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ENGI47415: Hydrology and Water Resources

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Type	Tied
Level	4
Credits	15
Availability	Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Engineering

Prerequisites

Corequisites

As specified in programme regulations.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

As specified in programme regulations.

Aims

This module is designed solely for students studying Department of Engineering degree programmes.
To provide an overview and describe the characteristics of hydrological systems.
To enable students to apply mathematical and fluid mechanics principles to solve a range of hydrological problems.

Content

Hydrological measurements
Groundwater flow modelling
Evaporation modelling
Soil water modelling
Rainfall-runoff modelling

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

How to acquire measurements of river flows, groundwater levels, precipitation and evaporation.
How to apply fluid mechanics principles to determine relevant equations for describing flow in porous media.
How to apply thermodynamic principles to estimate evaporation from meteorological data.
How to apply mass conservation principles to derive fluid flow models for hydrological systems.

Subject-specific Skills:

Will be able to derive and apply mathematical models to describe various aspects of hydrological systems.
Will be able to apply mathematical models to solve hydrology related engineering problems.

Key Skills:

Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
Specialised numerical skills appropriate to an engineer.
Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by self-learning sessions and formative problem sheets, equipping students with the required problem-solving capability.
Students can make use of staff "office hours" to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign-up sessions available for one hour per week per lecture course.
Students will be required to submit formative problem sheets throughout the academic year into the virtual learning environment to check their understanding as the course progresses.
Students will be formed into study groups and will attend timetabled self-learning sessions (up to a maximum of two) during the Michalemas and Epiphany terms.
A benchmark test will take place at the start of the academic year. This will be used to guage students understanding and direct them to further study as appropriate.
A mock exam will take place in the Epiphany term. This will be used to provide students with an exam type experience in a formative setting and allow them to discuss their performance with a member of academic staff.
Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total
Benchmark Test	1	Completed during Induction Week	30 mins	0.5
Lectures	20	Typically 1 per week	1 hour	20
Revision Leacture	1		1 hour	1
Tutorial Hours	As required	Weekly sign-up sessions	Up to 1 hour	12
Self learning session	2	Throughout first two terms	3 hours (includes 1 hour preparation to be completed before attending the session)	6
Practice Exam	1	Epiphany Term	30 mins	0.5
Preparation & reading				110
Total				150

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written on-campus examination	2 hours	100	Yes

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is provided by means of formative problem sheets, benchmark test and mock examinations.

More information

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