Water plays an increasingly important role in our societies. Learning to manage
water also means succeeding in mastering its scarcity but also its excesses,
in ensuring the supply of drinkable water, for agriculture and industry, in
using it to create energy and maintaining the quality of our environment.
Access to water resources is vital in developed and developing countries. Its
use and balanced distribution is considered to be one of the greatest challenges
to the new millennium. Surface and groundwater as well as the hydraulic potential
of a country, although renewable, are limited and threatened by industrial,
urban and agricultural activities.
The main goal of VICAIRE (VIrtual CAmpus In hydrology and water REsources management)
project is to train specialists in the field of water resources capable of managing
surface and groundwater resources in countries worldwide, whatever their geographical
and socio-economical situation, in the best possible way. The Virtual Campus
will encourage increased exchanges between researchers who are often very widely
separated from each other geographically.
The program is oriented to the knowledge of actual and future methods that
allow the resolution of problems connected to water protection and management
in urban or rural areas, aiming to ensure drinkable water supplies and to better
manage drainage and irrigation.
Courses in the field of hydrology and water resources management are divided
into many sub-disciplines in the World. The relevant institutes of the universities
domain therefore research and teach in a very sectoral way.
To ensure the balance of water resources and a harmonious and sustainable development
of our societies demands a comprehensive overview of water management. This
comprehensive approach will be significantly enhanced by the Virtual Campus
project. In particular, it will enable teachers and students to discuss this
increasingly important field of water resources management in an interdisciplinary
fashion and to fill gaps in knowledge in a cost-effective way through networking.
The results of current research work will flow directly into the teaching of
the course through the virtual platform and thus will rapidly become available
to a large community of users.
VICAIRE is being developed primarily in English so that it is available for
all our language regions (which are represented in our network of partners).
At a later phase this will also make the Virtual Campus accessible internationally.
Presentation of the modules
The course content has been distributed over 5 Modules:
Module
Description
Keywords
0
Overview and guide
This is the window speeds up at present. This module reminds the principles
of distance learning, the pedagogical objectives, the communication tools,
a concept and a guide to VICAIRE, the preliminary definitions and terminology
and a bibliography.
-
1a
Basic Hydrology Module 1A, Basic Hydrology, is an introduction
to the water cycle processes such as precipitation, evaporation, transpiration,
infiltration, groundwater flow and surface runoff.
It is primarily designed as a reference text for students in civil or
agricultural engineering or geography, and it is believed that it can
assist well the practicing engineer.
The Module 1A is divided into 10 chapters. In chapter 1 the concept of
hydrologic cycle, the water budget equation, and a brief history of the
development of hydrology as a science are introduced.
In chapter 2 the definitions of watershed and stream network, and their
features are introduced. The influence of those features on hydrological
processes is discussed.
In chapter 3 the precipitation regime is presented.
In chapter 4 the evaporation and evapotranspiration processes which maintain
a climatically balance at planetary level and plays an important role
as part of hydrological cycle are described.
In chapter 5 the infiltration process, its characteristics, the factors
which influence the infiltration, and models for estimation of the infiltration
rate are introduced.
In chapter 6 the hydrological regime of a stream, the "rapid"
flow (runoff and subsurface flow), the "slow" flow (groundwater),
the ice and snow melting contribution to the stream flow, and the sediment
transport are presented.
In chapter 7 the surface and subsurface water storage, general characteristics
of lakes, and water stock estimation (water in liquid and solid phase)
are considered.
In chapter 8 the hydrological processes in a catchment such as the response
time, the time of concentration, the base time, the characteristics of
a hydrograph, the unit hydrograph and its derivative models (developed
by Dooge, Diskin, Singh, Kulandaiswamy) are discussed.
In chapter 9 the instrumentation used by the climatologists, hydrologists,
and the civil engineers to measure and monitorize the rainfall, the evaporation,
the evapotranspiration, the infiltration and the flow is presented.
