Learning outcomes of the curricular unit (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students)
Provide basic training in applied hydraulic for supporting planning, design and management of irrigation systems. Promote knowledge of soil water movements in order to make a proper irrigation management. Convey the importance of drainage and irrigation technological applications to monitor and promote the efficient use of water in crop production and in environmental terms. Integrate a technical approach with the sociological, economic and environmental aspects.
Syllabus
Principles of applied Hydraulics: 1. Introduction. 2. Hydrostatics. 3. Hydrokinetics. 4. Hydrodynamics. 5. Pressure Flows. 6. Free Surface Flows. 7. Holes and spillways: general concepts. 8. Hydraulic machines.
Water Management in Agriculture: 9. Water law and water resources management policy. 10. Hydrological balance (watersheds and plots). 11. Water needs and consumption of agricultural crops; Irrigation systems; Management of irrigation systems: Basic concepts to support the dimensioning of hydraulic irrigation systems.
Drainage: 12. Drainage requirements. Excess water control methods. Surface and underground drainage. Irrigation-drainage relationships: Concepts.
Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's learning objectives
Syllabus contents are: Hydraulic principles applied to irrigation; Water management in agriculture; Drainage.
The module "Principles of hydraulics applied to irrigation" is the one with the greatest development.
The knowledge of hydraulics applied to irrigation intends to provide students with the knowledge of the physical models of water flow in steady under pressure and free surface that allows them to solve simple problems of hydraulics and learn to dialogue with experts in more complex problems. Students acquires skills to select, design and operate hydraulic agriculture systems
The basic concepts and the tools available for proper management of water irrigation are related. Methods and equipment available for water determining and monitoring are given. The devices together with water balance models are indispensable tools in the planning and management of irrigation.
The knowledge of drainage techniques and materials to ensure the best production conditions and prevent soil and water degradation are fundamental.
The environmental component is highlighted through the various topics.
Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)
Teaching Methodologies:
Theoretical-practical sessions and tutorials: Theoretical sessions will be complemented with practical sessions where exercises will be solved, and analysis of case studies will be performed. Development of laboratory work and software use will be made to support the hydraulic design of structures.
Independent Work: Supply by the internet of study material for the course, according to the themes of the classroom sessions.
Evaluation:
Admission to examinations: Students are admitted to the final exam.
Continuous evaluation: Practice Worksheets/Class Questions (F); one written test (PE).
Exam Exemption: (DE): DE= 0.60 PE (minimum of 9 values) + 0.40 F (minimum of 9 values) equal to or greater than ten values.
Final exam: One Written test (PE).
Final exam grade (E):
E = PE equal to or greater than ten values; or
E = 0.60 PE (minimum of 9 values) + 0.40 F (minimum of 9 values) equal to or greater than ten values.
Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes
In expositive theoretical sessions will be presented concepts and methodologies essential to the understanding of the program contents. Complemented with practical classes were exercises and analysis of case studies will be produced. Models use for calculating crops water requirements, allows students to know new working tools. Also the team working will prepare them for the actual demanding job market.
With the proposed methodology is intended to develop skills also in the research for information. Access to information available on the Internet allows students to know the latest wide range of equipment available on the market.
