Modelação e Planeamento de Recursos Hídricos

Objectives

To provide complementary knowledge and training related to Hydrology, with emphasis on flood analysis, development of rainfall-runoff models, flood rooting in natural channels and specific hydrological modelling software. To provide knowledge on Water Resources Planning, related to basic tools of water resources planning, the economical comparison of alternative projects, the design of artificial reservoirs, the use of synthetic flow series and the management of the flood prone areas. To present general concepts related to climate change and its influence on the water availability and on the design criteria related to surface water resources.

Syllabus

Design hyetographs and hydrographs. Direct flow and base flow. Base flow recession curves. Excess precipitation and precipitation losses. The SCS model for the rainfall losses and the relevance of the curve number. Intense rainfalls and establishment of design hyetographs. Unit hydrograph model - direct and indirect methods. Rainfall-runoff models. Flood routing along natural channels. Systems of interconnected watersheds. HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS models. Stages of the water resource planning. Economic analysis criteria applied to the selection of alternative projects. The role of the synthetic flow series in the water resources planning. Generation of synthetic flow series. Design and analysis of the performance of artificial reservoirs. The stationarity of hydrological time series and the climate change. Trend detection. Translating trends into design values.

Prerequisites

Knowledge acquired in the course of Hydrology and Water Resources UC at IST or in course equivalent to the previous one, including all the concepts and models related to statistical analysis of hydrological time series. Ability to execute and implement numerical procedures. Comprehensive knowledge about the Excel tools. Knowledge of programming languages and ability to develop computer programs (desirable)

Cross Competence Component

Explain the soft skills to be developed according to the commission of transversal competences definitions, indicating what percentage of its evaluation components includes the transversal competences defined. When performing the sets of assignments, students are required to work in team and to demonstrate discipline and perseverance, ensuring a continuous updated knowledge and complying with the different tasks and schedules.Approximately 5% of the final grades can be consdered to correspond to soft skills.

Laboratorial Component

The course has a strong practical component which requires the almost continuous use of computational tools. Therefore the classes must take place in rooms with computers, also allowing the access to free software. Throughout the course, students apply previous and new theoretical concepts to real design conditions related to the assessment and characterization of the surface water resources and to the design and optimization of water resource systems, also accounting for the effects of the climate change

Programming And Computing Component

Although the course contributes to develop and strengthen programming and computational skills, it does not yield credits. Although the data processing and the implementation of the models are compatible with the Excel tools, the students are invited to try to develop and implement computational procedures.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group's work. In any assessment, every students shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every students shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.