In chapter 10 the hydrological data base, organization of the data base
(data archive and publication), data control, error research and measurement
correction are considered.
hydrological cycle
concentration time
hydrographical network
evapotranspiration
net rain
water flux
base flow
limnology
water storage
unit hydrograph
1b
Engineering Hydrology
The Engineering Hydrology is an application
of the science hydrology to engineering problems related to water cycle.
It pays a particular attention to the runoff phase, starting from the precipitation
and following the way of the water from the slope till the sea. Because
Engineering Hydrology has a practical finalization it uses mathematical
models, emphasizing the hydrologic equations at all phases of the above-mentioned
transformations.
The purpose of this module is to present the main concepts of the Engineering
Hydrology, used in the dimensionning and management of dams, reservoirs,
dikes, diversions and other waterworks. The river basins represent huge
natural systems, characterized by input (precipitation mainly but also energy),
a structure of transformation (ground surface, soil layer, aquifers, the
river network) and output (discharges, but also evapotranspiration).
After the basic concepts of the system theory one presents the design storm
and its connection with the design discharge. The shape and the magnitude
of design storm according to different methods are deemed. The historical
precipitations and the design storm as well as the spatio-temporal analysis
of 24 hour-rainfalls are equally evoked.
The following chapters present the main hydrological processes: the infiltration
and the related notion of production function, the transformation of the
effective rainfall into flow hydrograph and the corresponding transfer function,
and finally the flood propagation along the rivers using both hydrological
and hydraulic approach.
These different processes are integrated in mathematical models to simulate
the hydrological rainfall-runoff processes. A special chapter is dedicated
to different models used in Engineering Hydrology: statistic and deterministic
models, linear and non-linear models, analytical and empirical models, continuous
and discrete models, distributed and lumped models.
The flood wave models chapter was given a special attention, the floods
being one of the most catastrophic phenomenon related to water cycle. The
importance of studying the floods and the difficulties met in tackling this
problem is first highlighted. Then, the specific methods and models applied
to small-size, medium-size and large size catchments are considered.. The
topologic scheme of the basin is used to share large and medium size basin
in order to apply the deterministic conceptual models. The superposition
assumption of flood waves in nodal points of the river continuum together
with the routing procedures are applied to finally obtain the flow hydrographs.
The medium and low flow models are very important for evaluating the water
resources in order to find the best way for the water allocation. Two kinds
of problems are presented: evaluating the low flows based on the laws of
depletion exponential curves, and the monthly flow forecasting. The important
role of forest and its impact on the main component of the water balance,
namely, interception, evapotranspiration, infiltration, is quantitatively
described in a special chapter. Finally, Urban Hydrology deals with the
fluxes and the water balance in urban areas. The different models for assessing
the runoff due to the rainstorms that fall over the urban areas and the
transport of pollutants along the urban network are presented. Operational
research methods used in the mathematical models parameters calibration
are shortly presented in the last chapter.
Of course, this module is only a brief introduction in the mathematical
modelling of one of the most complex systems, which concern the engineers:
the river basins as natural systems. Every chapter of this module could
have been a book of its own; and there are also many other problems that
were not deliberately included. The authors apologize for their choice in
developing only the bases of this wonderful science, which is the Engineering
Hydrology.
calibration
design storm
flood
mathematical model
parameters
production function
routing wave
runoff
system
transfer function
2
Qualitative Hydrology
The module " Qualitative hydrology " contents 12 chapters in which
the following main tasks are discussed : formation of water quality; transport
of solutes in river and streams; pollution of water; management of water
quality and eco-hydrological consequences from the pollution of waters in
streams and rivers.
Water quality formation is discussed in chepters 3,4,5. In this chapters
the important role of the hydrologic cycle of the water quality formation
is pointed out. In this link cycle of main chemical elements in nature and
their role in formation of chemical composition and quality of water are
analyzed. The role of the climatic and hydrological factors, conditions
in the catchements and main processes, that form kind, quantity, and dynamics
of the macro- mezzo- and micro components flowing into the streams and rivers
are explained . Special attention of the role of the ratio between sources
of supply and flow regime for the formation of specific hydrochemical composition
and hydrochemical regime in streams and river is separated.
The formation, regime, quantity and movement of sediments and the temperature
of water and theirs significant for quality of water are discussed in chapter
6.
