturer: N.<br />
ECTS-credit: 17 pts<br />
Contact hours: 120 hrs.<br />
Prerequisites:<br />
Time and place: 1 st and 2nd semester, VUB or K.U.L.<br />
Course syllabus:<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on submitted thesis and oral presentation<br />
Comparable handbook:<br />
Description:<br />
The thesis research programmed in the Advanced Study Programme in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> is<br />
common for all trainees. The main objective of the thesis research is to extend the knowledge in a specific water<br />
resources subject by independently researching the topic. The student is able to choose, from an extensive list, a<br />
topic in hydrology, irrigation, water quality or aquatic ecology (dependent on their chosen option). Topics<br />
related to problems with the home country of the student are preferred. The thesis is guided, on a regular basis<br />
by a promotor and an advisor.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 35
3.2 OPTIONAL COURSES<br />
G7. SURFACE WATER MODELING<br />
(KUL-code: I868 (Th); I869 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: BAUWENS W.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of surface hydrology, groundwater hydrology and hydraulics is<br />
essential<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 7 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Course syllabus:<br />
Evaluation: Report on SWAT (report + presentation) (25%), report on the application (report +<br />
presentation) (25%) and examination: discussion on the reports (50%).<br />
Comparable handbook: Arnold et al. (1996). SWAT. Soil and <strong>Water</strong> Assessment Tool. USDA, Temple, Tx,<br />
USA.<br />
Additional information: SWAT www site: http://www.brc.tamus.edu/swat/index.html<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The aim of the workshop is to familiarise the students with the problems associated to the use of comprehensive<br />
hydrologic models. Additional aims are the fostering of the self-learning capacities of the students, training on<br />
multidisciplinary group work, on the search for information (including the use of the www), on the redaction of<br />
scientific reports and on the presentation of research results.<br />
Course description:<br />
The workshop is built around the use of the hydrologic simulator SWAT (Soil and <strong>Water</strong> Assessment Tool).<br />
SWAT consists of a semi-distributed hydrologic rainfall-runoff model and hydrologic river and reservoir<br />
routing models, as well as erosion, sediment transport and diffuse pollution wash-off modules. The simulator is<br />
also suited to analyse the impact of alternative management (soil, vegetation, irrigation) and climate change<br />
scenario's.<br />
In a first stage, the students have to learn about modelling problems in general. To this purpose, lectures will be<br />
organised, dealing with the classification and the use of models, data assessment problems and model<br />
calibration and evaluation. Also, a general introduction of the SWAT simulator will be provided.<br />
The students will then be subdivided into working groups, to analyse the theory underlying SWAT. Within each<br />
group, individual students will analyse in detail a specific component of SWAT (surface runoff, groundwater,<br />
erosion, river processes, soil and plant interactions,...). Each group will present its results (written and orally) in<br />
plenary sessions, so that the entire group will be informed about the different components.<br />
In a second stage, SWAT will be applied to analyse the impact of climate change scenario's on the hydrologic<br />
response, erosion and water quality for a real river basin. The application results will be presented and<br />
discussed in plenary sessions.<br />
36 / Course syllabi
G8. GROUNDWATER MODELING<br />
(KUL-code: I864 (Th); I865(Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DE SMEDT F.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. theory and computer sessions/30 hrs. study case<br />
Prerequisites: Groundwater hydrology (C7), Mathematical methods (C1), Information technology<br />
(W1)<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB.<br />
Course syllabus: Course notes are available<br />
Evaluation: There is no formal exam. The students are asked to work a practical problem, i. e. the<br />
Woburn groundwater pollution case, for which all relevant material is available in the<br />
department. The students have to prepare a report and individual presentation of the<br />
conducted and achieved results, which will be graded as end result of the course.<br />
