ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING

Course Objective:
The course aims to introduce the modeling concepts of environments processes and phenomena. Students are required to go through the basic concepts behind modeling and also understanding the implementation of understanding complex environmental processes.

Course content:

1. Introduction (2 hours)
1. Why to model the environment, why simplicity and complexity Nature of modeling.
2. Researching environmental system, purpose of modeling, Approaches in modeling.


2. Typology of models (5 hours)
1. Models based on functioning, Models of Spatial complexity, models of physical complexity, and models of mathematical complexity, models with temporal complexity.
2. Data mining for environmental systems- data mining techniques (pre-processing, data cleaning, outlier detection, missing value treatment, transformation, visualization.


3. How to build a model (5 hours)
1. Modeling elements, the modeling procedure, choosing the type of model, conceptual model- application of diagrams, types of conceptual models (picture, hypothesis, and assumptions).
2. Mathematical model, construct a computer model, good modeling practices


4. Model Evaluation (5 hours)
1. Issues of coupling technologies, data and information quality issues, modeling issues, uncertainty, complexity and uncertainty,
2. Uncertainty analysis, graphical analysis, quantitative analysis (accuracy of simulation) model verification, methods, calibration, calibration methods, validation and validation methods.
3. Sensitivity analysis, method used in sensitivity analysis, expressing sensitivity


5. Environment Model
1. Flood simulation and modeling-HECRAS (10 hours)
1. Runoff components of runoff, factors affecting runoff, basin yield, rainfall runoff relations, flow duration curve, flow mass curve. Hydrograph, unit hydrograph, s shaped hydrograph, instantaneous unit hydrograph, flow routing, reservoir routing, channel routing, HECRAS architecture, known issues, assumptions, mathematics behind physical processes
2. Architecture of Top model/HECHMS, process description, data requirements, data format, known issues, assumptions, mathematical model used, watershed delineation, basin components in model, mathematics behind physical processes such as interception, rainfall, Evapotranspiration, flow routing, topographic representation in model
2. Flood simulation and modeling-HECRAS (8 hours)
   Runoff, components of runoff, factors affecting runoff, basin yield, rainfall runoff relations, flow duration curve, flow mass curve, hydrograph, unit hydrograph, unit hydrograph, s shaped Hydrograph, instantaneous unit hydrograph, flow routing, reservoir routing, channel routing, HECRAS architecture, known issues, assumption, mathematical model used, mathematics behind physical processes
3. Ecological Models (10 hours)
   Biomass estimation-productivity, biomass, NPP, GPP, methods in productivity estimation, leaf area index index, ground based approaches, remote sensing based approaches, modeling the biomass through use of remote sensing and GIS

Tutorial and Practical:

1. Model development-hypothesis testing, drawing conceptual model, Listing all hypothesis, setting boundary condition, attaching a mathematical model, construct computer model, using spread sheet.
2. Hydrological modeling (rainfall run off modeling using TOPMODEL/HECHMS)
3. Hydrodynamic modeling (flood modeling using HECRAS)

References:

1. Smith, jo, shmith pete. environmental modeling, an introduction, Oxford University Press
2. Skidmore Andrew, Environmental Modeling with GIS and Remote Sensing, Tylor and Francis
3. Brimicombe Allan, GIS, Environmental Modeling and Engineering, Tylor and Francis
4. Manual on TOPMODEL and HECHMS, HECRAS

Evaluation scheme:
The questions should cover all the chapters in the syllabus. The evaluation scheme will be as indicated in the table below:

* There may be minor variation in marks distribution.