Course profile

Environmental Hydraulics and Flood Management (CIVL6121)

Study period
Sem 1 2025
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Civil Engineering School

This course aims to develop a sound understanding of the environmental hydraulics, flood management and hydraulic design of civil engineering structures in a natural and built environment. Fundamental fluid mechanic principles are applied to professional water engineering problems. This course forms part of a major, which provides students with the skills to work in the water and environment sector of a Civil and Environmental Engineering profession. The course is a professional subject in which the students learn how to apply fundamental principles to practical situations. The design of a civil engineering structure in a floodplain is based on a system approach. The structure must be analysed as part of the surrounding catchment and the hydrology plays an important role. Structural and hydraulic constraints interact, and the design of a hydraulic structure is a complex exercise altogether. First, the system must be identified. What are the design objectives? what are the constraints? What is the range of options? What is the 'best choice'? Its detailed analysis must be conducted and the engineers should ask: Is this solution really satisfactory? During design stages, physical and computational models may be reliable 'tools' to compare the performances of various design options, including under flood scenarios. After completion of the course, each student will know how to apply the fundamental fluid mechanics principles to flood modelling in professional designs and they will be familiar with the multi-disciplinary aspects of an engineering project.

Students are introduced to advanced open-channel hydraulics and applications including the design of hydraulic structures (e.g.culverts, spillways, energy dissipators & hydraulic models); and environmental impact on the catchment. This course is an advanced hydraulic engineering elective for students interested in hydraulic engineering and water resources.

(a) TUTORIALS - In an effort to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning, the tutorials are formative only and will not count towards the overall mark.

(b) LECTURE PRE-READING - In an effort to encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and to facilitate student engagement in the lecture material, pre-reading will be set. The lecturers' delivery will assume students have completed the assigned pre-reading. Feedback from a number of civil engineering course cohorts was that the pre-reading was highly beneficial to their learning.

(c) FINAL EXAM - In line with advanced professional courses and professional practice, the examination criteria will focus on the correct numerical answer with the correct units, supported by a well-documented working and explanations, with equations in symbolic form.

Course requirements

Assumed background

The course is a professional subject in which students are expected to have a sound knowledge of the fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and their hydraulic engineering applications. Students MUST have successfully completed both core courses in fluid mechanics (CIVL2131 or equivalent) and Catchment hydrology & hydraulics (CIVL3155 or equivalent). Students are required to have solid open channel hydraulics knowledge, including the basic principles of continuity, energy and momentum, a sound understanding of open channel fluid flow, a solid understanding of the principles of fluid drag and the importance of boundary conditions, some basic computer skills incl. being familiar with standard office software.

This course is an advanced hydraulic engineering subject and a professional course

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

CIVL2131 and CIVL3155

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

CIVL2530 and CIVL2135

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

CIVL4120

Course contact

Course coordinator

Professor Hubert Chanson

Tutorials play an important role for interactions between academic staff and students. All students should attend the lectures and tutorials, and interact first with the lecturers there. Professor Chanson will be available for consultation during: the designated workshop and tutorial classes (teaching weeks 1 to 13) (TBC). Students should NOT expect to be able to consult face-to-face outside of the consultation times, unless prior agreed arrangement..

View Professor Hubert Chanson profile

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Timetables are subject to change during the beginning of semester. For up to date timetable information please check mySI-net.

7 March to 17 April 2025: Project Hydrodynamics and modelling of an estuarine system.

Participation is compulsory. Any failure to participate would yield an immediate course failure. There will be no supplementary assessment for the project. The field work will take place in SE Queensland on Tuesday 18 March 2025 (all day) with field measurements starting at 06:00 until 18:00.

The project including the field work constitutes an integral part of the course and of its assessment that will be concluded by an oral presentation to the class and teaching staff, and a report submission.



ﾠ

Aims and outcomes

Aims and outcomes

The aim of the course is to develop a solid understanding of un-steady non-uniform flow in waterways, rivers, channels and estuaries, a basic understanding of mixing in natural waterways, as well as the design of hydraulic structures related to flood control and management.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Gain professional expertise in water resources and hydraulic engineering of open channel flows

LO2.

Develop critical thinking and critically evaluate information and use it in an appropriate way

LO3.

Field experience: Gain first-hand experience of real-world problem

LO4.

Communication: Group work, report writing and oral presentation

LO5.

Information skills: effectively search and use information resources

LO6.

