School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering

Learning Guide

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Learning Guide
You are now beginning the course. Please turn to different Topics 1-11
and work your way through the sessions. Remember to use the Planning
and Time Management chart if you are unsure about the next activity or
section of work to complete.

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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:
list the hydrological data collected for water resources projects
explain how rainfall and other data is collected
demonstrate how stage-discharge relationships can be used to
obtain the stream flow from a recording station
illustrate how rainfall and other climatic data is checked for
accuracy and consistency
construct a set of IFD curves for a specified locality
select the ARI for a design storm for a project in a given region
construct the rainfall profile (temporal pattern) of a design storm
estimate losses from storms so that the portion of rainfall that
becomes runoff can be computed
separate surface runoff and baseflow from the streamflow
hydrograph data.
use routing procedures to route a flood hydrograph through a
river reach techniques, especially Muskingum-Cunge method.
Apply RORB rainfall – runoff model to obtain event based runoff
hydrographs.
Apply Rational method to estimate flood peak from rural
catchments.
Calculate evaporation and evapotranspiration from a catchment
describe how the hydrology cycle is linked to a process model
list the processes that are simulated in process models
Calculate infiltration through the soil in a catchment
Determine soil-plant-water relationships
Discuss climate change and its impact in catchment

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Topic 1 Collection and Analysis of Hydrological

Data
Hydrology
Hydrology is the science that deals with the depletion and
replenishment of the world's water resources. From an engineering
water resources point of view the focus is on the estimation of these
phenomena and how they relate to human activities.
Of the world’s water, 97% is sea water, 3% is fresh water, of this 75% is
in ice caps and glaciers and 25% is in ground water, either in rivers,
lakes or underground, with 0.04% in the atmosphere. The Hydrologic
Cycle powered by the sun and gravity continually conveys water from
the oceans, rivers, surface water, trees and plants and plants to the
atmosphere and then returns it to the surface.
The Topics covered in this course are those of importance to engineers
and do not encompass the whole area of hydrology.

The Collection and Analysis of Hydrological Data

The objective of this topic is to introduce you to hydrological data
(rainfall and stream flow), explaining how it is collected and checked
for accuracy and consistency.
As the amount and frequency of rainfall is a random event it is
necessary to use statistical methods to obtain estimates of the
probability of occurrence of rainfall and flood events of specified
magnitudes. This can only be accomplished if comprehensive data
records of such events are available. It is usually carried out by
government organizations.

Background skills and knowledge

Before starting this topic you are expected to know:
the continuity equation and the Manning flow equation from
Fluid Mechanics, and how to use them
probability distribution functions, and how to plot them
how to use the different types of graph paper: log-log, semi-log,
probability and log probability
how to use a computer spreadsheet.

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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this Topic, you will be able to:
list the hydrological data collected for water resources projects
explain how rainfall and other climate data is collected
demonstrate how stage-discharge relationships can be used to
obtain the stream flow from a recording station
illustrate how rainfall and streamflow data is checked for
accuracy and consistency
estimate average rainfall data from a point over an area.

Activities
The lecture notes together with the designated reading describe how
hydrologic data is collected and checked. This includes rainfall,
streamflow, evaporation, transpiration and infiltration. The averaging
of rainfall that varies spatially is discussed and the methods of
accomplishing this illustrated.

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Session 1.1: Collecting and Checking Hydrological

Data

Activity 1A

Collecting and Checking Hydrological Data

Read:
eBook, pp.1 – 3 (up to Rainfall)
Chin Sections 1.2 and 1.3

Rainfall

Activity 1B

Collecting and Checking Hydrological Data - Rainfall

Read:
eBook, pp.3 - 6 (starting at Rainfall and finishing at
Streamflow)
Chin Section 5.2.2 (Version 2)
Chin Section 9.2.3 (Version 3)

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Streamflow

Activity 1C

Collecting and Checking Hydrological Data -

Streamflow
Read:
eBook, pp.6 - 8 (starting at Streamflow)

Evaporation

Activity 1D

Collecting and Checking Hydrological Data -

Evaporation
Read:
Presentation slides Topic 1
Chin Section 5.8 (Version 2)
Chin Section 13.8 (Version 3)

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Session 1.2: The Assessment of Hydrologic Data

Activity 1E

The Assessment of Hydrological Data

Read:
eBook pp.9 – 11
Solve Problems:
that follow this Activity Box

Answers for the numerical-based questions in these activities will be

provided during the semester

Activity 1 E
The rainfall recorded during a storm, at the stations shown on the
diagram, is: A, 81 mm; B, 130 mm; C, 175 mm; D, 142 mm; and E, 105
mm. Find the average rainfall across the area using the Thiessen
Polygon Method.

Figure Activity 1.1E. copyright RMIT 2009 (Michael Moore)

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Activity 1 F
Drainage areas within each of the rainfall range for a storm are
tabulated for a catchment. Use the Isohyetal Method to determine the
average precipitation depth within the basin for the storm. Make a
conceptual sketch.

Rainfall (mm) Area (m2)

0 – 10 35
10 – 20 55
20 – 30 60
30 – 40 42
40 – 50 31
50 – 60 7

Activity 1G
(This problem is adapted from Viesseman and Lewis p.116 – in metric
units, not to scale.)

Calculate the discharge at the section given in the figure below. Data
from field observations is shown in the two tables.

Vertical Depth (m) Average Horizontal Segment

section velocity segment width (m)
(m/s)

0 0 0 0-1 1.4
1 1 1.1 1-2 1.1
2 1.2 1.3 2-3 1.6
3 1.7 1.7 3-4 1.7
4 1.8 1.8 4-5 1.2
5 1.5 1.5 5-6 1.7
6 1.1 1.2 6-7 1.9
7 0 0

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Figure Activity 1.1G. copyright RMIT 2009 (Nira Jayasuriya)

Activity 1H
Gauge X was installed in January 1983 and relocated in December 1987.
Using the records for Gauges A, B and C adjust the 1983 - 1987 record of
Gauge X.

Year Annual Catchment Rainfall (mm) at Gauge

A B C X
1996 680 660 720 720
1995 660 620 680 720
1994 560 500 580 600
1993 500 440 500 560
1992 560 540 580 620
1991 620 580 680 720
1990 720 680 740 760
1989 640 680 680 720
1988 560 520 540 600
1987 580 580 600 520
1986 680 660 680 620
1985 640 580 720 600
1984 620 600 660 580
1983 540 500 560 500

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Activity 1I
Feedback Question:

Each catchment has 4 rain gauges in your assignment. Use the

Thiessen polygon method to calculate the areal uniform rainfall of
the given catchment.

Submit the worked solution via the online drop box in the Learning
Hub by 9.00am on the day before the tutorial class in Week 2 for
feedback (A group submission)

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Summary and Outcome Checklist

Tick the box for each statement with which you agree:
I can list the hydrological data collected for water resources
projects
I can explain how rainfall and other data is collected
I am able to demonstrate how stage-discharge relationships can be
used to obtain the stream flow from a recording station
I am able to illustrate how rainfall and other data is checked for
accuracy and consistency
I am able to estimate average rainfall data from a point over an
area.

If you are unable to agree with all of the above statements, then please
revisit the work in this topic, and/or ask your class tutor/coordinator
for advice on where to concentrate your studies.

Assessment
This Topic will be assessed as part of the Assignment 1. This aims to
ensure understanding of key concepts prior to undertaking the end of
the semester examination. (See Assessment for more detail).

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