Comparable handbook: Wang, M.F., and M.P. Anderson, 1982. Introduction to groundwater modeling - Finite<br />
difference and finite element methods. W.M. Freeman and Co.<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The goal of the course is to teach the students how to use professional software for simulation and prediction of<br />
groundwater flow and pollutant transport, such that they are able to analyze any groundwater problem that they<br />
would encounter in their professional career by the computer programs that are available in scientific and<br />
commercial circuits.<br />
Course description:<br />
1. Introduction to groundwater modeling:<br />
Numerical techniques for steady and transient flow; numerical approximation of boundary conditions;<br />
matrix inversion techniques and iterative solvers; linear and non-linear problems; stability and convergence<br />
criteria.<br />
2. Introduction to groundwater pollution modeling:<br />
Numerical techniques for simulation of groundwater pollution; boundary conditions; flow tracking;<br />
numerical solvers; stability and convergence criteria.<br />
3. Introduction to MODFLOW and MT3D:<br />
Grid design; input of aquifer characteristics and boundary conditions; choice of solvers and stopping<br />
criteria; output facilities and graphical representation of results.<br />
4. Introduction to the Woburn pollution case.<br />
Practical study case:<br />
- Application of the MODFLOW and MT3D model to the Woburn groundwater pollution case.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 37
G9. IRRIGATION ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: IC03 (Th); IC04 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: WYSEURE G.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: hydraulics; irrigation agronomy<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Common mark for theory and practical. Evaluation on submitted projects.<br />
Comparable handbook: James, G.L., 1988. Principles of farm irrigation system design. John Wiley & Sons,<br />
Inc., 543 p.<br />
Ritzema H.P. (Ed. In chief). 1994. Drainage principles and applications. ILRI<br />
publication 16. Wageningen.1125 pages (ISBN 90 70754 3 39)<br />
Keller, J. and R.D. Bliesner, 1990. Sprinkle and trickle irrigation. A. Van Nostrand<br />
Reinhold Book, 652 p.<br />
Additional information: WWW-site: http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/vakken/G9IET.htm<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The learning objective is to learn how to design field application methods for drainage and irrigation. Rather<br />
than a systematic study of all possible systems selected design examples and projects are worked out. This<br />
course also aims at developing a problem-solving attitude with aid of ICT-tools.<br />
Course description:<br />
Within the framework of the MSc with courses in water management, hydrology and hydraulics and alongside a<br />
course in irrigation planning, operation and management and with a preceding course in irrigation agronomy<br />
this course focuses on the field application methods in drainage and irrigation. As a consequence water<br />
resources and distribution for irrigation engineering are not covered.<br />
1. General design criteria: General review of irrigation and drainage techniques. Importance of soil, climate<br />
and water resource in the selection of an irrigation and/or drainage method. Definition of objectives:<br />
application uniformity, adequacy and efficiency. General principles of lateral design.<br />
2. Drip Irrigation: Emitter hydraulics. Soil reservoir under drip irrigation. Filter and system head<br />
characteristics. Lateral design.<br />
3. Sprinkler Irrigation: Sprinkler hydraulics. Types of sprinkler systems. Lateral design<br />
4. Surface Irrigation: Surface irrigation hydraulics: advance, storage, depletion and recession. Land leveling<br />
for irrigation. Design of furrow, border and basin.<br />
5. Runoff Irrigation: Feasibility study based on socio-economical, climatological, hydrological, agromomical<br />
and soil conditions. Use of a simulation model (Parched-Thirst) as a design tool for Rainwater Harvesting.<br />
Choice of external/internal runoff and appropriate runoff catchment/cropped area proportion. Infrastructure<br />
for erosion and water excess control.<br />
6. Agricultural Drainage: Drainage principles; Subsurface drainage and modelling of water table dynamics;<br />
Surface drainage; Salinity control; Design criteria; Determination of physical parameters; Practical realization<br />