In chapter 6 and 7 main sources of pollution, transport of polluted substances
and self - purification of streams and rivers are presented. Special attention
of water quality formation and spatial - temporary changes of the water
quality in urban areas is separated .
The major processes / physical and geochemical / affecting of solutes in
river and streams and the complex interaction between the physical processes
and the geochemical reactions are described in chapter 8.
In chapters 9 and 10 water quality modeling base principal and relevant
model features are introduced ; current generations of water quality modeling
tools are described and guidance in model selection are offered. A spatial
water quality assessment system for comprehensive catechement area management
are presented. Water quality management at river basin level is described
using the Integrated Water Resources Management concept and the new driver
as economic analysis. The attention will be focused on the quality of "blue
water" and "green water".
In the last chapter / 11 / the role and significant of eco-hydrological
status of surface water for sustainable development of the water ecosystems
and safety supply are explained. The schemes of influence of the pollutants
upon the species and ecosystems as a whole are described. The change which
occur in the structure and functional parameters of the water ecosystem,
as a result of anthropogenic pressure in streams and rivers are described
. Some indicators for eco-hydrological consequences are given.
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
contamination
ecosystem
eutrophication
hydrogen-ion concentration
pH
pollutant
purification
sediment
sediment concentration
sediment yield
sewage
total dissolved solids (tds)
wastewater
water conservation
water quality
3
Groundwater Hydrology
The goal of this course is to provide students the basic knowledge in groundwater
hydrology. Frequently, the hydrologic cycle is visualised having in mind
mainly the the surface component, because of its strong impact on the economy
and on the society through flods and droughts. Even Hydrology as a scientific
discipline is understood as the study of the surface waters. A minor attention
is paid to the ground components of this cycle, though their importance
for the nature and human life is may be more important. It is enough to
mention the basic flow of the rivers, the groundwater stored in the aquifers
being used for water supply, or the soil humidity without which the vegetation
existence would be impossible. The hydrogeology is studying the groundwater
movement mainly in the saturated media, the natural recharge, although very
important, being over-simplified. The agronomy and land reclamation are
interested only by the soil humidity, seldom neglecting the impact of the
water losses from the irrigated areas on the groundwater dynamics.The groundwater
hydrology integrates all these components of the water cycle, paying attention
both to the water movement in the unsaturated zone and in saturated media.
Due to human activity related to agriculture, industry and transportation,
the soil pollution and consequently the groundwater pollution is continuously
increasing, the groundwater cycle being intimately related to the pollutants
transport. So, the groundwater hydrology means the dynamics of water and
pollutants transport in both soils and aquifers. The course begins with
a description of fundaments concerning the soils and aquifers, describing
the main types of porous media formations. After that, the hydrodynamics
phenomena are presented, obtaining the diffusivity equation for saturated
media and Richards equation for unsaturated media. Because of their practical
and theoretical importance, the physical parameters of soil and aquifers,
as well as their practical determination are treated in detail. The equation
describing the aquifers and soil pollution is obtained after the presentation
of the main mechanisms. A particular interest presents the problem of polluted
aquifers rehabilitation, being evocated some of the most used methods for
pollution control and the cleaning of the porous formations. The principles
of the numerical methods used for solving the flow and the transport equations
both in saturated and unsaturated media are briefly presented. For a better
understanding of the groundwater hydrology problems, the course ends by
some case studies presentation.
aquifer
conductivity
Darcy law
hydraulic gradient
hydraulic head
matrix potential
porosity
storage coeffficient
suction
water table
4
Management of Water Resources
The Management of Water Resources (MWR) module consists of
eight chapters.
The first chapter is devoted to consideration of the state of the world
water resources, the planetary water cycle and water balance.
The second chapter is dealing with the water economy complex, i.e. natural
and technical economic system aimed at provision of humanity with water
and at water resources protection.
In the third chapter is given an analysis of legislative and juridical documentation
dealing with fundamentals of exploitation, protection and management of
water resources, mainly in NIS.
The fourth chapter deals with the strategy of water resources management
on the basis of water resources management on the basis of water economy
balance and systems analysis of management alternatives on the level of
the state, region, a separate enterprise.
