CE 54900 – Computational Watershed Hydrology

Credits and contact hours:

  • 3 credits
  • Lecture meets 2 times per week for 50 minutes on Monday and 110 minutes on Wednesday for 15 weeks

Specific course information:

  • Catalog description: Use of professional computer programs for the calculation of the runoff from complex basins. Generation of unit hydrographs. Calculation of losses, channel and reservoir routing, parameter optimization, and application of Kinematic wave technique to urban catchments. Offered in alternate years. Typically offered Fall.
  • Prerequisites: None, but some exposure to Hydrology and GIS is expected
  • Course status: Technical Elective

Specific Goals for the course:

  • Student learning outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course the student shall be able to:
    • Obtain process and analyze hydrologic data.
    • Develop commonly used hydrologic and hydraulic models (HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS and SWAT) for simulating hydrologic processes for flood modeling and inundation mapping.
    • Use geospatial tools for hydrologic applications.
    • Present and communicate results effectively using ArcGIS visualization tools.
    • Perform GIS and water resources analyses using Python programming.
  •  Relationship of course to program outcomes
    • Outcome 1: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
    • Outcome 5: An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.

Topics:

  • OBTAINING HYDROLOGIC DATA
    • Streamflow, precipitation, digital elevation model, land use and soil.
  • DATA PROCESSING
    • Processing of raster and vector data in ArcGIS, including data projections and integration
  • DATA PROCESSING FOR HYDROLOGIC APPLICATIONS
    • Terrain analysis, watershed delineation, curve number grid development and geodatabase development
  • DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROLOGIC MODELS
    • Setting up of hydrologic models, including HEC-HMS and SWAT using ArcHydro, HEC- GeoHMS and ArcSWAT for simulating single hydrologic events and long term hydrology of a watershed.
  • MODEL CALIBRATION AND VALIDATION
    • Sensitivity analysis of model parameters, model calibration and validation using observed streamflow data.
  • DEVELOPMENT OF HYDRAULIC MODELS
    • Setting up of HEC-RAS for simulating 1D river hydraulics and create flood inundation maps.
  • PYTHON PROGRAMMING FOR HYDROLOGY (if time permits)
    • Basic introduction to Python programming for hydrologic applications