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Unit outline_

CIVL5670: Reservoir, Stream and Coastal Engineering

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The objectives of this unit of study are to develop an understanding of the processes occurring in lakes, reservoirs, streams and coastal seas, an introduction to transport and mixing in inland waters, and to the design the design of marine structures. The unit will cover the mass and heat budget in stored water bodies, mixing, and the implications for water quality. In streams, natural river systems will be discussed, and the principles of sediment transport and scour, monitoring and management will be introduced. The basic equations for linear and nonlinear wave theories in coastal seas will be introduced, and wave forces on structures and an introduction to design of offshore structures will be discussed.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

(CIVL3612 OR CIVL9612) AND MATH2061

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kapil Chauhan, kapil.chauhan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Heisel, michael.heisel@sydney.edu.au
Kapil Chauhan, kapil.chauhan@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Liam Duncan, liam.duncan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Quiz on RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
Online quiz + Take home
34% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2023 at 18:00
120+ mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Online task Quiz on COASTAL ENGINEERING
Online quiz + Take home
33% Week 10
Due date: 05 May 2023 at 18:00
120+ mins
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Online task Quiz on STREAM ENGINEERING
Online quiz + Take home
33% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 18:00
120+ mins
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 The water balance and water quality; the hydrological cycle; properties of water Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 02 Stream engineering: river systems; intro to river engineering types of flow; review of open channel flow; bed shear stress, roughness, drag Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 03 Geomorphological concepts; sediment transport; scour Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 04 Monitoring and management; hydraulic structures Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 05 Modelling; case studies Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 06 Lakes and reservoirs: mass and heat budgets in lakes and reservoirs; radiation environment; surface heat exchanges; radiation absorption Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 07 Stratification and the one dimensional assumption; internal waves. Energy considerations; potential energy and mixing requirements; energy inputs Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 08 Surface induced mixing models; formation of the surface mixed layer (epilimnion); mixing in the hypolimnion Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 09 Coastal engineering: wave theory; linear wave theory; wave energy, groups, standing and short-crested waves; non-linear wave theories Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 10 Risk analysis; wave forecasting and hindcasting, design wave, wave statistics Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 11 Wave forces (breaking and non breaking) and design of walls. Design of coastal structures - rubble mound breakwaters Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 12 Sediment transport; Scour around coastal structures. Design of beaches and coastal protection structures Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 13 Overview of course; exam discussion Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the important mixing and transport processes in lakes and reservoirs
  • LO2. understand wave theories.
  • LO3. demonstrate familiarity with the design of offshore structures
  • LO4. understand the important transport processes in rivers
  • LO5. demonstrate familiarity with water quality issues in rivers, and develop simple models

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Information will be disseminated in the first lecture.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.