Urban Hydraulics Course

Lesson 1 • Urban Hydrology Essentials

Covers rainfall-runoff processes and how urbanization alters natural hydrologic response. Links hydrologic inputs to hydraulic design demands throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Open Channel Flow Basics

Introduces gravity-driven flow in channels, gutters, and culverts common in urban drainage. Provides the analytical foundation for stormwater conveyance design.

Lesson 3 • Urban Water Infrastructure Overview

Introduces the major components of urban water systems, including supply, distribution, and drainage networks. Establishes the physical and functional context for all subsequent hydraulic analysis.

Lesson 4 • Pipe Flow Fundamentals

Examines laminar and turbulent flow in pressurized pipes and introduces head loss equations. Connects fluid mechanics theory to practical pipe network behavior.

Lesson 1 • Storage Tanks and Pressure Zones

Examines the role of elevated and ground-level storage in maintaining pressure and meeting peak demands. Introduces pressure zone design for hilly urban terrain.

Lesson 2 • Pumps in Distribution Systems

Analyzes pump-system curve interactions and pump selection for urban supply. Integrates pump hydraulics into network energy balance calculations.

Lesson 3 • Network Topology and Demand Modeling

Defines node-link network structure and methods for allocating water demands spatially. Accurate demand modeling is the prerequisite for any network simulation.

Lesson 4 • Water Quality in Distribution Networks

Addresses residence time, chlorine decay, and contamination risk within distribution pipes. Connects hydraulic performance to water quality regulatory compliance.

Lesson 1 • Curve Number and Loss Methods

Introduces the curve number method for estimating runoff volume from rainfall events. Extends analysis beyond peak flow to full volume-based design.

Lesson 2 • Rational Method Applications

Applies the rational method to small urban catchments for peak discharge estimation. Covers limitations and appropriate use conditions for this widely used approach.

Lesson 3 • Design Storm Selection

Explains return period concepts and intensity-duration-frequency relationships for selecting design storms. Proper storm selection governs the safety level of all downstream designs.

Lesson 4 • Hydrograph Development and Routing

Constructs design hydrographs using unit hydrograph theory and routes them through channels. Provides the temporal flow data needed for detention basin and conveyance design.

Lesson 1 • Culvert Hydraulic Design

Analyzes inlet and outlet control conditions for culverts crossing roads and embankments. Ensures culverts pass design flows without causing unacceptable upstream ponding.

Lesson 2 • Hydraulic Grade Line in Storm Sewers

Calculates the hydraulic grade line through storm sewer networks under design storm conditions. Identifies surcharge risk and ensures pipe crowns remain below grade at critical points.

Lesson 3 • Open Channel and Swale Design

Designs trapezoidal, triangular, and grass-lined channels for urban stormwater conveyance. Integrates velocity, shear stress, and stability criteria into channel geometry selection.

Lesson 4 • Inlet Design and Gutter Flow

Covers gutter hydraulics and the hydraulic performance of curb, grate, and combination inlets. Proper inlet design prevents street flooding and protects pedestrian safety.

Lesson 1 • Retention Ponds and Water Quality

Covers permanent pool design for pollutant removal through sedimentation and biological uptake. Links hydraulic residence time to water quality treatment performance.

Lesson 2 • Outlet Structure Hydraulics

Designs riser-barrel, weir, and orifice outlet structures to control release rates from detention basins. Outlet hydraulics directly determine the attenuation performance of the facility.

Lesson 3 • Detention Basin Routing

Applies storage-indication routing to determine outflow hydrographs from detention basins. Verifies that post-development peak flows meet pre-development targets.

Lesson 4 • Underground and Modular Storage

Examines subsurface detention vaults and modular crate systems for space-constrained urban sites. Addresses structural loading, inspection access, and hydraulic performance.

Lesson 1 • One-Dimensional Flood Routing

Uses steady and unsteady one-dimensional hydraulic models to compute water surface profiles in urban channels. Introduces the standard step method and backwater curve classification.

Lesson 2 • Flood Frequency Analysis

Applies statistical methods to streamflow records to estimate flood magnitudes at various return periods. Provides the probabilistic foundation for all flood risk and design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Flood Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Evaluates flood damage potential and compares structural and non-structural mitigation measures. Connects hydraulic analysis to risk-informed urban planning and infrastructure investment.

Lesson 4 • Two-Dimensional Urban Flood Modeling

Extends flood analysis to two-dimensional overland flow across urban terrain using raster-based models. Captures complex flow paths through streets, buildings, and low-lying areas.

Lesson 1 • Model Calibration and Validation

Establishes procedures for calibrating hydraulic models against observed flow and stage data. Validated models provide defensible results for design, permitting, and flood studies.

Lesson 2 • One-Dimensional River and Channel Models

Builds steady and unsteady one-dimensional hydraulic models for urban channels and floodplains. Produces water surface profiles and flood inundation extents for design and regulatory use.

Lesson 3 • Stormwater and Sewer Modeling Platforms

Applies dynamic stormwater modeling software to simulate runoff generation and pipe network routing. Enables full system performance evaluation under multiple storm scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Water Distribution Simulation Tools

Introduces network simulation software for steady-state and extended-period water distribution analysis. Covers model setup, demand assignment, and results interpretation.

Lesson 1 • Alternative Design Development

Develops and compares multiple design alternatives addressing identified deficiencies. Evaluates alternatives on hydraulic performance, cost, constructability, and environmental impact.

Lesson 2 • Detailed Design and Plan Production

Produces detailed hydraulic calculations, construction drawings, and specifications for the selected design. Translates engineering analysis into buildable, permit-ready project documents.

Lesson 3 • Integrated Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analysis

Combines hydrologic modeling with hydraulic network analysis to characterize system performance under design storms. Identifies capacity deficiencies and flood risk hotspots across the project area.

Lesson 4 • Design Review and Quality Assurance

Applies systematic quality assurance checks to verify design accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance. Prepares students for professional peer review and client presentation.