2024 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering Graduate major in Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society
Hydrology and Water Resources Conservation
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Global Engineering for Development, Environment and Society
- Instructor(s)
- Tsuyoshi Kinouchi / Gang Zhao
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue / 7-8 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- GEG.E412
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Regional use of water resources around the world has evolved through deep interaction and harmonization of the natural hydrologic cycles and human society. Expanding human activities has resulted in serious problems in the use of water resources and their environments. In the introductory part of this course, students will understand the historical aspects of water resources development. Then, students will learn the natural or physical phenomena significant for the development and use of water resources. Finally, students will learn methodologies for water resources management and use, as well as accompanying problems and issues at present and in the future, using actual examples and group working for different regions and places.
Course description and aims
By the end of the course, students will understand how to develop water resources and sustainably use water by harmonizing with the natural hydrological cycle. Through the course students will gain a broad range of knowledge which covers the historical aspect of water resources development, problems and issues constrained by the climatic and geographical conditions and social or cultural backgrounds, as well as water resources planning and related infrastructure design.
Keywords
Water resources, water use, management, conservation, planning, infrastructure, hydrologic cycle, aquatic environment, ecosystem
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course consists of lectures and group working and presentations.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction and orientation | Understand the overall contents and procedures of the lecture. |
| Class 2 | History of water resources development and water use in Japan and in the world | Become aware of the historical aspects of water use and resources development in various parts in Japan and the world. |
| Class 3 | Regional characteristics of water resources: relationship with climate and land condition | Understand the regional characteristics of water resources, influential factors and their degrees of importance. |
| Class 4 | Introduction of current issues in water resources conservation | Understand the current regional issues related with water resources conservation. |
| Class 5 | Presentation from each group about regional water resources (1) | Share and discuss the survey results of water resources conservation and utilization for selected regions. |
| Class 6 | Theory and actual situation of hydrological processes relevant for water resources management (1) | Understand the theory and actual situation of natural hydrological processes relevant for water resources management. |
| Class 7 | Theory and actual situation of hydrological processes relevant for water resources management (2) | Understand the theory and actual situation of natural hydrological processes relevant for water resources management. |
| Class 8 | Quantification of water resources using various data and analytical methods (1) | Understand the data and analytical methods to quantify water resources. |
| Class 9 | Quantification of water resources using various data and analytical methods (2) | Understand the data and analytical methods to quantify water resources. |
| Class 10 | Presentation from each group about regional water resources (2) | Share and discuss the results about the water resources quantified for assigned regions. |
| Class 11 | Water resources planning and infrastructure design | Understand fundamental ideas how to develop and utilize water resources. |
| Class 12 | Aquatic environment and ecosystem in water resources management | Understand the significance of water quality and influence on humans, the environment and ecosystems. |
| Class 13 | Issues and future perspectives about the conservation and utilization of water resources | Understand possible future issues and perspectives for water resources conservation and utilization. Furthermore, discuss about the sustainable water resources development and utilization for each assigned region |
| Class 14 | Presentation from each group about regional water resources (3) | Share and discuss the results about sustainable future water resources development and utilization for assigned regions. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
No textbook is required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Supplemental materials are specified by the instructor. Lecture notes are distributed if necessary.
References
Thomas V. Cech: Principles of Water Resources: History, Development, Management, and Policy, Wiley
Larry W. Mays: Water Resources Engineering, Wiley
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluate the level of understanding of lecture contents by report subjects (20%), participation (20%), and group work presentation/results (20%×3=60%).
Related courses
- TSE.A314 ： Introduction to Water and Mass Transport in theEnvironment
- CVE.B311 ： River Engineering
- CVE.B401 ： Water Resource Systems
Prerequisites
It is better that students have finished the related courses.