COURSE

Intro

Background

Objectives

Participants

Programme

Subjects

MSc

Study programme: outline

This specialisation provides academic education in fundamental hydroinformatics, basic hydraulic, hydrologic, water quality and environmental processes, and the fundamentals of computer sciences and software engineering. It covers geo-information systems and use of the Internet. Participants develop an understanding of physically-based and data-driven modelling and modelling techniques.

They learn how to conduct systems analysis, and to use optimisation and decision-support tools and techniques. Participants receive hands-on training in using software tools in several application areas. They learn to understand the broader role of hydroinformatics in society.

The specialisation modules deal with the following subjects:

• Geo-information systems covers information and communication technology, GIS and remote sensing, and information acquisition and treatment. Participants carry out practical GIS applications related to aquatic systems and learn to develop water related software.
• Computational hydraulics and information technology includes mathematical formulation of fluid flow equations, database, information and knowledge systems and numerical methods.
• Modelling theory and applications further develops numerical methods, and covers river modelling, modelling theory and modelling system development. Participants program computer code, build a river flood model, and design and build a simple modelling system.
• Computational intelligence and control systems covers real time control of water systems, optimisation theory and programming, and data driven modelling and computational intelligence. Participants sketch a plan for a regional real-time control system, and pose a modelling problem, build a model and test it.
• River basin modelling covers river basin management, groundwater and catchment modelling. Participants study the multi-purpose nature of river basins and approaches for integrated planning and management, and use MODFLOW , NAM and MIKE-SHE software to simulate surface and groundwater flow and rainwater run-off.
• Environmental systems modelling covers modelling of ecosystems, environmental processes and water quality. Participants learn to use genetic programming to derive knowledge on environmental processes, and study ecohydraulics, including a case study.

In addition, participants choose one of the following modules:

• Coastal modelling , Urban modelling or Flood modelling .

During the final 6 months (sometimes extended to 7 or 8 months) of the Master of Science programme participants will undertake a detailed research project or design assignment, which is concluded with the submission of a written thesis and a public oral presentation. An examination committee evaluates the quality of the written thesis and the oral presentation. The MSc study is usually done in close cooperation with various hydraulics research organisations in the Netherlands or elsewhere in the European hydroinformatics network, such as Delft Hydraulics (Netherlands), DHI Water and Environmant (Denmark) or HR Wallingford (UK).

Structure of the Hydroinformatics masters programmes at IHE
(subject to minor changes)

The programme focus not only on teaching state–of–the–art technologies, but also on improving the the participants' ability to work in teams or individually, as well as to communicate by means of regular report writing, public presentations, etc.

Subjects covered in the Programme are listed here.