Environmental and Territorial Hydraulic Engineering - Second-level Master’s Degree in Territorial and Environmental Planning

Number of University European Credit Transfer System: 6

Educational Objectives:
The course in Environmental and Territorial Hydraulic Engineering is designed for students of the Second-level Master's Degree in Territorial and Environmental Planning. The course aims to provide fundamental principles of hydrodynamics for addressing issues in maritime and environmental hydraulics, including wave motion mechanics and wave transformation. These elements are essential for analyzing coastal erosion and risks in maritime areas near river mouths or estuaries, which are notably sensitive and environmentally significant. Additionally, the course will cover elements for environmental-maritime monitoring operations, the analysis of sensitive processes such as dredging and effluent discharge into the sea to ensure proper protection of sensitive maritime areas, identifying their various types, merits, and flaws. The course will also cover concepts related to jet motion for the design of submarine conduits and diffusers for effluent disposal at sea. Various case studies will be presented during the course, along with visits to specialized laboratories in the field.

Course Overview:
WAVE MOTION
Regular waves. Hydrodynamics review. Theory of small wave height waves. Reflection. Refraction. Diffraction. Breaking. Random waves. Stochastic process in the generation area. Characteristic waves.

PREDICTION OF WAVE MOTION AND MARINE CURRENTS
Wave climate in a marine basin. Prediction methods in infinite depth. Significant wave method (S.M.B. method). Extreme event statistics. Applications to breakwater design.

PORT AREAS
Overview of classic breakwater types and design. Analysis of wave diffraction in port areas.

DREDGING
Analysis of port dredging operations.

POLLUTANT DISPERSION IN THE SEA
Submarine conduits. Fundamental index numbers for correct design. Initial, bacterial, and subsequent dispersion processes.

OIL SPILLS IN THE SEA
Introduction to numerical modeling for oil spills at sea using satellite data.

MONITORING
Monitoring operations in the sea, port areas, and rivers.

CASE STUDIES
Various case studies related to numerical and physical models concerning course topics.

PHYSICAL MODELS IN MARITIME HYDRAULICS AND VISIT TO COASTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
Overview of physical models of coastal areas and visit to the Coastal Engineering Laboratory.

Recommended books:
Lecture notes.
CERC, Shore Protection Manual.
L. Franco, Manual of Maritime Hydraulics, Ormea.
Wood, I.R., Bell, R.G., and Wilkinson, D.L. 1993. Ocean disposal of wastewater, World Scientific, Advanced Series on Ocean Engineering, Vol. 8.
M. Mossa, A.F. Petrillo, Hydraulics, ISBN 978-88-08-18072-8, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milan, 2013.

Recommended Reading:
W. Bascom, Waves and Beaches, Zanichelli.