The firth chapter is devoted to the water resources monitoring as a starting
basis for water resources management.
The sixth chapter outlines the main problems of water resources protection
against pollution and depletion and trends towards solution of these problems.
The seventh chapter gives data on theoretical and practical methods for
management of water resources, e.g. application of a database, geographical
information system (GIS), modelling, optimal management methods, risk evaluation
and management.
The eighth chapter considers problems of water resources management under
emergency situations, such as dry years and water deficit caused by low
flow, and flooding caused by high flows.
To each chapter is added a list of question for self-analysis of comprehension
and for discussions. Some examples of typical problems solution are also
given. Bibliographical references are provided.
The module has been formatted in the framework of project “Virtual
campus in hydrology and water resources (VICAIRE)” funded by Swiss
National Science Foundation.
Sustainable development
Water resources – WR
Water cycle
Water balance fresh water balance
Water economy complex
Water legislation, economic and ecological constrains
WRM strategy
Mathematical modelling in WRM
Criteria of WRM
System analysis in WRM
Monitoring in WR
Protection of WR
Database in WRM
Geographical Information Systems GIS
Tools of WRM
WRM for low flow and high flow periods
WEC management at extreme floods
Each chapter presents :
The objectives of each topic,
Scientific and technical literature,
A summary with the essential points in order to give an general overview
of the chapter,
Several exercises for a proper understanding of the topic,
Animations to illustrate some aspects of the topic, in the next development
stage,
Questions (exams type) to be properly answered to by the end of the chapter
studied,
A self-evaluation test (allowing each student to see where he stands).
Partners
Team 1:
Institute of Soil and Water resources Management (Hydrology and Land Improvement
Laboratory) EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
More than 7600 people are working at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
of Lausanne (EPFL), as students, scientists, professors, technical and
administrative staff. These are committed to 12 teaching and research
disciplines: civil engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical
engineering, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics,
material sciences and engineering, architecture, computer science, micro-engineering
and communication systems.
The Hydrology and Land Improvement Laboratory is part of the Environmental
Science and Technology Institute (ISTE). Its research is intended to improve
the understanding of fundamental processes and the hydrological behaviour
of watersheds and to develop methodological approaches and adequate techniques
for design, planning and management of a wide spectrum of land, soil and
water works including the assessment of the related environmental impacts
Team 2:
Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest, Romania (TUCEB)
Higher education in Civil Engineering in Romania came into being in 1818
with a School for Land Surveyors, which was followed in 1864 by The School
of Bridges and Roads, Mines and Architecture,transformed in 1888 into
The National School of Bridges and Roads. In 1921 it became the Polytechnic
School of Bucharest where civil engineers were trained in the Division
of Civil Engineering, which was named The Faculty of Civil Engineering
in 1938. As a result of Education Reform in 1948, the Faculty of Civil
Engineering separated from the Polytechnic School and became an independent
higher education establishment called the Civil Engineering Institute
Bucharest. In1994 it adopted the present name-The Technical University
of Civil Engineering Bucharest, the only Romanian university devoted entirely
to engineering education in civil engineering and related fields.
Team 3:
University Timisoara, Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Romania
The "Politehnica" University of Timisoara is one of the largest
and top universities in Romania and well known among the technical universities
in Central and Eastern Europe. For over 80 years it has had an outstanding
reputation built on the academic programmes promoted, the research carried
out, the support given to its students and the physical environment.
The "Politehnica" University of Timisoara comprises of the
following faculties of engineering: Automation and Computer Science, Electronics
and Telecommunications, Electrical, Industrial Chemistry and Environmental
Engineering, Civil and Architecture, Hydrotecnics, Management in Production
and Transportation, Mechanical. All the faculties deliver up-to-date and
high quality academic programmes in engineering sciences for undergraduates,
as well as for advanced studies.
An open and distance education system, in different areas and languages,
has been implemented through the Regional Centre for Open and Distance
Learning of the university in the recent years.