Contact time for general principles and as an introduction to design case-studies in supervised self-study. Field<br />
visits and practical fieldwork for basic data collection. Students complete a design project, which is reported in<br />
written and oral form.<br />
38 / Course syllabi
G10. PLANNING, OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS<br />
(KUL-code: I717(Th); I893 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: RAES D.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Irrigation agronomy (C8)<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.Leuven<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems<br />
Comparable handbook: FAO Irrigation and Drainage Papers (Rome, Italy):<br />
N° 33 (1979) - Yield response to water. 193 p.<br />
N° 40 (1982) - Organization, operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes. 166 p.<br />
N° 45 (1989) - Guidelines for designing and evaluating surface irrigation systems. 137 p.<br />
N° 46 (1992) - CROPWAT, A computer program for irrigation planning and management.<br />
126 p.<br />
N° 56 (1998) - Crop Evapotranspiration. Guidelines for computing crop water<br />
requirements. 300 p.<br />
Additional information: The course consists of a number of theoretical classes and a set of practical real-live<br />
problems that the students have to solve (examination).<br />
Teaching is in English<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The aim of the course is to provide techniques and calculation procedures for achieving optimal and efficient<br />
operation and management of irrigation systems. During practical sessions the students receive training in the<br />
use of software packages that are helpful for the development of irrigation plans and for the management of<br />
multicrop systems and rice schemes. At the end of the course the students should be able to optimize and<br />
manage the water supply for irrigation schemes.<br />
Course description:<br />
1. Planning of irrigation systems (Why develop irrigated agriculture? Development stages).<br />
2. Management of irrigation systems (Operation, maintenance and assistance services; Associations of<br />
irrigation water users).<br />
3. Planning water supply (Estimating future water supply and water demand; Setting up rotation delivery<br />
schedules. Planning water supply for flooded rice).<br />
4. Distribution of water (<strong>Water</strong> distribution methods; <strong>Water</strong> delivery control systems; Principles of the<br />
operation of hydraulic structures).<br />
5. Measures to match supply and demand (Reduction of the water deficit; Use of unconventional water<br />
sources; Optimization of the water allocation).<br />
6. Monitoring the water supply and performance of the system.<br />
The practical exercises aim to train the students in the development of irrigation plans for multiple cropping<br />
systems and rice schemes. Charts for guiding irrigation in real time in response to actual weather and water<br />
limiting conditions have to be worked out as well. The following software packages are used in the practical<br />
sessions:<br />
- IRSIS: Irrigation scheduling information systems (K.U.Leuven).<br />
- CROPWAT: (FAO)<br />
- BUDGET: a soil water and salt balance model (K.U.Leuven)<br />
- BIRIZ: water requirements for rice schemes (K.U.Leuven)<br />
- SIMIS: scheme irrigation management information system (FAO)<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 39
40 / Course syllabi
G11. HYDRAULIC MODELLING<br />
(KUL-code: HF40 (Th); HF41 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DELLEUR J. / BERLAMONT J.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Mathematics for water engineering (C2), Hydraulics (C5)<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Part 1 (Delleur J.)<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 8 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Evaluation: One closed book examination on theory, one open book examination on problems, four<br />
reports on computer-based exercises.<br />
Comparable books: Sturm, T.W. “Open Channel Hydraulics”, Mc Graw-Hill, 2001. Particularly chapter 7<br />
on Governing Equations of Unsteady Flow, Chapter 8 on Numerical Solution of the<br />
Unsteady Flow Equations and Chapter 9 on Simplified Methods of Flow Routing.<br />
Jain, S.C. “Open Channel Flow”, John Wiley and Sons, 2000. Presents clear and<br />
complete derivations of the basic equations and their solution.<br />
Learning objectives: Due to the variability of rainfall, most natural flows are time dependent. It is therefore<br />
important to grasp the analysis of unsteady flows. The objectives of the course are thus to understand the<br />
