Hydrology
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing knowledge about agro-hydrological measures, models and processes in anthropic and natural catchments with a focus in contexts where the impact of humans on water resources is emphasized by climate change and urban expansion.
In particular, the course aims to:
investigate physical principles and processes that govern hydrology at small and medium catchment scale and in peri-urban and rural environments including: precipitation, interception, energy balance, evaporation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, soil-water and groundwater movement, surface water storage and runoff generation and propagation;
address the monitoring of agro-hydrological variables, and explore existing databases;
deal with water-quality and water resources management issues with the support of case studies;
acquire competencies in the use of Geographic Information Systems (e.g. QGis), excel and common program languages (e.g. Matlab) for hydrological analysis.
In particular, the course aims to:
investigate physical principles and processes that govern hydrology at small and medium catchment scale and in peri-urban and rural environments including: precipitation, interception, energy balance, evaporation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, soil-water and groundwater movement, surface water storage and runoff generation and propagation;
address the monitoring of agro-hydrological variables, and explore existing databases;
deal with water-quality and water resources management issues with the support of case studies;
acquire competencies in the use of Geographic Information Systems (e.g. QGis), excel and common program languages (e.g. Matlab) for hydrological analysis.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completing this course, students will emerge with a deeper understanding of the main hydrological processes and how they interact in the water cycle, plant growing and watershed restoration.
In particular, the students should be able to:
comprehend the hydrologic cycle components, the related major water quantity and quality challenges and their relevance for the resilience of agro-ecosystems and crop productions;
comprehend the physics of water flow transport processes in the SVAT (Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere) environment. Students will be able to represent those processes with mass and energy conservation equations, and apply those equations in assessing water quantity in agricultural systems;
comprehend lumped and distributed dynamic water balance agro-hydrological models for simulating crop water needs and planning water allocation for irrigation purposes;
develop proficiency in obtaining, modifying, and interpreting spatial and temporal data related to the analysis of agro-hydrologic systems and demonstrate geospatial analysis skills;
comprehend factors affecting the rainfall-runoff processes from total rainfall to direct runoff and the formation of flood hydrographs. Students will be able (i) to analyze intensity-duration-frequency curves, (ii) to elaborate synthetic hyetographs, (iii) to assess time of concentration and (iv) to compute direct runoff floods, volumes and hydrological losses given storm data, as well as manipulate hydrograph information;
comprehend factors controlling formation and propagation of runoff on anthropic catchments under hydrological-invariance restrictions;
comprehend the hydrological response of natural watershed before and after disturbances such as, heavy storms, soil and plant degradation, land use change.
demonstrate management, communication and teamwork skills needed to work constructively and professionally on multi-disciplinary teams.
In particular, the students should be able to:
comprehend the hydrologic cycle components, the related major water quantity and quality challenges and their relevance for the resilience of agro-ecosystems and crop productions;
comprehend the physics of water flow transport processes in the SVAT (Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere) environment. Students will be able to represent those processes with mass and energy conservation equations, and apply those equations in assessing water quantity in agricultural systems;
comprehend lumped and distributed dynamic water balance agro-hydrological models for simulating crop water needs and planning water allocation for irrigation purposes;
develop proficiency in obtaining, modifying, and interpreting spatial and temporal data related to the analysis of agro-hydrologic systems and demonstrate geospatial analysis skills;
comprehend factors affecting the rainfall-runoff processes from total rainfall to direct runoff and the formation of flood hydrographs. Students will be able (i) to analyze intensity-duration-frequency curves, (ii) to elaborate synthetic hyetographs, (iii) to assess time of concentration and (iv) to compute direct runoff floods, volumes and hydrological losses given storm data, as well as manipulate hydrograph information;
comprehend factors controlling formation and propagation of runoff on anthropic catchments under hydrological-invariance restrictions;
comprehend the hydrological response of natural watershed before and after disturbances such as, heavy storms, soil and plant degradation, land use change.
demonstrate management, communication and teamwork skills needed to work constructively and professionally on multi-disciplinary teams.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Course Objectives:
This course is aimed at teaching students the concept of hydrology and computational analysis for the design and management of water resources projects. It gives a practical approach to the various facets of the subject and emphasizes the application of hydrological knowledges to solve engineering problems.
