ENGG*6820 Measurement of Water Quantity and Quality

School of Engineering, University of Guelph

Summer 2012

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course covers techniques used to measure rates of movement and amounts of water occurring as precipitation, soil water, ground water and streamflow. Available measurements of water quality are surveyed. Calculation procedures involved in the use of indirect indicators of water quantity and quality individually and in combination are described.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Bahram Gharabaghi, THRN 2417, 519-824-4120 x58451, bgharaba@uoguelph.ca

Homepage: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~bgharaba/

LIBRARY RESEARCH & WRITING CONSULTANTS

Peggy A. Pritchard, McLaughlin Library, LIB Rm: 279, ppritcha@uoguelph.ca

Margaret Hundleby, McLaughlin Library, LIB Rm: 120H, hundleby@uoguelph.ca

COURSE WEBSITE

https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/shared/login/login.html

LECTURES

Every Wednesday from 6:00 PM till 8:50 PM in THRN 1006 according to the following schedule:

• Wed. May 16^th: First Class Meeting & Introductions

• Wed. May 23^rd: Measurement and analysis of climatic data

• Wed. May 30^th: Measurement and modeling of soil moisture

• Wed. June 6^th: Hydrometric data collection and modeling

• Wed. June 13^th: Advances in water quality monitoring

• Wed. June 20^th: Data gap and statistical analysis tools

• Wed. June 27^th: Water quantity and quality modeling

• Wed. July 4^th: Research proposal document and presentation

• Wed. August 1^st: Research brief document and presentation  

ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

The main desired learning outcome is for the students to learn the skills to conducted a focused research – related to measurement of water quantity and quality – and communicate effectively using scientific research briefing and oral presentation. Successful students will demonstrate both independence of thought and depth of understanding. The final grade will be determined from the results of a number of oral presentations and written documents weighted as follows:

• Weekly Presentations                          30%

• Research Proposal Document           20%

• Research Proposal Presentation       10%

• Research Brief Document                   30%

• Research Brief Presentation              10%

WEEKLY PRESENTATIONS

For the first six (6) weeks, every week a peer-reviewed paper will be selected by the students from a suggested reading list and assigned for the weekly critical review of literature to allow the students the opportunity to independently integrate the latest theory and fundamental concepts with today’s new technology on measurement of water quantity and quality. Students will present a critical review of the reviewed paper(s) in a 10 min PowerPoint presentation (plus 2 min for the question period) to the class. In total six literature review presentations are assigned - 5 marks each - collectively worth 30% of the total grade.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Students are encouraged to adopt a self-directed and autonomous approach in selecting a topic of their interest – within the general topic of measurement of water quantity and quality - to solve creative, practical problems, including research and synthesis of data and conceptual theory and methods; communicate their novel ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using both oral presentations and written documents. On Wednesday July 4^th, each student will submit a research proposal - both electronically on the CourseLink “Dropbox” designated folder as well as in hard copy to the course instructor - and give a 10 min oral presentation (plus 2 min for question period) to the class. The proposal will concisely discuss a well defined problem to be researched; include a brief chronologic review of previous work on the selected topic with key references; outline the objectives and scope of the proposed work to be conducted; briefly suggest key data that needs to be compiled and engineering tools that will be used; and discuss the key deliverables; please note late submissions will have a penalty of 25% per day.

RESEARCH BRIEF

For successful completion of this course, each graduate student will write a “Research Brief” – a short paper <2500 words that is focused on a specific technique, process or model that have broad significance to the measurement of water quantity or quality. The structure should be similar to that of a regular journal paper but greatly condensed for rapid communication and is focused on a single important and timely point.  The research brief will analyze and synthesize technical data and argue from a hypothesis - and perhaps may itself generate new ideas and hypotheses; produce new knowledge, insight on the focused research topic; and show a breadth of understanding in drawing out implications and making connections between the key observations. On Wednesday August 1^st, each student will submit - both electronically on the CourseLink “Dropbox” designated folder as well as in hard copy to the course instructor - and give a 10 min oral presentation (plus 2 min for question period) to the class - a Research Brief formatted according to the “Instructions for Authors” of a suitable peer-reviewed journal, such as Hydrologic Processes; please note late submissions will have a penalty of 25% per day.

PLEASE NOTE

The regulations concerning academic misconduct as outlined in the current University of Guelph calendar will be strictly enforced.