The university offers a wide range of facilities such as: the University
Library, a TV programme called Teleuniversitaria, a publishing house,
a hotel, hostels, refectories, sport and leisure centres.
"Politehnica" University of Timisoara
Piata Victoriei, No. 2
1900 Timisoara
Romania
Team 4:
Technical University "Gheorghe Asachi" of Iasi (T.U.I.), Romania
The "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi (T.U.I.
for short) has the oldest tradition in engineering education in Romania.
In 1813 the scholar Gheorghe Asachi set up the first centre for technical
education taught in Romanian, beginning with a civil engineering class
which was later developed within the Michaelian Academy (1835) and the
"Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University in Iasi.
The "Gh. Asachi" Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1937
as a separate institution, drawing together a number of engineering departments
in a independent institution, in 1991 it adopted the present name - The
"Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University.
Our University has over 1200 teaching staff and researchers who provide
training more than 11.000 students within ten faculties, two colleges
and a post graduate school, as it follows: Automatic Control and Computer
Science Engineering, Industrial Chemistry Engineering, Civil Engineering
and Architecture, Mechanical Equipment Design and Manufacture, Electronics
and Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hydrotechnics
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering of Materials,
Textile and Leather Technology Engineering, Technical College no.1, Technical
College no.2, Postgraduate School of Management.
The University offers all the facilities for accommodation, health service,
library service, recreation and sports.
Technical University of Iasi (T.U.I.), Faculty of Hydrotechnics
63-65, D. Mangeron Blvd.
6600 IASI
Romania
Phone/Fax : +40 32 231 041
Team 5:
Sophia University "St Kliment Ohridski", Geology and Geography
Faculty ; National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology ; Institute
of Water Problems, Bulgaria.
The Sofia University is the first school of higher education in
Bulgaria. Its history represents a continuation in centuries of cultural
and educational tradition in this country. It is the largest and most
prestigious educational and scientific centre in Bulgaria, offering 72
degree courses in humanities and sciences.
The department Climatology and Hydrology belongs to the Faculty of Geology
and Geography. The hydrological researches at the department are mainly
oriented on the regime of runoff, the flow variation under the anthropogenic
activities; self-organization in drainage system fractal in drainage basin;
Water resources management and Use and protection of the water.
The Institute of Water Problems is engaged with theoretical and
applied investigations in the field of complex and optimal utilization
and conservation of the water resources as well as assists and takes part
in the application of the scientific results to practice. The Institute
of Water Problems has had an important participation in the planning,
design, construction and operation of large scale water resource system
and hydraulic structure. The principal scientific researches are directed
towards solving the problems concerning rational utilization, management
and operation of the water resources, ecological aspects of the water
resources utilization , GIS and information and expert systems for water
management.
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) is the
official name of the hydrometeorological service in Bulgaria. Regular
meteorological observations have begun since 1887 and systematic hydrological
measurements are available since 1920. Nowadays the main networks are:
Meteorological network with 31 synoptic stations including 5 stations
on mountain; 132 climatic stations; 373 rainfall stations; Agrometeorological
network with 33 agrometeorological; 4 forest stations; 109 phenological
posts; Hydrological network with 236 hydrological stations; 595 wells
and springs stations for groundwater; 112 stations for suspended sediment
samplings, organic matter and 61 stations for grain-size determination
; Air and water pollution network with 1 background pollution station
in Rojen and 224 sampling posts for surface water pollution monitoring
and etc.
Sofia University
"St.Kliment Ohridski "
Faculty of Geology and Geography
1504 Sofia, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. Bulgaria
phone: (+359 2) 9308 217
fax: (+359 2) 9446 487
Team 6:
Kharkiv State Technical University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
(KSTUCA), Ukrainia
The Kharkiv State Technical University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
belongs to the leading Ukrainian educational institutions of civil engineering
and it is one of the major centers of the building science in the country.
A great success of the University in different spheres is connected with
a traditionally highly qualified and united staff containing a lot of
outstanding teachers and scientists. Nearly 80% of them are professors
and Ph.D. scholars.
The University has 7 faculties, 37 departments, a research and project
sector, postgraduate department, laboratories, a computer center, a library.