Introduction [8 hours]
Definition and Uses of Engineering hydrology
Hydrologic cycle and water balance equations
Precipitation [8 hours]
Causes, forms and types of precipitation
Measurement of rainfall (types and adequacy of rain gauges)
Estimation of missing rainfall data
Test for inconsistencies of rainfall data
Presentation of rainfall data (Mass curve, Hyetograph, Average curve of annual rainfall)
Estimation of mean rainfall over an area
Development of Intensity - Duration - Frequency (IDF) curve and equation
Depth - Area - Duration (DAD) curve
Hydrological Losses [8 hours]
Initial losses (Interception and depression storage)
Evapotranspiration process
Meteorological parameters (Radiation, Temperature, Vapor pressure, Humidity, Wind)
Energy Budget methods and Mass transfer approach (Dalton's law)
Evaporimeters
Evapotranspiration
Actual evapotranspiration and Lysimeters
Potential Evapotranspiration (Penman's equation)
Infiltration
Horton's equation
Infiltrometers
Surface Runoff [8 hours]
Drainage basins and its quantitative characteristics
Factors affecting runoff from a catchment
Rainfall - Runoff relationship
Stream gauging (selection of sites, types of gauges and measurement)
Stream flow measurement by velocity area method (current meters, floats and velocity rods)
Stream flow computation by slope area method
Development of Rating curve and its uses
Flood Hydrology [8 hours]
Design flood and its frequency
Statistical methods of flood prediction
Continuous Probability distribution
Return period, Frequency and risk
Plotting positions, frequency factors
Gumbel's Extreme Value Type I Method
Flood prediction by SCS-CN, Rational and Empirical methods
The hydrology course also provides 16 hours of QGis tools for hydrological processes and flood prediction calculation.
This course is aimed at teaching students the concept of hydrology and computational analysis for the design and management of water resources projects. It gives a practical approach to the various facets of the subject and emphasizes the application of hydrological knowledges to solve engineering problems.
Introduction [8 hours]
Definition and Uses of Engineering hydrology
Hydrologic cycle and water balance equations
Precipitation [8 hours]
Causes, forms and types of precipitation
Measurement of rainfall (types and adequacy of rain gauges)
Estimation of missing rainfall data
Test for inconsistencies of rainfall data
Presentation of rainfall data (Mass curve, Hyetograph, Average curve of annual rainfall)
Estimation of mean rainfall over an area
Development of Intensity - Duration - Frequency (IDF) curve and equation
Depth - Area - Duration (DAD) curve
Hydrological Losses [8 hours]
Initial losses (Interception and depression storage)
Evapotranspiration process
Meteorological parameters (Radiation, Temperature, Vapor pressure, Humidity, Wind)
Energy Budget methods and Mass transfer approach (Dalton's law)
Evaporimeters
Evapotranspiration
Actual evapotranspiration and Lysimeters
Potential Evapotranspiration (Penman's equation)
Infiltration
Horton's equation
Infiltrometers
Surface Runoff [8 hours]
Drainage basins and its quantitative characteristics
Factors affecting runoff from a catchment
Rainfall - Runoff relationship
Stream gauging (selection of sites, types of gauges and measurement)
Stream flow measurement by velocity area method (current meters, floats and velocity rods)
Stream flow computation by slope area method
Development of Rating curve and its uses
Flood Hydrology [8 hours]
Design flood and its frequency
Statistical methods of flood prediction
Continuous Probability distribution
Return period, Frequency and risk
Plotting positions, frequency factors
Gumbel's Extreme Value Type I Method
Flood prediction by SCS-CN, Rational and Empirical methods
The hydrology course also provides 16 hours of QGis tools for hydrological processes and flood prediction calculation.
Prerequisites for admission
The students must have deep knowledge of math and physic, and a very good level of skills in the use of PC Office applications.
Teaching methods
Lecture, assigned readings, demonstrations in class, hands-on computer, problem sets (often requiring use of the Internet, MS Excel).
Teaching Resources
Teacher slides (No difference in didactic maretrials for non-attending students.)
Textbooks
Jain, S. K., & Singh, V. P. (2019). Engineering hydrology: an introduction to processes, analysis, and modeling. McGraw-Hill Education.
Fry, H., Ketteridge, S., & Marshall, S. (Eds.). (2008). A handbook for teaching and learning in higher education: Enhancing academic practice. Routledge.
Serrano, S. E. (1998). Hydrology for engineers, geologists, and environmental professionals: an integrated treatment of surface, subsurface, and contaminant hydrology. (No Title).
FAO56 Manual
Textbooks
Jain, S. K., & Singh, V. P. (2019). Engineering hydrology: an introduction to processes, analysis, and modeling. McGraw-Hill Education.
Fry, H., Ketteridge, S., & Marshall, S. (Eds.). (2008). A handbook for teaching and learning in higher education: Enhancing academic practice. Routledge.
Serrano, S. E. (1998). Hydrology for engineers, geologists, and environmental professionals: an integrated treatment of surface, subsurface, and contaminant hydrology. (No Title).
FAO56 Manual
Assessment methods and Criteria
Quiz on Moodle platform (about 15 min) and practice exercises in the computer classroom (about 1 hour).
AGR/08 - AGRICULTURAL HYDRAULICS AND WATERSHED PROTECTION - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Masseroni Daniele
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)