ENN574 Catchment Hydrology and Flood Modelling

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Specialist professional engineers use a depth of knowledge and skills bases to develop solutions to complex systems design problems that meet stakeholders' needs. In this specialist postgraduate unit, you will address complex problems related to modelling of rainfall/runoff in both non-urbanised and urbanised catchments. You will learn the processes that govern catchment hydrology, as well as how they can be modelled. The focus will be on state-of-the-art models and tools used in the cutting edge engineering practice. You will also hone your specialist skills in critical appraisal, analysis, synthesis and creativity, focusing on current regulations. You will demonstrate your ability to communicate specialist discipline knowledge and concepts in written, modelled and graphical forms to technical and non-technical audiences including responding to risk, ethics and stakeholder perspectives. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply hydrologic and hydraulic modelling knowledge to solve flood plain management problems
2. Apply systematic approaches to identify data sources, conceptualise risk scenarios and develop flood models to manage flood risks
3. Work independently and collaboratively to solve flood management projects demonstrating ethical and socially responsible practice

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following activities:

• Videos explaining key concepts, released at the beginning of each week
• 2 hour lecture, where you can engage with experienced engineers in working though problem sets, applying the concepts learned in the videos
• 1 to 2 hour of tutorials/workshops where you will be guided through applied design and data analytics problems, working with experienced engineers and your peers to deepen your skills
• Follow up formative quizzes, readings and online discussions to help you review your learning for the week and clarify any areas of misunderstanding
• You will engage with hydrologic and hydraulic modelling tools to complete your learning activities and assessments

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit will be provided in the following ways:

• Formative oral feedback will be offered by the lecturer and tutors during the semester to assist you in the development of your skills.
• Formative written feedback through criteria sheet grading.
• In addition to feedback via rubrics, comments on summative assessment will be provided.
• Generic comments will be provided to the cohort through the Canvas.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment items in this unit have been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes. You will work individually and a as a member of a group to complete hydrologic design task for the purpose of catchment development. You will work individually and as a member of a group to analyse flood risk within a catchment and submit a report proposing flood mitigation measures. You will complete a problem solving task individually, where you will show your overall learning in the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project

You will analyse hydrology within a catchment and design appropriate runoff management strategies for catchment development. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Flood risk analysis

You will address potential flood risks within a catchment using flood modelling tools and prepare a report proposing appropriate flood mitigation measures. 

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

You will be required to analyse aspects of catchment hydrology and flood modelling including catchment hydrologic processes, design of runoff and flood management infrastructure, and performance evaluation of those control measures. You will be presented with descriptions of catchment hydrologic and hydraulic systems and will need to assess the systems, make use of appropriate theory or methods, demonstrate systems knowledge, show your working, and communicate a complete answer in writing and graphically.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. In any laboratory practicals you will be advised of the requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the practical sessions and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card you will be denied access to laboratories.

Course Learning Outcomes

EN51 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate Sustainable Infrastructure problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions 
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate Sustainable Infrastructure problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis

EN56 Master of Engineering Technology

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Engineering Technology
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate Engineering Technology problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Engineering Technology in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate Engineering Technology problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis

EN65 Graduate Certificate in Water Modelling

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Water Modelling
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate Water Modelling problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Water Modelling in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate Water Modelling problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis

EN71 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure with Project Management

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis

EN75 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure with Data Analytics

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis

EN79 Graduate Diploma in Engineering Studies

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary Engineering practice
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate Engineering problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage Engineering projects in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis
4. Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Flood risk analysis, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Catchment analysis (hydrologic) project, Flood risk analysis