Engineering Hydrology

Hydrology is defined as the science of water and focuses on the movement of water through the earth system. Engineering Hydrology is however concerned with two major issues: water supply and flood control. Water supply projects address water balances over a defined time period and consider effect of extreme droughts while flood control projects protect against extreme floods. In order to properly design water resources projects, the hydrologist must estimate the main components of the hydrologic cycle, e.g. streamflow, infiltration, evaporation. Typical issues include the effect of urban development on flood flows and the drainage system, water supply reservoir capacity, and design flows for hydraulic structures (culverts, spillways, reservoirs…). Topics such as GIS applications might be also briefly covered.