equations governing unsteady free surface flows, to comprehend the available methods of solution and to<br />
acquire some familiarity with a few of the professional softwares available for the solution of unsteady free<br />
surface flow problems.<br />
Course description:<br />
The course starts with the derivation of the hyperbolic partial differential equations of unsteady free surface<br />
flow (St. Venant Equations). Their theoretical solution by the method of characteristics is examined next. It is<br />
demonstrated by a computer exercise based on the Pin-Nam Lin method (Ven Te Chow).<br />
Then numerical solutions are considered: The first is the method of specified intervals, based on the<br />
characteristic equations. It is illustrated by a computer exercise. Following this, are the explicit and implicit<br />
formulations of the finite difference forms, of the St. Venant equations. These are illustrated in the model<br />
FLDWAV (unsteady flow in rivers). It is the most comprehensive software available for flood forecasting.<br />
Then simplified methods, including the diffusion and the kinematic wave are considered. The software program<br />
KINEROS illustrates the application of the kinematic wave to the modeling of overland flow and upland small<br />
streams. It includes infiltration and erosion components. It can be used for both agricultural and urban<br />
watersheds. An exercise is planned for the illustration of KINEROS. The combination of KINEROS for the<br />
upland watersheds and FLDWAV for the main rivers provides the necessary tools for complete hydraulic<br />
modeling of surface waters.<br />
Part 2 (Berlamont J.)<br />
Time and place: 1st semester, 7 sessions of 3 hours each, K.U.L.<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on sample problems<br />
Comparable books: Butler D. & Davies J.W. (2000), “Urban drainage”, Spon, London<br />
Berlamont J. (1997), “Rioleringen” (in Dutch), Acco, Leuven<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The students should be able to design water supply systems and waste-water collection systems using modern<br />
commercial software packages (e.g. “Hydroworks” for sewer networks). They should be able to critically<br />
evaluate the numerical results.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 41
Course description:<br />
1. <strong>Water</strong> supply: analysis of water distribution networks incl. distributing reservoirs, pumps and surge tanks<br />
2. Waste-water collection systems: types of sewer systems; waste-water volumes; flow in partially filled<br />
pipes; sewer network analysis; sediment transport in sewers: minimum grades, limiting flow velocities;<br />
diversion frequency; pollution of the receiving surface water; pumping equipment; and modeling of<br />
sewer systems.<br />
Practical work consists of:<br />
- Design of water distribution networks<br />
- Design of sewer systems<br />
42 / Course syllabi
G12. WATER AND WASTE WATER TREATMENT<br />
(KUL-code: I884 (Th); I885 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: VERELST H.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Principles of microbiology, biochemistry, fluid mechanics<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, 13 sessions of 3 hours each, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes and copies of slides<br />
Evaluation: Written examination; oral 2 nd chance<br />
Comparable handbook: Henze, Harremoes,..; Wastewater Treatment, 2 nd edition, Springer Verlag, 1997, ISBN: 3-<br />
540-62702-2<br />
Coulson and Richardson, Chemical <strong>Engineering</strong> part 2, 4 th edition, Pergamon, 1991, ISBN:<br />
0-08-032957-5<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
Students should obtain knowledge of properties, main parameters and the design of water treatment units, both<br />
for waste water treatment, as for drinking water production. They should be able to calculate primary and<br />
secondary treatment units, based on basic physical, chemical and biological phenomena.<br />
Course description:<br />
The aim of the course is to acquire an in-depth knowledge in the characteristics, functioning and design of<br />
different drinking water and waste-water treatment plants.<br />
1. <strong>Water</strong> and drinking water treatment unit operations: filtration, centrifugation, flocculation, ion exchange,<br />
chlorination.<br />
2. Mechanical treatment of waste-water.<br />
3. Aerobic waste-water treatment: biokinetics, conception of aerobic basins, design, activated sludge plants.<br />
4. Anaerobic waste-water treatment: biokinetics, biomethanation.<br />
