CE 421 Hydrology
Course Syllabus and Brief Description of Semester Projects
Tentative schedule for Fall 2008
Overview - what is Hydrology?
Hydrology is an interdisciplinary science. It involves the quantitative description of all aspects of the water cycle: from precipitation to runoff and infiltration, then to groundwater and streamflow, and back to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration. All of these hydrologic processes are highly variable, both in space and time. The spatial variability stems from the fact that rainfall, topography, land use, vegetation, soils, geology are all highly heterogeneous. The temporal variability is a direct result of the large daily, monthly, yearly changes in weather patterns. These factors make hydrologic engineering an especially challenging branch of civil engineering.
About the course
This is a project-based course that builds on CE 251 and CE 351. Rather than following a textbook-style orderly approach, we will explore new topics and you will learn new skills as required to meet the objectives of each project - this means that to some degree we will sacrifice logical organization for the benefit of doing real-world projects. Traditional classroom lectures will be used to get you up to speed on various topics as necessary. The class projects typically involve local hydrologic data collection and analysis, field work, computer modeling, and design work such as sizing detention basins and stormwater best management practices (BMPs). The project sites are all within a few miles of campus.
Class will meet MW 2:10-3:00 (AEC 306), F 2:10-4:00 (AEC 306/field)
Instructor
Learning Objectives:
1) Conduct hydrologic analysis and design with a project-based approach focused on local watersheds
2) Apply industry-standard methods and models to simulate stormwater runoff and routing, and design stormwater management facilities using current methods
3) Develop effective written communication skills through project reports to clients
4) Develop knowledge of contemporary/emerging issues in hydrology
Contemporary/Emerging Issues in Hydrology
Hydrologic engineering has important societal dimensions and implications. With this is mind, we will explore the following topics through a variety of readings, guest lectures, films, etc: lessons learned from past mega-projects (dams, aqueducts, etc), recent changes in stormwater management philosophy and practice, potential impacts of global climate change on hydrologic engineering, and flooding in the Delaware River Basin. You are also encouraged to bring current news articles to class for discussion.
Course Materials and Handouts (pdf files)
Hydrologic Budget Handout
Monocacy Creek Annual Water Budget Plot (assumes negligible annual changes in storage)
Delination of Watershed Contributing Area Handout
Baseflow and Hydrographs Handout
HEC-HMS Handout Part 1
HEC-HMS Handout Part 2