Pokhara University
Faculty of Science and Technology
Course Code: WRE 340 (2-2-1) — Full Marks: 100
Course Title: Engineering Hydrology — Pass Mark: 45
Nature of the Course: Theory and Practical
Total Lectures: 30 hours
Level: Bachelor
Year: III
Semester: I
Program: Bachelor in Civil Engineering
1. Course Description
This course covers the fundamentals of the hydrological cycle and water balance, focusing on measurement, estimation, and analysis of water balance components such as precipitation, losses, and runoff. It also includes hydrograph analysis techniques and flood hydrology with flood frequency analysis for design flood estimation.
2. General Objectives
- Drainage basin delineation and characterization
- Precipitation analysis: data quality assessment, filling missing data, estimation of station average and watershed-average rainfall
- Runoff measurement and estimation for gauged and un-gauged rivers
- Flood frequency analysis for design flood estimation
- Hydrological analysis for water-infrastructure projects
3. Methods of Instruction
Lecture, Tutorial, Discussion, Readings, and Practical works
4. Course Contents
Unit 1: Introduction (2 hrs)
- 1.1 Scope and application of engineering hydrology
- 1.2 Hydrologic cycle and water balance
- 1.3 Hydro-meteorological data
- 1.4 Catchment and its characteristics, catchment delineation
Unit 2: Precipitation: Measurement and Analysis (5 hrs)
- 2.1 Causes, forms, and types of precipitation; rainfall measurement (types and adequacy of rain gauges)
- 2.2 Data quality assessment and missing data filling
- 2.3 Presentation of rainfall data: hyetograph, mass curve, estimation of mean precipitation
- 2.4 Rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curve
Unit 3: Hydrological Losses (5 hrs)
- 3.1 Initial losses: interception and depression storage
- 3.2 Evaporation: estimation of evaporation losses, observation of evaporation loss
- 3.3 Evapotranspiration: estimation of potential and actual evapotranspiration
- 3.4 Infiltration: measurement and estimation of infiltration, infiltration indices
Unit 4: Surface Runoff and Streamflows (5 hrs)
- 4.1 Runoff process: factors affecting surface runoff, rainfall-runoff correlation
- 4.2 Stream gauging: purpose, site selection, types of gauges
- 4.3 Streamflow measurement by velocity-area method, slope-area method
- 4.4 Development of rating curve and its uses
Unit 5: Hydrograph Analysis (8 hrs)
- 5.1 Storm hydrograph: components, factors affecting hydrograph
- 5.2 Baseflow separation
- 5.3 Unit hydrographs (UH): definition, applications, limitations
- 5.4 Derivation of UHs from isolated and complex storms, superposition, and S-curve methods
- 5.5 Synthetic unit hydrograph (Snyder)
Unit 6: Flood Hydrology (5 hrs)
- 6.1 Design flood: risk and return period, statistical data and flood frequency, design floods
- 6.2 Plotting position and frequency factors
- 6.3 Flood frequency analysis: Gumbel, Log-Pearson, Log-Normal, Regional Flood Frequency
- 6.4 Rational method, Regional Empirical methods (Dicken, WECS/DHM)
5. List of Tutorials
- Catchment area delineation and characterization
- Precipitation analysis: test of inconsistencies, estimation of missing rainfall data, estimation of mean rainfall over a catchment
- Estimation of hydrological losses, runoff and hydrograph analysis
- Design flood estimation: frequency analysis, Rational and empirical methods
6. List of Practical
- Field visit to a meteorological station
- Streamflow measurement: current meter, floats, dilution techniques
- Rainfall-Runoff simulator
8. Prescribed Books and References
Text Books:
- Subramanya, K. (2008). Engineering Hydrology. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company.
References:
- Elizabeth, S. M. Hydrology in Practice. UK: Chapman and Hill.
- Singh, V. P. Elementary Hydrology. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.
- Linsley, R. K., Kohler, M. A., & Paulhus, J. L. H. Hydrology for Engineers. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company.
- Chow, V. T., Midment, D. R., & Mays, L. W. Applied Hydrology. New Delhi: McGraw Hill International.
- Varshney, R. S. Engineering Hydrology. Roorkee: Nem Chand & Bros.