5. Technological aspects of primary and secondary water treatment units.<br />
6. Advanced waste-water treatment: overview of new high-rate reactor designs<br />
7. Tertiary waste-water treatment: principle, chemical processes, biological processes for nutrient removal,<br />
design<br />
8. Sludge treatment: biomethanation, dewatering.<br />
The practical work consists of:<br />
Design, dimensioning and modeling of a drinking water treatment plant. Design, dimensioning and modeling<br />
of a lagoon system and a sludge treatment plant.<br />
Visits to wastewater treatment plants.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 43
G13. MONITORING OF WATER QUALITY<br />
(KUL-code: GM24 (Th); GM25 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: OLLEVIER F. / BRENDONCK L.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of aquatic ecology, hydrology, microbiology, biochemistry, organic<br />
and inorganic chemistry<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on a personal work (case study) and an oral exam with written preparation<br />
Comparable handbook: <strong>Water</strong> quality monitoring, Eds. J. Bartram & R. Ballance, E&FN SPON (Chapman and<br />
Hall), London, 1996, ISBN 0-419-21730-4<br />
<strong>Water</strong> quality assessments, Ed. D. Chapman E&FN SPON (Chapman and Hall),<br />
London, 1996, ISBN 0-419-21590-5<br />
Principles of ecotoxicology, second edition, Eds. C.H. Walker, S.P. Hopkin, R.M.<br />
Sibly, D.B. Peakall, Taylor and Francis, London, 2001, ISBN 0-7484-0940-8<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The course aims at providing an in-depth knowledge of physical-chemical and biological methods for<br />
monitoring water quality, to provide the students with the necessary tools for the design of a purpose-oriented<br />
monitoring programme. Basic knowledge of the structure and function (e.g. courses C9- Aquatic Ecology and<br />
G14- Advanced Aquatic Ecology) and the hydrological characteristics (e.g. courses C6-7- surface and<br />
groundwater hydrology; courses G7-8- surface and groundwater modeling) of aquatic ecosystems is integrated<br />
for the proper interpretation of water quality data, to predict the impact of pollution on the natural environment<br />
and for water resource management. Special attention is given to the interdisciplinary character of<br />
ecotoxicological research and monitoring programmes and to the need for an integration of the monitoring data<br />
with the physical, hydrological and ecological characteristics of the catchment area and the various transport,<br />
transformation, degradation and accumulation pathways that lead to the observed distribution patterns of<br />
pollutants in the water and in organisms. Special emphasis is given to implementing monitoring programmes in<br />
remote areas and in developing countries taking into consideration any practical limitations (e.g. financial<br />
resources). As such the students will also get a good feeling of the vulnerability of the aquatic systems and the<br />
need for working out a realistic and well budgeted monitoring and management scheme in relation to any<br />
economical developments in the area considered. By this integration of monitoring and management strategies<br />
in an ecological and sociological context, several of the IUPWARE learning points are met.<br />
Course description:<br />
A) General:<br />
- Introduction to pollution: types of physical-chemical pollution of surface and groundwater; effects of<br />
contamination of water with pathogenic bacteria and viruses; effects of pollution and eutrophication on the<br />
ecology of streams, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries and marine waters;<br />
- Introduction to ecotoxicology: impact of environmental conditions on the toxicity of compounds;<br />
introduction to the criteria for the evaluation of toxicity (LC50, EC50, NOEC, MATC); biological<br />
transformation, biodegradation and bio-accumulation of compounds; advantages and shortcomings of singlespecies<br />
tests and tests using community or ecosystem responses; and<br />
- Critical evaluation of merits and problems with physical-chemical and biological monitoring;<br />
B) Physical-chemical monitoring:<br />
- Measuring physical properties of water;<br />
- Analysis of chemical properties of water;<br />
- <strong>Water</strong> quality assessment: water quality criteria, norms, water quality indices; and<br />
- Sampling strategies and techniques for physical-chemical monitoring of water quality;<br />
C) Biological and microbiological monitoring:<br />
44 / Course syllabi