Assess the influence of solid boundaries and estimate the interactions between channel boundaries and hydrodynamic forces

LO7.

Apply classical theory to calculate unsteady open channel flow kinematics and corresponding interactions with environment

LO8.

Perform relevant calculations and apply the calculation procedures to a range of problems within a specified time frame

LO9.

Data collection, team working and presentational and report writing skills

LO10.

Critical evaluation of outputs from numerical hydraulic models & Enhanced computer coding skills and an increased familiarity with standard software applied to solve practical engineering problems

Course overview
Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Computer Code, Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Performance, Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation, Portfolio, Project Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary field participation and presentation - Group project
  • Hurdle
  • Team or group-based
  • In-person
 14% Compulsory

Field participation from 06:00 to 18:00 18/03/2025 6:00 am

Presentation in class 14/04/2025 8:00 am

Compulsory participation to project including field measurements and oral presentations
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook, Presentation, Portfolio, Project Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary report - Group project
  • Team or group-based
 26%

17/04/2025 1:00 pm
Examination End of Semester examination
  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
 60%

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary field participation and presentation - Group project

  • Hurdle
  • Team or group-based
  • In-person
Mode
Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
Category
Computer Code, Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique, Participation/ Student contribution, Performance, Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation, Portfolio, Project
Weight
14% Compulsory
Due date

Field participation from 06:00 to 18:00 18/03/2025 6:00 am

Presentation in class 14/04/2025 8:00 am

Compulsory participation to project including field measurements and oral presentations

Other conditions
Peer assessment factor.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10

Task description

The project will include a series of field measurements on 18 March 2025 complemented by detailed hydraulic engineering analyses. It will be some group work and the participation to the project and field work is compulsory (formative hurdle). Note that the date of the field work is linked with the tides and cannot be changed.

A group oral presentation will take place on during class on 14 April 2025 (TBC) and the individual participation to the entire presentation session is compulsory.

The project will be conducted in groups. A project group assessment will be performed (1 group = 1 set of marks). Peer-assessment will be required. If any problem arises during the group work, student(s) are asked to contact the lecturer immediately and, in any case, prior to any release of marks.

The combined Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary field PAF will be due 4pm on the day the assessment is due. Only one PAF needs to be submitted.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

If a student is sick on the day of the field work and cannot participate to the field work, the student shall be required, in line with relevant UQ policies:

-to provide a valid medical certificate for the full duration of the field work;

-to apply for extension as per UQ guidelines; medical certificate and application for alternative arrangement must be submitted as per UQ guidelines;

-for successful applications, the application will be lead to an alternative arrangement, to be decided;

By courtesy and professionalism, these students would be advised to alert their 'current' group members as well as the course co-ordinator.

For any alternative arrangement, the student(s) will be allocated to a different group - he/she/they will NOT work with their current group - and the alternative arrangement would very likely differ from the current project scope. The alternative arrangement would include an oral presentation and a report submission at the same dates and times as all other groups.

Hurdle requirements

Failure to contribute to the project shall result in an immediate failure of the course with a grade of 2 or less.

Submission guidelines

Assessment must be submitted through the course BlackBoard site

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

The group project submissions submitted late will be assessed to provide feedback, but subject to the penalty set in the course profile.

Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary report - Group project

  • Team or group-based
Mode
Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook, Presentation, Portfolio, Project
Weight
26%
Due date

17/04/2025 1:00 pm

Other conditions
Peer assessment factor.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10

Task description

Report on Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary fieldwork and project. Please see Blackboard for further details.

The combined Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary field PAF will be due 4pm on the day the assessment is due. Only one PAF needs to be submitted.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Assessment must be submitted through the course BlackBoard site

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

End of Semester examination

  • Hurdle
  • Identity Verified
  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
60%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L05, L06, L07, L08

Task description

The exam will present a series of hydraulic engineering problems to test your individual abilities to apply skills and concepts you have learned to unfamiliar problems.

Past course results demonstrated a very strong correlation between the performances at the end-of-semester examination, the attendance of tutorials during the semester and the overall course result.

The examination criteria will focus on the correct numerical answer with the correct units, supported by a well-documented working and explanations, with equations in symbolic form.

Important notes

  • The student's family name, first name and ID number must be correctly written on the exam paper and the working book. The omission of either family name, first name and ID number will result potentially in the non-marking of the material(s).
  • All numerical result(s) must be provided with SI units and meaningful number of digits. Results without units would be considered physically meaningless.
  • A numerical solution without correct workings is meaningless. Marks will be awarded accordingly.
  • There is no mark for simply inserting numbers in the equation(s).
  • Presentation: Can the marker read your workings? In the negative, the work is worthless and shall be awarded zero marks.