The University trains the highly qualified specialists in 14 specialities.
Among them:
Ecology in civil engineering Water supply,
rational use and protection of water resources,
canalization Information systems in management.
University prepares bachelors, engineers, holders of Master's degree.
The main attention in the process of education is paid towards training
students in new marketing conditions similar to industrial ones. In the
University students receive rather deep theoretical and special preparation.
Teaching humanities, information sciences, foreign languages and physical
preparation are of a great importance too.
The new information technologies are used in the processes of education
as well as execution of complex course projects on the basis of individual
tasks.
An essential attention is paid towards participation of the students in
the research projects of the University departments and laboratories.
A great volume of scientific work including the scientific researches
under the state program, is carried out at the Department of Life Security
and Engineering Ecology (the Engineering - humanities faculty). The main
problems of scientific researches are environmental protection, ecology
control under rivers of the Azov-Black seas basin and developing the system
of fire protection. The Ukrainian ecology organization of UNESKO was formed
at the department. There is a post-graduate department at the faculty.
Scientific activities at the Water supply, canalization and hydraulics
department (Sanitary-Technical faculty) are directed towards solution
of the problems concerning cleaning of stagnant and natural water resources
in cities and industrial enterprises, development of the rational designs
for water supply and water disposal systems at the termal and atomic stations,
economy of water resources and ecology control.
Kharkiv State Technical University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
61002 Sumskay street 40
Kharkov,
Ukrainia
Phone: 380 572 43 38 12
Fax: 380 572 43 20 17
Team 7:
Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Ecological Problems (USRIEP),
Ukrainia
Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Ecological Problems (former
All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Water Protection) is a major
scientific organisation of the Ukrainian environment protection system.
18 research laboratories of the Institute have been involved in water
resources management research. Currently, the Institute employs 360 researchers
and engineers, including 8 Dr's. Sci. And 52 Ph.D.'s.
The main objective of the Institute activities has been to provide scientific
support to implementation of the national environmental policy aimed at
provision of sustainable use of natural resources and environmental safety.
The two-track research activities of the USRIEP include both seeking
for solutions to major vital issues of rational use of water resources
and water quality management in Ukraine and specific applied studies.
Major water resources management research areas include:
Development of legal, regulatory, economic and institutional framework
of water resources management (surface water and groundwater)
Water quality management and water quality modeling Regulation of
water uses
Assessment of suitability and predicting surface and groundwater qualit
Review of water uses, development of national and regional water use
management and protection programmes
Water resources management information support (data bases, GIS, management
decision support systems)
Environmental monitoring of water resources, including analytical
control, development of instrumentation and automatic control tools)
Environmental sustainability of aquatic ecosystems
Wastewater treatment.
In parallel with research studies, USRIEP has been actively involved
in implementation of training programmes. The Institute has sustained
the post-graduate training for specialists applying for Ph.D. title. A
specialized Scientific Council has been established at the Institute to
run the defense and qualification procedure for Ph.D. and Doctorate applicants
specialised in technogenic safety.
Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Ecological Problems
Bakulin street 6
Kharkov, Ukrainia
Phone: 380 572 194 682
Fax: 380 572 409 125
Team 8:
Technical University of Moldova, Faculty of Urban Engineering and Architecture,
Chisinau, Moldova
Technical University of Moldova (TUM) was founded in 1964 based on the
faculty of Engineering at the State University of Moldova. Its primary
goal was to meet the growing dEarth of skilled engineers.
It is the only technical university in Moldova with a total enrollment
of 12,000 students, and more than 1,000 professors, scientists and graduate
students. The University comprises the following faculties:
Electronics and Computer Science
Automation and Telecommunications
Energetics
Mechanical
Management and Transportation
Civil Engineering
Technology
Urban Engineering and Architecture
Light Industry
A new department of Ecotechnics, Ecological Management, and Water Engineering
was founded in 1996 as part of the Faculty of Urban Engineering and Architecture
with the help of UNESCO and Cousteau foundation.
Almost all faculties at the University have groups for in depth study
of foreign languages, who also take part in student exchange programs
with other universities abroad.
Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau
Bd. Stefan al Mare 168
2004 Chisinau, Republica Moldova
Phone: (3732) 247186
Fax: (3732) 247104
Module Leaders
Project leader: Prof. Musy - EPFL
Module
Leader
1a
Prof. Cretu - Uni. Timisoara
1b
Prof. Stanescu - TUCEB
2
Prof. Zlatunova - Sofia Uni.
3
Prof. Drobot - TUCEB
4
Prof. Sherenkov - KSTUCA
Authors
Module 1a
Chapter
Author(s)
Institution
1
Corina ROSU
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
2
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
3
Ion GIURMA
Uni. Gheorghe Asachi Iasi
4
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
5
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
6
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
7
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
8
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
9
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
10
Gheorghe CRETU, Catalin NAGY, Flaminia BONCIA
Uni. Politehnica Timisoara
Module 1b
Chapter
Author(s)
Institution
1
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
2
Viorel Al. STANESCU, André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
3
Viorel Al. STANESCU , André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
4
Viorel Al. STANESCU, André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
5
Radu DROBOT, André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
6
Radu POPA
Polytechnica Univ. Buch.
7
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
8
Viorel Al. STANESCU, André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
9
Viorel Al. STANESCU, André MUSY
TUCEB, EPFL
10
Viorel Al. STANESCU
TUCEB
11
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
Module 2
Chapter
Author(s)
Institution
1
(Daniela ZLATUNOVA)
Sofia University
2
Daniela ZLATUNOVA
Sofia University
3
Daniela ZLATUNOVA
Sofia University
4
Ivan PENKOV
Sofia University
5
Nely HRISTOVA
Sofia University
6
Georgy GERGOV, Cveta KARAGIOZOVA
Sofia University
7
Daniela ZLATUNOVA
Sofia University
8
Ivan PENKOV, Vania IONCHEVA
Sofia University
9
Daniela ZLATUNOVA
Sofia University
10
Todor HRISTOV, Vania IONCHEVA
Sofia University
11
Todor HRISTOV, Vania IONCHEVA
Sofia University
12
Nely HRISTOVA
Sofia University
Module 3
Chapter
Author(s)
Institution
1
Dan PAUNESCU, Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
2
Ioan BICA, Dan PAUNESCU, Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
3
Cornel DINU
University of Bucharest
4
Dan PAUNESCU, Radu DROBOT, Marius ALBU
TUCEB, University of Bucharest
5
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
6
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
7
Alexandru DANCHIV, Florian ZAMFIRESCU
University of Bucharest
8
Ioan BICA
TUCEB
9
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
10
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
11
Radu DROBOT
TUCEB
12
Ioan BICA
TUCEB
Module 4
Chapter
Author(s)
Institution
1
Prof. Vladimir Sherenkov, Dr. Evgeny L. Makarovskiy, MS. Sergey K. Kuzin
KSTUCA, USRIEP
2
Prof. Vladimir A.Sherenkov
KSTUCA
3
Prof. Vladimir R. Lozanskiy
USRIEP
4
Prof. Vladimir A.Sherenkov
KSTUCA
5
Dr. Evgeny L. Makarovskiy
USRIEP
6
MS. Sergey K. Kuzin
KSTUCA
7
Dr. Evgeny L. Makarovskiy
USRIEP
8
Prof. Vladimir A.Sherenkov, Prof. Todor Hristov, Prof. Radu Drobot
KSTUCA, Sofia University, TUCEB
IT-Team
Web-designing (EPFL)
Anne Gillardin (2000-2001), Alain Beney (2001-2003), Colin Schenk (2003), Pascal
Horton (2004-2005).
Pedagogical Concept
This course is meant for engineers (civil, environmental, agricultural, rural,
etc.) and university graduates in Earth and environmental sciences and related
fields (geography, geology, etc.) as well as graduates with university level
or with equivalent title. The content of the course will start from the basic
(first and second) stages and be considered as a prerequisite for postgraduate
level.
Each student is free to manage his schedule. It is his responsibility to connect
to the course, study and understand the topic, do the exercises, answer the
questions and undergo the self-evaluation tests.
