Hydraulics and Hydrology

Course Description

ETC2521C — Hydraulics and Hydrology — is a 3-credit, combined lecture and laboratory course in the Civil Engineering Technology program. The course introduces students to the principles of hydraulics and hydrology as applied to civil engineering practice in Florida. Topics include the hydrologic cycle, precipitation and runoff analysis, open channel and pipe flow, hydraulic structures, stormwater drainage design, and applicable Florida regulatory requirements. Students apply quantitative methods and software tools to solve real-world water resources problems encountered in land development, transportation, and municipal infrastructure projects.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe and apply the components of the hydrologic cycle, including precipitation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and runoff.
• Calculate stormwater runoff volumes and peak discharge rates using the Rational Method and NRCS (SCS) Curve Number method.
• Apply the continuity equation, energy equation (Bernoulli), and Manning's equation to hydraulic problems in open channels and closed conduits.
• Analyze and design open channel flow systems, including uniform flow, gradually varied flow, and hydraulic jump conditions.
• Analyze pipe flow systems, including pressure conduits, pipe networks, and head loss calculations.
• Design basic hydraulic structures such as culverts, weirs, orifices, and inlet/outlet control structures.
• Apply stormwater drainage design principles to roadway and site development projects consistent with FDOT and local permitting standards.
• Interpret and apply Florida environmental regulations and permitting requirements related to stormwater management and water quality.

Optional Outcomes

The following outcomes may be covered depending on course emphasis and instructor discretion:

• Apply principles of groundwater hydrology, including Darcy's Law, well hydraulics, and aquifer analysis.
• Perform flood frequency analysis and return period calculations for design storm events.
• Design detention and retention pond systems for stormwater attenuation and water quality treatment.
• Use computer software (e.g., HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, or StormCAD) to model hydrologic and hydraulic systems.
• Evaluate erosion and sedimentation control measures for construction site compliance.
• Analyze coastal and estuarine hydraulics relevant to Florida's tidal and nearshore environments.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Introduction to Hydrology and the Hydrologic Cycle
   • Components: precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, surface runoff, groundwater recharge
   • Water balance concepts and watershed delineation
   • Florida hydrology context: rainfall patterns, flat terrain, high water tables
2. Precipitation and Runoff Analysis
   • Rainfall measurement and intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves
   • Rational Method for peak discharge (Q = CiA)
   • NRCS/SCS Curve Number method for runoff estimation
   • Time of concentration and hydrograph development
3. Fluid Properties and Hydrostatics
   • Fluid properties: density, specific weight, viscosity, surface tension
   • Hydrostatic pressure, forces on submerged surfaces, and buoyancy
4. Fundamental Flow Equations
   • Continuity equation and conservation of mass
   • Bernoulli/energy equation and its applications
   • Momentum principles and flow measurement devices (orifices, weirs, Venturi meters)
5. Pipe Flow and Closed Conduit Hydraulics
   • Laminar and turbulent flow; Reynolds number
   • Friction losses: Darcy-Weisbach equation and Hazen-Williams formula
   • Minor losses in fittings, bends, and transitions
   • Simple and series/parallel pipe systems
6. Open Channel Hydraulics
   • Manning's equation and uniform flow in channels
   • Best hydraulic section design
   • Specific energy, critical flow, and Froude number
   • Gradually varied flow profiles and hydraulic jump
7. Hydraulic Structures
   • Culvert design: inlet and outlet control analysis
   • Weirs (sharp-crested, broad-crested) and orifice structures
   • Spillways and drop structures
   • Pump systems: pump curves, system curves, and operating point
8. Stormwater Drainage Design
   • Roadway drainage: gutters, inlets, storm sewers, and swales
   • FDOT Drainage Manual standards and design criteria
   • Stormwater management permitting in Florida (SFWMD, SJRWMD, SWFWMD)
   • Erosion and sediment control basics

Optional Topics

• Detention and Retention Pond Design: sizing, routing, outlet structure design, and water quality treatment volume calculations
• Groundwater Hydrology: Darcy's Law, aquifer types, well hydraulics, and Florida's Floridan Aquifer System
• Flood Frequency Analysis: statistical methods, log-Pearson Type III distribution, return periods
• Hydrologic and Hydraulic Software: HEC-HMS for watershed modeling, HEC-RAS for channel analysis, StormCAD or similar for pipe network design
• Best Management Practices (BMPs): Low-impact development (LID) techniques, bioswales, pervious pavement, constructed wetlands
• Coastal Hydraulics: tidal hydraulics, wave fundamentals, and Florida coastal drainage considerations

Resources & Tools

• Textbooks: Applied Hydrology (Chow, Maidment & Mays); Hydraulics in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Chadwick, Morfett & Borthwick); or equivalent open-access engineering hydrology texts
• Software: HEC-HMS (USACE Hydrologic Modeling System), HEC-RAS (River Analysis System), AutoCAD Civil 3D stormwater tools, Microsoft Excel for hydrologic calculations
• Reference Standards: FDOT Drainage Manual (current edition); NRCS National Engineering Handbook Part 630 (Hydrology); ASCE/EWRI standards for stormwater design
• Florida Water Management District Resources: Stormwater design criteria from SFWMD, SJRWMD, SWFWMD, NWFWMD, and SRWMD Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Applicant's Handbooks
• Laboratory Equipment: Hydraulic bench, open channel flow apparatus, pipe flow demonstration units, flow measurement devices (weir boards, Venturi meters, orifice plates)
• Online Resources: USGS StreamStats for watershed data; NOAA Atlas 14 for precipitation frequency data; FEMA FIRM flood maps

Career Pathways

Graduates with competency in hydraulics and hydrology are prepared to pursue technician and design support roles in a variety of civil and environmental engineering sectors:

• Civil Engineering Technician — assisting licensed engineers with drainage design, hydraulic calculations, and plan preparation for public infrastructure and land development projects
• Stormwater/Water Resources Technician — supporting stormwater modeling, permitting, and field inspection for consulting firms, municipalities, and water management districts
• FDOT Transportation Technician — applying FDOT drainage design standards to roadway and bridge projects
• Environmental Permitting Technician — preparing Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) applications and supporting regulatory compliance for Florida Water Management Districts
• Survey and Land Development Technician — integrating hydrologic analysis into site grading, utility, and subdivision design
• Construction Inspector — overseeing erosion control, drainage installation, and stormwater compliance on construction sites

This course also provides a foundation for advancement toward the Florida Professional Engineer (PE) licensure pathway, ABET-accredited bachelor's degree programs in civil engineering or civil engineering technology, and relevant industry certifications.

Special Information

This course carries a laboratory component (denoted by the "C" suffix in the SCNS course number ETC2521C), requiring hands-on experimentation with hydraulic equipment to reinforce lecture concepts. Students should expect to conduct and report on experiments involving hydrostatic forces, pipe friction, orifice and weir flow, open channel flow, and related topics.

• Florida Context: Given Florida's unique hydrologic environment — characterized by low topographic relief, high annual rainfall (averaging 50–60 inches), a shallow water table, and sensitive aquifer systems — special emphasis is placed on Florida-specific stormwater regulations, Water Management District permitting, and the FDOT Drainage Manual.
• EI/EIT Preparation: Topics in fluid mechanics, hydrology, and hydraulics align with the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Civil exam specifications, supporting students who plan to pursue engineering licensure.
• Regulatory Awareness: Students are introduced to Florida's Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) framework and the roles of the five regional Water Management Districts in stormwater and water quality regulation.