This short course introduces participants to environmental processes and modelling paradigms (among others physically based modelling, cellular automata, fuzzy logic) and different software packages (such as SWAT, DELFT3D) to represent these processes.

The course covers the fundamentals of environmental modelling, and how to build and apply reliable models. The complementary role of monitoring system, GIS, databases and decision support systems will also receive attention.

Learning objectives

On completion of this module the participant is able to:

Understand and explain the chemical and biological processes affecting water quality in the natural environment
Select and use an appropriate mathematical modelling approach for a water quality problem in natural open channels
Have a more ecologically sound approach to river management whereby emphasis is placed on allowing the physical processes to drive the ecological healing by natural evolution, rather than an instantaneous engineering fix
Understand and explain the principles of modelling an eco-system, and are able to develop simple models

Target group

The course is designed for professionals (engineers and scientists) active in the water sector, especially those involved in using simulation models for water management.

Additional information

Lecturers of this course:

Ecosystems modelling, Prof. Dr. A. Mynett (UNESCO-IHE):

Modelling, inter-relationships between components of an eco-system

Environmental systems modelling, Dr. Ir. A. van Griensven (UNESCO-IHE)

Overview of modelling tools for environmental water management, such as the EU Water Framework Directive

Environmental processes, Dr. H. J. Lubberding (UNESCO-IHE)

Water quality problems from a modelling point of view: outfalls, BOD-DO, eutrophication, toxic substances, best technical means approach, water quality objectives approach; Properties of the natural system from a modelling point of view, residence times, time scales of transport processes compared with those of water quality processes, spatial scales of phenomena, link between transport of substances and water quality processes

Water quality modelling, Ir. L. Postma (WL|Delft Hydraulics)

Mathematical formulation of chemical and biological processes in water quality models, bacterial processes, primary production and nutrient cycles, heavy metals and organic micro-pollutants in relation to suspended sediment; The role of bottom water and its formulation in models, processes, time scales, re-mobilisation of nutrients; The food chain, ecosystem productivity, bio-accumulation, limitations in traditional predator-prey models, examples from modelling practice,

Soil and Water Assessment tool (SWAT), Dr. Ir. A. van Griensven (UNESCO-IHE)

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a public domain model actively supported by the USDA Agricultural Research Service at the Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas, USA. SWAT is a distributed model designed to simulate water, nutrient and pesticide transport at a catchment scale on a daily time step. It represents hydrology by interception, evapotranspiration, surface runoff, soil percolation, lateral flow and groundwater flow and river routing processes.

The main purpose of the model is to predict effects of management (climate and vegetative changes, reservoir management, groundwater withdrawals, water transfer) on water sediment and chemical yields on large river basins. SWAT can analyze meso- to macroscale watersheds by subdividing the area into homogenous parts. SWAT is imbedded in a GIS interface.

Genetic programming, Dr. V.M. Babovic (National University of Singapore)

Applications of evolutionary computing to derive knowledge on environmental processes from measurements/computational data

Ecohydraulics, Dr. A. W. Minns (WL|Delft Hydraulics)

Natural river forms: characterisation of features; modelling natural rivers, problems of schematisation, flow in bends, compound channels, flood plain flows; dominant discharge; Case study: Lower Red River Meadow, Idaho, USA; Field measurements: velocity distributions, rating curves, boundary conditions; exercises

WFD-explorer, Dr. ir. van der Krogt (WL|Delft Hydraulics)

The Water Framework Directive – explorer is a decision support system that integrates ecological and economical impact assessment to support management and/or public participation for water resources.