| Abstract | Watershed Modelling is a practical course on numerical water balance models for a range of catchment-scale water resource applications. The course covers GIS use in watershed analysis, models types from conceptual to physically-based, parameter calibration and model validation, and analysis of uncertainty. The course combines theory (lectures) with a series of practical tasks (exercises). |
| Learning objective | The main aim of the course is to provide practical training with watershed models for environmental engineers. The course is built on thematic lectures (2 hrs a week) and practical exercises (2 hrs a week). Theory and concepts in the lectures are underpinned by many examples from scientific studies. A comprehensive exercise block builds on the lectures with a series of 4 practical tasks to be conducted during the semester in group work. Exercise hours during the week focus on explanation of the tasks. The course is evaluated 50% by performance in the graded exercises and 50% by a semester-end oral examination (30 mins) on watershed modelling concepts. |
| Content | The first part (A) of the course is on watershed properties analysed from DEMs, and on global sources of hydrological data for modelling applications. Here students learn about GIS applications (ArcGIS, Q-GIS) in hydrology - flow direction routines, catchment morphometry, extracting river networks, and defining hydrological response units. In the second part (B) of the course on conceptual watershed models students build their own simple bucket model (Matlab, Python), they learn about performance measures in modelling, how to calibrate the parameters and how to validate models, about methods to simulate stochastic climate to drive models, uncertainty analysis. The third part (C) of the course is focussed on physically-based model components. Here students learn about components for soil water fluxes and evapotranspiration, they practice with a fully-distributed physically-based model Topkapi-ETH, and learn about other similar models at larger scales. They apply Topkapi-ETH to an alpine catchment and study simulated discharge, snow, soil moisture and evapotranspiration spatial patterns. |
| Lecture notes | There is no textbook. Learning materials consist of (a) video-recording of lectures; (b) lecture presentations; and (c) exercise task documents that allow independent work. |
| Literature | Literature consist of collections from standard hydrological textbooks and research papers, collected by the instructors on the course moodle page. |
| Prerequisites / Notice | Basic Hydrology in Bachelor Studies (engineering, environmental sciences, earth sciences). Basic knowledge of Matlab (Python), ArcGIS (Q-GIS). |
Competencies | | Subject-specific Competencies | Concepts and Theories | assessed | | Method-specific Competencies | Analytical Competencies | assessed | | Decision-making | assessed | | Media and Digital Technologies | assessed | | Problem-solving | fostered | | Social Competencies | Communication | fostered | | Cooperation and Teamwork | assessed | | Personal Competencies | Critical Thinking | assessed | | Integrity and Work Ethics | assessed | | Self-awareness and Self-reflection | fostered | | Self-direction and Self-management | fostered |
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Performance assessment as a semester course