- Biological monitoring systems for surface water, groundwater and sediments: early warning systems<br />
(continuous monitoring), bio-assays, ecotoxicological tests, assessment systems based on bio-indicators (e.g.<br />
macro-invertebrates, fish) and diversity criteria;<br />
- Microbiological methods for monitoring (pathogenic) bacteria and viruses in water; and<br />
- Sampling strategies and techniques for (micro)biological communities.<br />
D) The students should be able to produce, in an interactive way and making use of the course syllabus and<br />
suggested handbooks, a personal work that involves the design of a detailed monitoring scheme for a<br />
realistic situation, that takes into account practical limitations (e.g. limitation of resources, social<br />
constraints), and that aims at an optimal integration of hydrological information and physical, chemical and<br />
biological monitoring techniques.<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 45
G14. ADVANCED AQUATIC ECOLOGY<br />
(KUL-code: IC05 (Th); IC06 (Pr))<br />
Lecturer: DE MEESTER L.<br />
ECTS-credit: 5 pts<br />
Contact hours: 30 hrs. of theory/30 hrs. of practical<br />
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of aquatic ecology and ecological concepts<br />
Time and place: 1 st semester, VUB<br />
Course syllabus: Lecture notes<br />
Evaluation: Quotation on a personal work and an oral exam with written preparation<br />
Comparable handbook: Limnoecology: The ecology of lakes and streams, W. Lampert & U. Sommer, Oxford<br />
University Press, 1997<br />
Introduction to ecological modeling, putting theory into practice, M. Gillman & R.<br />
Hails, Blackwell Science, 1997<br />
Moss, B., 1998. Ecology of Fresh <strong>Water</strong>s, Man and Medium, Past to future. Third ed.<br />
Blackwell Science.<br />
The ecology of tropical lakes and rivers, A.I. Payne, 1986, John Wiley & Sons, New<br />
York<br />
Additional information: -<br />
Learning objectives:<br />
The course aims at providing the students an in-depth insight into central concepts and new developments in<br />
aquatic ecology, with emphasis on topics that are particularly relevant to tropical and subtropical systems.<br />
Building on a basic knowledge of the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems (e.g. course on Aquatic<br />
Ecology, GM22), it is the purpose that the student obtains the necessary insight and skills to design monitoring<br />
and experimental studies in aquatic ecosystems. Concepts are introduced in such a way that they can be<br />
incorporated into models describing ecological relationships within aquatic ecosystems, such that their<br />
responses to perturbations and management practices can be evaluated. In doing this, much emphasis is also<br />
given to the design of field and experimental studies that are intended to collect the data and parameter values<br />
necessary to build realistic models.<br />
Course description:<br />
A) Ecological concepts:<br />
- Concepts in population biology: dynamics of competitive and predator-prey interactions (data, case studies<br />
and models); meta-population dynamics;<br />
- Patterns and dynamics of bio-diversity;<br />
- Concepts in landscape ecology ; and<br />
- Concepts in evolutionary biology (e.g. life history evolution, dispersal in time and space, dia-pause<br />
strategies; uncertainty and bet-hedging);<br />
B) Tropical and subtropical aquatic biomes:<br />
- Tropical rivers and pseudo-terrestrial ecosystems;<br />
- Ephemeral pools;<br />
- Ancient lake biota; and<br />
- Salt lakes and salt marshes;<br />
C) Applied issues:<br />
- Resistance, resilience, recovery;<br />
- Dynamics of overexploitation;<br />
- The introduction of exotic species;<br />
- Global change and large-scale impacts; and<br />
- Lake management<br />
D) Tools:<br />
- Strengths and weaknesses of the experimental approach; experimental design;<br />
46 / Course syllabi
- Modeling of ecological processes: descriptive and predictive modeling; parameter implementation;<br />
simulation exercises<br />
Advanced studies in <strong>Water</strong> <strong>Resources</strong> <strong>Engineering</strong> / 47
K.U.Leuven VUB<br />
Advanced Academic Education Department of Hydrology and<br />
Group Exact Sciences Hydraulic <strong>Engineering</strong><br />
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 Pleinlaan 2<br />
3001 Leuven (Heverlee) 1050 Brussel<br />
Tel: +32-16-32 17 44 Tel: +32-2-629 30 21<br />
Fax: +32-16-32 19 56 Fax: +32-2-629 30 22<br />
Email:greta.camps@agr.kuleuven.ac.be Email: hydr@vub.ac.be<br />
Telex: 61051 VUBCO-B<br />
48 / Course syllabi<br />
http://www.iupware.be