Analysis and mitigation of floods

lgciv2055  2018-2019  Louvain-la-Neuve

Analysis and mitigation of floods
4 credits
20.0 h + 15.0 h
Q1
Teacher(s)
Soares Frazao Sandra;
Language
English
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of probability and statistics, as taught in LFSAB1105, as well as some prior knowledge in hydrology (but not mandatory, as the essential elements are recalled)
Main themes
  • Determination of design floods
  • Management and operation of reservoirs and floodplains
  • Simplified flood propagation modelling
  • Introduction to the problematics of droughts
Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

1

Contribution to the acquisition and evaluation of the following learning outcomes of the programme in civil engineering: AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.3, AA2.1, AA2.2, AA2.3, AA2.4, AA2.5, AA3.1, AA3.3, AA5.2, AA5.3, AA5.5, AA5.6, AA6.2.

More specifically, at the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Determine the extreme discharges for the design of spilling systems and flood mitigation plans;
  • Design flood retention reservoirs;
  • Model the propagation of floods in a simplified way;
  • Determine the characteristics of drought events

Transversal learning outcomes:

  • Links with events occurring in the world and critical assessment of those;
  • Water resource management;
  • Link technical and social aspects of flood mitigation planning
 

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.
Content
1.    The question of floods and inundations
  • Origin of floods
  • Natural and man-inducing causes
2.    Pre-determination of flood discharges
  • Empirical methods (historical methods, or based on the watershed dimensions)
  • Statistical methods (extreme value distributions)
  • Gradex method: rainfall-discharge relation for extreme rainfalls
3.    Flood control
  • Retention reservoirs and flood attenuation
  • Reservoir exploitation: flow mass curve, stochastical simulation (Fiering)
  • Reservoir sedimentation
  • Flood control for hydropower reservoirs
4.    Flood protection measures
  • Watershed
  • Floodplains
5.    Flood propagation
  • Hydrological methods (Muskingum)
  • Methods of cells
Teaching methods
Ex-cathedra teaching and practical exercises
Evaluation methods
The evaluation takes place in two parts:
  • Continuous evaluation through regular assignments on the different topics of the course. Each assignment leads to a report or a presentation that is discussed with the professor during the exam session. This parts counts for 60 % of the final mark.
  • An oral examination about the theoretical concepts taught in the course. This part counts for 40 % of the final mark. If the students fails this part, the weight is increased linearly toward 100 % for a mark lower than 8/20 for the oral part.
Online resources
Available on Moodle
Bibliography
Faculty or entity
GC


Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Aims
Master [120] in Civil Engineering
GCE2M
4