Hydrology and Water Resources

Code:

EC0027

Acronym:

HRHI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment

Instance: 2018/2019 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment Division
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEC	177	Syllabus since 2006/2007	3	-	6,5	75	175

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

JUSTIFICATION

Hydrology is the science devoted to the study of water properties, its distribution and the different processes involved in its cycle. Notions of hydrology are also fundamental for water resources planning and management, a topic that has assumed a greater role in recent decades.

Besides providing an introduction to the students on important basic concepts, knowledge of the basic principles of hydrology and their application are essential to the achievement of any hydraulic work. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to issues related to the water cycle, water resources management, rainwater drainage in urban areas and hydroelectric plants, providing the basic general notions for practice of civil engineering in any of its areas, and also for the themes developed in the specific courses of the Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment branch.

OBJECTIVES

Provide all the undergraduate students in Civil Engineering with knowledge that will prepare them for the design in the water surface hydrology, water resources management and urban rainwater drainage systems areas. General information about hydroelectric plants. 

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge: Characterize the different aspects of the hydrological cycle and the different types of basins, linking and integrating them with the natural systems associated with the development and planning. List the different instruments involved in the management of water resources. List functions, types and elements of hydroelectric plants.

Comprehension: Interpret and use the hydrological data base, namely data available at the National Information System for Water Resources, and mapping them.

Application: Apply the methods involved in the study of hydrology and water resources management. Scale elements involved in the rainwater drainage and find functions, types and bodies involved in hydroelectric plants.

Analysis: Interpret the results obtained by applying the methods and formulas presented for the study of flows and floods and droughts situations.

Synthesis: Explain the relationship and functioning of the different phases of the hydrological cycle, taking into account the variables involved. Manage existing information on water resources using computational tools (geographical information system).

Evaluation: Criticize the methods and choose the most reliable for different situations studied taking into account the intended goals.

Working method

Presencial

Program

•HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE AND WATER USE CYCLE

•RIVER BASINS

Physiographic characteristics. Rainfall. Extreme rainfall. Drench of short duration. Year type classification. Flows study. Data bases, regulations, flows regularization in storage reservoirs. Floods study. Floods in urban areas. Urban rivers.

•WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Institutional framework, the Water Framework Directive, the Water Law, River Basin Plans, Use of geographic Information systems, National System for Water Resources Information, Water resources availability and environmental constraints.

•URBAN RAINWATER DRAINAGE

Drainage basin characterization, Systems Constitution and Conception, Legislation and Regulation, Methods for Flows determination, Collectors Dimensioning, Networks and Accessories, Slopes drainage, Hydraulics crossings in roads, Rainwater Quality, New approaches of Conception. Future prospects.

•HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS

Purposes, Structural and Constructive Types, Hydraulic Circuits, Security Bodies, Impacts.

 

PERCENTUAL DISTRIBUTION:

Scientific Component ‐ 70%

Technological Component ‐ 30%

 

DEMONSTRATION OF THE SYLLABUS COHERENCE WITH THE CURRICULAR UNIT'S OBJECTIVES:

Hydrology is the science dedicated to studying the properties of water, their distribution and the different processes involved in its cycle. The concepts of hydrology are also crucial for the planning and management of water resources, a topic that has assumed greater role in recent decades. Besides allowing to present important basic concepts, knowledge of the basic principles of hydrology and its application are essential to the achievement of any hydraulic work. The aim of this curricular is to introduce students to issues related to the water cycle, water management, rain water drainage in urban and hydroelectric plants, providing the basic notions of general exercise and practice of civil engineering in any of its areas, and also to the themes developed in the curricular units of the specific branch of Hydraulics, Water Resources and Environment.

Mandatory literature

Lencastre, A.; Lições de hidrologia. ISBN: 972-595-079-8
Ribeiro, Agostinho de Sousa Guedes Álvares; Hidrologia
João Reis Hipólito, Álvaro Carmo Vaz; Hidrologia e recursos hidricos. ISBN: 978-972-8469-86-3
Apontamentos preparados pelos docentes
Portugal. Leis, decretos, etc; Regulamento geral dos sistemas públicos e prediais de distribuição de água e de drenagem de águ. ISBN: 972-51-0755-1

Teaching methods and learning activities

- Presentation supported by documentation related to practical situations

- Calculation methodologies.

- Elaboration of practical assignments related to:

(i) hydrological study for viability analysis of an hydroelectric plant

(ii) rainwater drainage of an edified urban watershed

(the cartography and data base for the elaboration of these assignments will be provided in digital support)

- Study visit.

 

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The teaching methods allow to apply the methods involved in the study of hydrology and water resources management, design the elements involved in rain water drainage and find the functions, types and bodies involved in hydroelectric plants, interpret the results obtained by applying the methods and formulas presented for the study of flow and situations of floods and droughts, explain the relationship and function of the various phases of the hydrological cycle, taking into account the variables involved, manage existing information on water resources using computational tools (geographical information system).

Software

AutoCad

keywords

Technological sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	100,00
Frequência das aulas	75,00
Total:	175,00

Eligibility for exams

Achieving final classification requires compliance with attendance at the course unit, according to the MIEC assessment rules. It is considered that students meet the attendance requirements if, having been regularly enrolled, the number of absences of 25% for each of the classes’ types is not exceeded.

Calculation formula of final grade

CALCULATION OF FINAL CLASSIFICATION:

The final classification is based on a distributed evaluation without a final exam, which consists of two evaluation tests, PA1 and PA2. The tests PA1 and PA2 are compulsory, the weight of each test is 50%.

The final classification, CF *, results from the following formula:

CF=CPA1×0.5+CPA2×0.5

with,
CPA1 - classification of the evaluation PA1 **
CPA2 - classification of the evaluation PA2 **.

* Rounding to units; ** rounding to the decimals

Approval of the course unit requires the obtention of a minimum grade of 6,0/20 (30%) in each of the evaluation tests (PA1 and PA2)

NOTE 1: All students enrolled in the course unit are classified according to this evaluation method.

NOTE 2: The Distributed Evaluation Period (EAD) includes two evaluation tests: PA1, scheduled to be held on April 10, 2019; PA2, to be held in the first week of exams, on a day to be defined.

In the event of missing one of the evaluation tests, the student can take the test at the time of appeal.

NOTE 3: The Time of Appeal (ER) consists of two consecutive evaluation tests (PA1 and PA2), to be carried out during the examination period, on a day to be defined.

NOTE 4: Students who fail at EAD, or want to improve their passing grade, may choose to take only one of the evaluation tests (PA1 or PA2) in the ER. In this case, the highest grade obtained in this test is considered for the purpose of final classification. To do this, students must formalize this option until 48 hours before the appeal exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

They are no special assignments, besides those described in "Final Classification".

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with Special Statutes are classified according to the method established in "Final Classification".

Classification improvement

Students who have already obtained approval may perform GRADE IMPROVEMENT, once, under the following conditions:

(i) taking an evaluation test PA1, PA2 or both (classified from 0 to 20 values) of the ER of the year in which they obtained approval to the course unit;

(ii) performing an assessment test that includes the TOTALITY of the subject (classified from 0 to 20 values) after the ER of the academic year in which they obtained approval to the UC;

The Final Classification in the Course Unit is the highest, between the one that had been obtained initially and that results from the grade improvement evaluation.

Observations

Preliminary Knowledge: The non-attendance and / or approval of the UCs General Hydraulics (1 and 2) may raise additional difficulties.

Working time estimated out of class: 4 hours