This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Hurdle requirements

A minimum of 45% marks at the end of semester examination is required to pass the course.

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 180 minutes
Calculator options

(In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator
Open/closed book Open Book examination
Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 19

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Unacceptable work. Achieves an aggregated mark of 0-19.9%.
2 (Fail) 20 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Poor understanding of the subject. In addition, failure to participate in the field work project. Achieves an aggregated mark of 20-44.9% OR less than 45% on the final exam OR less than 50% for the project.
3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: Falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. Achieves an aggregated mark of 45-49.9% AND at least 45% on the final exam AND at least 50% for the project.
4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Acceptable mastering of the basic principles and their applications. Achieves an aggregated mark of 50-64.9% AND at least 45% on the final exam AND at least 50% for the project.
5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Solid knowledge of the basic material and know-how to apply them. Achieves an aggregated mark of 65-74.9% AND at least 45% on the final exam AND at least 50% for the project.
6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: An excellent knowledge and understanding of all major objectives. Achieves an aggregated mark of 75-84.9% AND at least 45% on the final exam AND at least 50% for the project.
7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Outstanding understanding of the basic concepts and their applications. Achieves an aggregated mark of 85% AND at least 45% on the final exam AND at least 50% for the project.

Additional course grading information

Grade cutoffs and hurdles

Final (total) marks will be rounded up to an integer value prior to applying hurdles or grade boundaries.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.

The Hydrodynamics and water quality of an estuary fieldwork and project are not suitable for supplementary assessment.

Additional assessment information

In CIVL6121, students are expected to have a pre-requisite working knowledge of basic fluid mechanics and open channel hydraulics.

Past course results demonstrated a very strong correlation between lecture and tutorial attendance, and end-of-semester examination results. Students are expected to attend and to participate in all tutorials. Tutorials play an important role for interactions between academic staff and students. All students should attend the lectures and tutorials, and interact with the lecturers there. The lecturers attend the tutorials and are well aware of the attendance and participation.

A student who misses the field trip without a valid reason shall get a maximum grade of 2 for the course.

Aims and outcomes
Learning resources

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

The lectures will follow closely the textbook (Chanson 2004). The following chapters will be covered with students expected to operationalise them:

2. Fundamental equations

16. Unsteady open channel flows: 1. Basic equations

17. Unsteady open channel flows: 2. Applications

6. Introduction to sediment transport in open channels

14. Physical modelling of hydraulics

18. Introduction to the design of hydraulic structures

19. Design of weirs and spillways

20. Design of drop structures and stepped cascades

21. Culvert design

You are encouraged to read the highlighted sections of the textbook before lectures. A good approach for this course is writing down questions arising from your reading, sleeping on it, and bring your questions to lectures, and if your questions are not answered in lectures, then ask in workshop and tutorial sessions.

YouTube video resources

YouTube channel:ﾠhttps://youtube.com/@Hubert_Chanson

Additional resources

Gallery of photographs in hydraulic engineering http://www.uq.edu.au/~e2hchans/photo.html

Assessment
Learning activities

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 13
(24 Feb - 01 Jun)
Problem-based learning

Tutorials & workshops

Problem-based learning in tutorial class with guidance from lecturer. Tutorial problems will be set.
Most students need about two hours of tutorial work each week in order to pass the end-of-semester examinations. Students may also need to work on problems in their own time, in addition to the allocated tutorial times, in order to complete the tutorial problems.
Bring lecture notes, textbook and calculator.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L10
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 12
(24 Feb - 25 May)
Lecture

Fundamental lectures

Basic lectures in advanced hydraulic engineering. Lectures expand on material presented in the textbook and usually include worked examples and applications, which complement problems available in textbook, and given in tutorials and exams. Pre-reading is very strongly recommended. 2-3 hours of formal lectures will be held each week.

Read ahead and review material during the semester. Lectures are closely linked to tutorial work and practicals. All activities complement each other.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Multiple weeks

From Week 2 To Week 8
(03 Mar - 20 Apr)
Practical

Hydrodynamic modelling of an estuarine system

Group project with field work on Tuesday 18 March 2025

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10
Learning resources
Policies and procedures

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

Learning activities