Description
Water resources engineering is the quantitative study of the hydrologic cycle -- the distribution and circulation of water linking the earth's atmosphere, land and oceans. Surface runoff is measured as the difference between precipitation and abstractions, such as infiltration (which replenishes groundwater flow), surface storage and evaporation. Applications include the management of the urban water supply, the design of urban storm-sewer systems, and flood forecasting. Hydraulic engineering consists of the application of fluid mechanics to
water flowing in an isolated environment (pipe, pump) or in an open channel (river, lake, ocean). Civil engineers are primarily concerned with open channel flow, which is governed by the interdependent interaction between the water and the channel. Applications include the design of hydraulic structures, such as sewage conduits, dams and breakwaters, the management of waterways, such as erosion protection and flood protection, and environmental management, such as prediction of the mixing and transport of pollutants in surface water. Hydroelectric-power development, water supply, irrigation and navigation are some familiar applications of water resources engineering involving the utilization of water for beneficial purposes. More recently, concern for preserving our natural environment and meeting the needs of developing countries has increased the importance of water resources engineering.
Civil engineers play a vital role in the optimal planning, design and operation of water resource systems. Job opportunities in hydrology and water resources are quite varied. Positions are available in large and small consulting firms, and at all levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal). Particularly in Quebec, due to its abundant water resources, hydrology has played an important role in the social and economic development of the province.
Recommended courses
In order to achieve a specialization in the area of Water Resources and Hydraulics Engineering at the undergraduate level, the following courses are:
- Strongly recommended:
CIVE 428
Water Resrces & Hydraulic Eng.
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: Application of continuity, energy and momentum concepts to open-channel flow; design of channels considering uniform flow and flow resistance, non-uniform flow and longitudinal profiles; design of channel controls and transitions; unsteady flow and flood routing; river ice engineering.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013 academic year.
CIVE 550
Water Resources Management
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: State-of-the-art water resources management techniques; case studies of their application to Canadian situations; identification of major issues and problem areas; interprovincial and international river basins; implications of development alternatives; institutional arrangements for planning and development of water resources; and, legal and economic aspects.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
- (3-0-6)
- Prerequisite (Undergraduate): CIVE 323 or equivalent
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2013 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013 academic year.
- Recommended:
EPSC 549
Hydrogeology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Earth & Planetary Sciences: Introduction to groundwater flow through porous media. Notions of fluid potential and hydraulic head. Darcy flux and Darcy's Law. Physical properties of porous media and their measurement. Equation of groundwater flow. Flow systems. Hydraulics of pumping and recharging wells. Notions of hydrology. Groundwater quality and contamination. Physical processes of contaminant transport.
Offered by: Earth & Planetary Sciences
- Winter
- 3 hours lectures, 1-2 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite: permission of the instructor
CIVE 553
Course not available
CIVE 570
Course not available
CIVE 571
Course not available
CIVE 572
Computational Hydraulics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: Computation of unsteady flows in open channels; abrupt waves, flood waves, tidal propagations; method of characteristics; mathematical modelling of river and coastal currents.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
- (3-0-6)
- Prerequisite: CIVE 327 or equivalent
CIVE 573
Hydraulic Structures
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: Hydraulic aspects of the theory and design of hydraulic structures. Storage dams, spillways, outlet works, diversion works, drop structures, stone structures, conveyance and control structures, flow measurement and culverts.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
CIVE 574
Fluid Mech of Water Pollution
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: Mixing, dilution and dispersion of pollutants discharged into lakes, rivers, estuaries and oceans; salinity intrusion in estuaries and its effects on dispersion; biochemical oxygen demand and dissolved oxygen as water quality indicators; thermal pollution; oil pollution.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
- (3-0-6)
- Prerequisite: CIVE 327 or equivalent.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2013 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2013 academic year.
CIVE 575
Course not available
CIVE 576
Course not available
CIVE 577
River Engineering
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Civil Engineering: Fluvial geomorphology; sediment properties; river turbulence; mechanics of the entrainment, transportation and deposition of solids by fluids; threshold of movement; bed forms; suspended load, bed load and total load equations; stable channel design and regime rivers; river modelling; river engineering; and river management.
Offered by: Civil Engineering
- (3-0-6)
- Prerequisite (Undergraduate): CIVE 428 or permission of the instructor.
- Corequisite (Graduate): CIVE 428
CIVE 579
Course not available
CIVE 585
Course not available
MIME 434
Course not available
