2024-2025 / UEEN0008-1

Urban water systems

Duration

18h Th, 18h Pr, 12h Proj.

Number of credits

 Master MSc. in Architectural Engineering, professional focus in urban and environmental engineering3 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Geological and Mining Engineering, professional focus in environmental and geological engineering3 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Geological and Mining Engineering focus in mineral resources and recycling3 crédits 
 Master MSc. in Civil Engineering, professional focus in urban and environmental engineering3 crédits 

Lecturer

Benjamin Dewals

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Water is a vital component of a city. Virtually all human and economic activities in urban environments depend on water supply. In this course, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of water production, transport and distribution in urbanised areas. They will also be introduced to current challenges in the water sector (e.g. leakage detection, smart metering...).

The main concepts underlying the design and sizing of urban drainage systems will be introduced, as well as current developments in urban flood risk management.

The course will cover the following topics

  • Fundamentals of water production, transport and supply
  • Water storage in reservoirs
  • Wastewater and urban drainage systems
  • Urban flood risk analysis and management ...
Practical assignments apply the concepts taught in the classroom to real-world case studies.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Understand the concepts underlying the design and sizing of water transport and supply systems;
  • Prepare a preliminary hydraulic design of a water supply reservoir considering water demand scenarios and energy consumption of pumping systems;
  • Prepare a preliminary hydraulic design of a large-scale rainwater harvesting system, considering different hydro-meteorological scenarios and the influence of water pricing;
  • Understand the components of an integrated flood risk analysis and assess urban flood risk based on flood hazard and vulnerability data.
A full list of Learning outcomes is available at: https://www.programmes.uliege.be/cocoon/20182019/formations/descr/A2UCON01.html.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, III.4, IV.1, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VI.3, VI.4, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in civil engineering.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, III.4, IV.1, IV.2, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VI.3, VI.4, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in geological and mining engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

  • Basic understanding of pressurized and open-channel flow computation (uniform flow, friction formulae)
  • Basic experience in using a computation software (such as Matlab or Python)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Classes are divided into theoretical lectures and compulsory practical sessions.
The compulsory practical sessions include

  • exercises on the hydraulic design of a service reservoir;
  • a small project on the design and sizing of a large rainwater harvesting system;
  • a small project on urban flood risk modelling.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

The course consists of face-to-face teaching divided into theoretical lectures and compulsory practical sessions. In the latter, students are required to submit a short report at the end of each session or a more comprehensive report after several sessions.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The following reports are a valuable addition to the classes:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

There is a written exam in January and September. Reports from the practical assignments are also assessed.

The practical assignments are an important part of the course and are compulsory. Students who fail to submit the required reports on time will not be allowed to sit the exam.

No partial exemption will be granted.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is taught in English.

Contacts

Prof. Benjamin Dewals: b.dewals@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs