Water in Urban Environment

Recommended Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements beyond the general conditions for admission to the study cycle.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical-practical classes for the i) detailed exposition of the fundamental concepts, principles and theories of the topic of this course and ii) solving of some elucidative practical exercises that help the students to understand the theoretical exposition. Illustrative examples will be discussed, towards the development of an integrated view of urban water issues, solutions and adaptation and reformulation measures, for tackling different national or international contexts. Group work and written and oral communication will be encouraged.

Learning Outcomes

This unit aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of urban water and the importance of considering water in the planning, development, and operation of infrastructures. After completing this unit, students should be able to understand the main components of the urban water cycle, urban water management challenges under diverse climatic change scenarios and increasing anthropic pressures, and the interactions between water and the operation and management of mobility and transportation infrastructures in urban environments. The unit focuses on engineering methods to monitor hydrological processes and design components of urban storm water drainage systems.
Regarding the topics covered, the aim is for students to develop skills in autonomous learning and critical thinking, as well as analysis and synthesis, oriented towards the practical application of theoretical knowledge to problem-solving and urban sustainable development.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Water use and management in urban environments.
2. Urban hydrology. Urban water cycle. Hydrological balance in urban drainage basins.
3. Quantification and analysis of precipitation, runoff, and losses in urban areas.
4. Concepts and techniques of hydrological modelling.
5. Urban storm water drainage. Surface and subsurface drainage. Conventional drainage systems and urban sustainable drainage systems. Design, operation, and maintenance.
6. River protection and floods in urban environments. Risks, resilience, and adaptability.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Rita Lacerda Morgado Fernandes de Carvalho Mesquita David

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 15.0%
Laboratory work or Field work: 15.0%
Frequency: 70.0%

Bibliography

Davie T; Quinn NW, 2019. Fundamentals of Hydrology. 3rd ed, Routledge.
de Lima JLMP (ed), 2010. Hidrologia Urbana: Conceitos básicos. ERSAR, Lisboa, Série Cursos Técnicos Nº 1.
de Lima JLMP (ed), 2013. Hidrologia Urbana: Sistemas de drenagem de água pluviais urbanas. ERSAR, Lisboa, Série Cursos Técn. Nº 2.
Hipólito, J.R.; A. Carmo Vaz, 2011. Hidrologia e Recursos Hídricos. Coleção: Ensino da Ciência e da Tecnologia, 41, Lisboa.
Jain SK; Singh VP, 2019. Engineering Hydrology: An Introduction to Processes, Analysis, and Modeling. McGraw-Hill Education.
Jegatheesan V; Ashantha G; van Leeuwen J; and others (eds), 2019. Urban Stormwater and Flood Management: Enhancing the Liveability of Cities. Springer.
Singh VP (ed), 2017. Handbook of Applied Hydrology, 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill Education.
Tortajada, C; Horne J; Horrington L (eds), 2018. Urban Resilience to Droughts and Floods: The Role of Policies and Governance Routledge
Special Issue on Water Policy and Governance. Taylor & Francis.