A computerized forum of discussions, meant as a forum of exchange, allows any
student to ask questions, look for advice or comment freely on the course whenever
opportune, at any time and even from outside EPFL. The answers are available
and profitable to every one. This forum is not subject to evaluation or personal
appreciation but must be connected to regularly.
The student may proceed to self-evaluation tests at any time since possible
answers are directly available on the web.
Reading guide
It is very easy to surf through the pages of the course, from the title page
(http://hydram.epfl.ch/VICAIRE),
after the attentive reading of the first indications.The interface of the remote
teaching is made up of three distinct parts :
The first part (A), in the upper part of the screen, allow the navigation through
the course with the help of several buttons. Right buttons include the
and the lesson's list. Left buttons are
related to the students . In the center
a button guides us towards an external
link to a glossary of hydrology.
Once a chapter has been selected using the adequate button, its contents is
display in the part B and the main text in the part C .
Note that the part A has some new buttons which are specific to each chapter:
informations on , a ,
a general , some ,
of general interest or the
(multiple-choice questions).
***
The part below describe in a more precise way the computer contents and the
teaching goals of each button.
: Here we are ! Short
description on how to use this virtual course and recommendations can be found.
Read all informations carefully !
: Gives access to the contents of the
course. It's the way to come in in this course.
Question, make comments or answer questions of your comrades and all that in
a personalized or anonymous way (by using a nickname).
The forum is a place of exchanges and discussions. Consequently, this makes
sense only if you adopt, just like the teacher and his collaborators, a participative
approach. Professors and assistants guarantee you that your questions will be
answered within 24 hours.
: Specifies the
e-mail of professors as well as their assistants.
These people can be contacted directly by electronic mail. However it is strongly
recommended to use the forum for teaching and scientific's questions.
: Guides towards the
international glossary of hydrology (UNESCO).
These links provide a welcome complement to the course, consult it in oportune
time.
: Describes the
objectives of each chapter in form of precise goals you have to reach.
These objectives can also be used to you as self-rating. " Did I achieve
the goals the teacher fixes me ? ".
: Gives access to a short summary of the
chapter.
: Gives access to the
general index of the course classified either alphabetically or by chapters.
The index links to the requested word directly in the text where it is defined
using the international glossary of hydrology. This definition can be activated
by scrolling over the wished term with the mouse.
Certain animations require the a plug-in's download. Follow the recommendations
made on this subject.
: Offers some exercises
relating to the chapters with tips when those are necessary for the resolution.
Numerical answers are displayed on part C of the screen.
Note that links are available between key-words in the exercises and their
explanation in texts.
Don't do exercises partially !
: Allows you to
display some general questions of comprehension concerning each matter treated.
: Allows you to
make a fast evaluation of your knowledge by solving various multiple choices
questions.
The answers to these questions are displayed in the right part of the screen.
It is however advised to install on your computer the QuizViewer software which
on the one hand will enable you to obtain your score and on the other hand will
deliver some comments to you on the answers.
Recommendations
Students concerned by this new pedagogical approach of studies must carefully
read the recommendations hereafter to fully benefit from this new teaching facility.
Respect the program : it is not recommended to go ahead in
chapters or to cumulate delays either for the chapters of the course, the
exercises, questions and related self-evaluation tests.
Consider the recommended references (bibliography) recommended
as a complement to the text on the Internet. Use the facilities of the links,
glossaries and index of the Web.
Regularly, really and totally do all exercises related to
the chapter.
Self-answer questions, check the answers all proposed within
the text presented on the Internet.
Proceed to the self-evaluation tests at the end of each chapter.
Check the answers and search the potential differences within the texts
available. Then, check the answers given by the teaching staff.
Do not hesitate to use the forum ! Be precise and short in
asking questions and answering to comments.
Contact the responsible of the course or any person from the
teaching staff for general topics that are not strictly related to a proper
understanding of the course.
and the lesson's 
list. Left buttons are
related to the students 
. In the center
a button 
guides us towards an external
link to a glossary of hydrology. 
, a 
,
a general 
, some 
,
of general interest or the 
(multiple-choice questions).