Hydrology and Hydraulics Training course for HDB – 2012.
Review of basic concepts in hydrology and hydraulics and applications to practical designs including
design of retention pond and ABC design.
Introduction
With increasing urbanization and future urbanization, there is a need to design the waterways in
Singapore so that they can prevent or at least alleviate flooding situations. The beauty of the
waterbodies can also be enhanced through designs that are in accordance to the Active Beauty Clean
(ABC) Waters Design Guidelines as set out by PUB.
Course objectives
With the completion of the course, the participants should have a good understanding of the basic
concepts in hydrology and hydraulics and how they can be applied to achieve practical designs.
Programme
There are seven modules in this programme (6 days). They are:

Module 1: Review of basic hydrologic elements - precipitation, evaporation, infiltration (0.5 day)

Module 2: Surface runoff, hydrograph analysis and synthesis (1 day)

Module 3: Reservoir routing and channel routing (0. 5 day)

Module 4: Review of basic hydraulics - pipe flow and open channel flow (1 day)

Module 5:, Drainage design, flood mitigation including sizing of retention pond (1 day)

Module 6: Catchment-river basin modelling (1 day)

Module 7: ABC design (1 day)
The course instructors are:
Dr Tommy S. W. WONG.
Dr TAN Soon Keat,
Dr LIM Siow Yong, and
Dr SHUY Eng Ban.
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Brief Biography of the Instructors
DR TAN SOON KEAT is the Director of Maritime Research Centre and an Associate Professor at the
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University. He joined Nanyang
Technological Institute in 1984 and is instrumental in the development of the hydraulics, hydrology,
coastal and wind tunnel laboratories. Dr Tan’s research interests include application of geographical
information system in water resources, numerical simulation of flow for hydraulics and coastal
engineering applications. Beside technical papers, conference presentations and workshops, Dr Tan also
provides consultancy services in areas including surge analysis, drainage and hydraulic design, physical
and numerical modelling of hydraulic and coastal processes.
DR. TOMMY S. W. WONG is a freelance consultant, editor and author. He is the founding editor of the
Hydrological Science and Engineering book series published by Nova Science Publishers. He was also an
associate editor of the Journal of Hydrologic Engineering published by the American Society of Civil
Engineers. Dr. Wong has nearly 10 years' experience in the planning, design and site supervision of civil
engineering projects especially flood alleviation projects. He also has 25 years teaching and research
experience in hydraulics, hydrology and water resources. He has published five engineering books and
more than 60 journal and conference papers. Dr. Wong has received the John Illingworth Prize from
Leeds University in 1974, and the J. C. Stevens Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers in
2004.
Dr LIM SIOW YONG received both his bachelor and doctoral degrees from the University of Liverpool,
U.K. He was with the Department of Civil Engineering, National University of Malaysia (UKM) from 1986
to 1991, and joined the Nanyang Technological University since April 1991. He is an Associate Professor
in the Division of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental
Engineering. His research and consulting works focus mainly on the mechanics of sediment transport,
erosion, scouring and deposition phenomena in waterways/hydraulics structures, and urban hydraulics
engineering. He has published 39 papers in refereed journals and 35 conference papers.
Dr SHUY ENG BAN started his career as a civil engineer with the Singapore Drainage Engineer from 1977
to 1981, during which he was involved in the planning, design and construction supervision of large scale
drainage and flood alleviation projects in Singapore. Upon completion of his PhD in 1985, he joined, and
remained in NTU (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) until now. During his 27 years tenure in
NTU, he taught many of the water related courses in the areas of fluid mechanics, hydraulics, hydrology
and water resources engineering, and was involved in externally funded research projects in such areas
as watershed rainfall-runoff monitoring and modeling, integrated urban drainage, stormwater and
water resource management, GIS applications in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and sustainable
urban drainage systems (SUDS). He also served as specialist consultant to many local and overseas
companies and public agencies in the areas of storm drainage, flood alleviation and stormwater
management, water hammer surge analyses and treatment, water resources engineering, coastal
hydraulics and engineering, open/river channel hydraulics and dam-break studies, pipe hydraulics and
general fluid mechanics, SUDS/WSUD design features and general hydrology.
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Module 1: Review of basic hydrologic elements - precipitation, evaporation, infiltration (0.5 day)
Instructor: Dr Tommy Wong
This module covers the measurement of precipitation, evaporation and infiltration and the analyses of
the measured data.
Module 2: Surface runoff, hydrograph analysis and synthesis (1 day)
Instructor: Dr Tommy Wong
This module covers the measurement of surface runoff and the analyses of the runoff hydrograph
including hydrograph separation and storage reservoir design.
Module 3: Reservoir routing and channel routing (0.5 day)
Instructor: Dr Tommy Wong
This module covers the techniques to route a hydrograph through a reservoir and through a channel.
Module 4: Review of basic hydraulics - pipe flow and open channel flow (1 day)
Instructor: Dr Lim Siow Yong
The module recaps the basics of pipe flow and open channel flow. Pipe Flow: introduction of pipe flow,
friction and head loss, pumping design, pipe-network analysis. Open Channel Flow: Free surface flow,
hydraulic and energy grade line. Critical flow and control sections. Gradually varied flow and water
surface profiles.
Module 5: Drainage design, flood mitigation including sizing of retention pond (1 day)
Instructor: Dr Tommy Wong
This module covers the concepts and the methodology in carrying out a drainage design. It also covers
various options to mitigate a flood, and a method to size a retention pond.
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Module 6: Catchment-river basin modelling (1 day)
Instructor: Dr Tan Soon Keat
This module deals with the concept of rainfall-runoff modelling, and discuss the relevant parameters
such as rainfall (rainfall patterns and distribution), infiltration and losses (type of land use, terrain, etc),
runoff, and flow in the river network system (including various hydraulic structures such as dam and
retention ponds, weirs and others).
Module 7: ABC design (1 day)
Instructor: Dr Shuy Eng Ban
PUB’s ABC Waters Program is a vision to transform Singapore’s reservoirs and major rivers, canals and
drains into “Active” (dynamic, full of life and activities), “Beautiful” (aesthetically pleasing) and “Clean”
(good water quality) streams, rivers and lakes, thus bringing people closer to water, and providing a
beautiful environment of gardens and waters for all to enjoy. Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS) or
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is increasing being implemented as best management practices
that address the quantity, quality and amenity aspects of storm water management. SUDS techniques
could cover all stages of the surface water management train, from inlet control, source control, site
control, to regional control, as well as control along the conveyance systems. The control devices could
include green roofs and rainwater harvesting, bioswales or bioretention swales, biotopes, infiltration
and recharge systems, wetlands and detention ponds. The hydrologic and hydraulic considerations and
constraints in the design and applications of ABC programs and WSUD devices will be discussed in the
course, to enable the systems to meet their desired flow attenuation and quality treatment objectives
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