CE 460 – Advanced Hydrology
2006 Catalog Data: CE 460 – Advanced Hydrology 3 Prerequisite CE 351. Components of the hydrologic cycle;
conceptual models; watershed characteristics; probability/statistics in data analysis; hydrographs; computer models;
and design applications. Credit not grated for both CE 460 and 560.
Prerequisites:
CE 351 – Water Resources Engineering
Textbook:
V. Chow, D. Maidment, and L. Mays. Applied Hydrology, McGraw Hill, 1988.
Course Objectives:
1.
To enable students to understand the fundamental principles of surface water hydrology.
2.
To apply those principles to the solution of real-world problems in design.
3.
To introduce students to relevant software packages for surface water runoff.
4.
To develop an understanding of integrated water resources management.
5.
To enhance students’ ability to work independently and in teams.
Topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hydrologic cycle and contemporary issues related to climate change
Precipitation, evaporation, infiltration calculations
Surface water runoff quantity and quality
Urban hydrology
Flow routing
Computer models for runoff prediction and stormwater management
Design applications for stormwater collection and retention
Class Schedule: Class consists of three, 50-minute classes each week for 15 weeks.
Contribution of Course to meeting the Professional Component: This course is an engineering topic, with
approximately equal contributions to engineering design and engineering sciences.
Course Outcomes: This course is contributing towards the following educational outcomes set forth by the CEE department.
The following table offers details by outcome.
Outcome
Outcome 1: A firm foundation
and knowledge of mathematics,
science & engineering
principles and the ability to
apply the knowledge
Outcome 3: The ability to
identify, formulate, and solve
civil engineering problems
Outcome 4: The ability to think
logically, critically and
creatively
Outcome 6: The ability to
identify, formulate & solve civil
engineering problems
Outcome 7: The ability to use
appropriate modern techniques,
skills and tools, including
computer applications,
Role of CE 460
Basic topics involving precipitation, infiltration, evaporation, and overland flow are
taught building on introduction presented in CE 351 class (Water Resources
Engineering). Students are required to complete homework for each of the topics
described above.
Homework and lectures designed to teach fundamentals of hydrology while promoting
use of web-based data. Exams evaluate students’ knowledge regarding the practical
application of the hydrologic cycle including computations involving all aspects of
surface water runoff.
Open-ended design projects require students to determine location and size of
stormwater collection facilities, e.g. pipes, grates, detention ponds, erosion control
structures.
Homeworks are assigned to promote these concepts. Design project is very open-ended
with teams coming up with different viable solutions to the same problem. Students are
asked to explain their assumptions with respect to which hydrograph technique, or
runoff factor, or infiltration procedure they used.
State-of-the-art computer programs such as HEC-HMS and WWHM are taught and
used to complete runoff hydrograph and stream routing computations. Students are
asked to develop spreadsheet models to perform certain calculations.
necessary for engineering
practice
Outcome 8: An understanding
of professional ethics &
integrity and an engineer’s
responsibilities to the profession
and society
Outcome 9: Ability to
communicate effectively in
written, oral, and graphical
forms
Outcome 10: Awareness and
understanding of the impact of
engineering on global &
societal issues
Outcome 11: A knowledge of
contemporary issues
Outcome 12: Recognition of the
importance of life-long learning
and the benefits of being active
in professional societies such as
ASCE
Discussion and assignments related to examining the impact of coefficient selection in
the sizing of bridges, canals, pipes and the problems associated with failure. The roles
of contractor, developer, regulator, and engineer are discussed.
A couple of assignments required written evaluation of reports. Group project requires
a team of 3 to 4 students to work together to solve a design and turn in written report
and give oral presentation. Numerous homeworks required data to be plotted.
Principle applications of hydrologic cycle applied to land development and flood
control. Urban stormwater design discusses trade-offs of cost versus benefits both in
terms of economic and environmental.
Many stormwater problems are presented in context of protecting aquatic species as
well as simple flood control. Examples using King County (Seattle) and Portland areas
tied to salmon protection and stream restoration. Global climate change impacts in the
Pacific Northwest are discussed.
References are made to professional short courses available that go beyond the amount
of material that can be presented in a class are given. The need to keep professional
registration current once obtained is also discussed.
Prepared by: Michael Barber, June 2006