MSc Pollution & Environmental Control / Course details

The unit is run as a series of lectures and practicals where the focus is on preparing the student to be able to select the appropriate modelling technique to apply to water movement studies. Each week a new modelling approach will be introduced in a lecture under one of the water movement themes and students will then gain hands-on experience in applying models and interpreting model output during a computer practical. Modelling approaches taught in class include river modelling, forecasting modelling, dam breach modelling, dam and reservoir operation modelling, water resource modelling, modelling of urban drainage systems, water quality and pollution modelling using case studies from different climate zones from around the globe.
The unit complements ‘Measuring and Predicting’ Part 1 and Part 2 by exploring natural processes but also with an emphasis on using models used in industry to examine real-world problems rather than focusing the computational detail. This unit runs alongside ‘Environmental Measurement and Modelling’ further developing modelling techniques for a range of water movement themes.
The unit starts by examining the natural hydrological processes and how surface water moves overland, and how water moves in aquifers and between rivers and groundwater, and the role of natural lakes and artificial influences on impeding water movement. The unit explores the hydraulics of how water moves within river channels. Students apply advance 1D / 2D hydraulic models to examine the movement of water along rivers and on floodplain for rivers in the UK. The unit also examines how flood water is predicted with examples from the UK, Australia, and India.
The unit then explores urban water and its movement through the urban drainage systems. Students use hydraulic theory to understand urban drainage design and apply urban drainage models to provide sustainable flood risk solutions for cities in the UK and India. The students also undertake water quality assessments and make use of water quality model to examine the impact of pollution on the aquatic ecosystems.   
The unit explores water storage, water and energy, and water and food production. The unit prepares students to apply water balance models as a tool to solve water security problems. Students apply modelling techniques to optimise reservoir water storage, to release water to supply power generation, food production, and to the environment for river basins in Ethiopia and China.
Students apply models to design dams and to evaluate their impacts on water movement downstream. Students will model Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFS) in Nepal. These floods occur when natural dams surrounding glacial lakes fail. The unit finishes by exploring future trends and challenges in water movement and how technology such as remote sensing, Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial Intelligence (AI) may provide solutions. 
 

2-hour lecture plus 2-hour practical in computer cluster each week.
Content
1   Surface Water Systems
•    Introduction to Pollution Management in Practice Part 2 
•    Artificial influences on flows
•    Effect of lakes and reservoirs
•    Impact of artificial influences
•    Reservoir releases
•    Naturalising flows 
•    Case Study–Xainhe River, China
2   Environmental Flows
•    Environmental flows in the UK
•    Environmental flow indicator (EFI)
•    EFI using in RAMS, CAMs and WDF
•    Environmental flows in China
•    Methods for estimating environmental flows
•    Case Study–Xainhe River, China
3   Groundwater Systems 
•    What is groundwater 
•    Aquifer properties
•    Monitoring groundwater
•    Surface and groundwater interactions 
•    Groundwater modelling 
•    Groundwater in Ethiopia
4   Water Quality and Pollution Waterway Systems–Natural catchments 
•    Water quality 
•    Global water quality 
•    Physico-chemical water quality parameters 
•    Water quality and pollution characteristics of Lake Awassa
•    Impacts on aquatic ecosystems 
•    Water quality modelling  
•    Sustainable management of water quality
5   Water Quality and Pollution in Urban Waterway Systems–Urban environments 
•    Urban water quality 
•    How urban areas affect water quality 
•    Managing urban runoff
•    Impacts of urban runoff on aquatic ecosystems   
•    Urban water quality monitoring and modelling
6   Urban Waterway Systems 1–Urban Flood Modelling
•    Types of urban flooding
•    Urban drainage systems
•    How to model urban flooding
•    Integrated urban models
•    Urban Modelling in Flood Modeller software
7   Urban Waterway Systems 2–Pollution Modelling 1
•    Water quality in urban environments 
•    Urban water quality and pollution
•    Managing urban pollution 
•    Urban pollution modelling
8   Urban Pollution Modelling 2–Pollution Modelling 2
•    Introduction to Storm Water Management Model (SWMM)
•    Urban hydrology and hydraulics 
•    Design of urban drainage systems 
•    Modelling urban drainage systems
9   Water Supply and Storage Systems 
•    Water resource system modelling
•    Types of water resource system models
•    Systems as networks 
•    Water resource allocation
•    Benefits of simulation-based option assessment 
•    Introduction to water system modelling using Python Water Resource (PYWR) system models
•    Application of PYWR system models

•    Each theme is taught using lectures and practical exercises either classroom based (on campus) or online using e-learning (off campus) with drop-in classroom sessions when requested
•    2-hour lecture covers a different water movement theme each week; the relevant theory; modelling approach, and usage cases for the model, with examples. Lectures include in class exercises and online guest experts 
•    2-hour computer practical each week, with guided learning where students download and use data and models to simulate environmental processes, and plot / interpret the results based a theme introduced in lecture
•    Practical exercises can be done as guided on-line video, with drop-in classroom help sessions when requested, and with regular online help sessions
•    Supplemented with on-line video to aid with technical tasks
•    Experts from industry share their knowledge online during selected classes
•    Formative assessment through on-line BB tests during class with immediate feedback is given each week.
•    Summative assessment is through a weekly online practical assessment related to each theme taught in class using questions in the same style as the formative tests and with immediate feedback.
•    Summative assessment will also include a single on-line open book examination using questions in the same style as the formative tests and with immediate feedback.