School of Engineering and Technology, (SET)
The course aims to train students in planning, designing and conducting a field research and how to write research proposals and reports especially for water resource development projects. The course is also envisioned to enhance the students writing, communication and presentation skills. In addition, the course will provide the students hands-on experience on laboratory and in-situ measurements of hydraulic and soil hydrologic properties and processes as well as on sampling soil and water in the field and its analysis in the laboratory.
The course will consist of 2 parts: 1)Research Design and 2) Laboratory and Field Methods. The Research Design part will comprise of 15 hours of lecture covering the topics of Overview of research approaches; Concepts of scientific research; Guidelines for writing research proposals and reports; Quantitative/qualitative data gathering techniques and analysis; Critical review and synthesis of published articles; Presentation of findings and discussions of results; and Strengthening writing, communication and presentation skills. The second part will consist of laboratory and field measurements of soil hydrologic and hydraulic properties and processes such as Soil moisture retention; Soil hydraulic conductivity; Infiltration; Weir calibration; Open channel flow; Bottom resistance in surface flow and Field trip cum sampling of water quality parameters (both surface and ground water) and flow measurements.
None.

I. Research Design

  1. Overview of research approaches and techniques
  2. Concepts of scientific research
  3. Guidelines for writing research proposals and reports
  4. Quantitative/qualitative data gathering techniques and analysis
  5. Critical review and synthesis of published articles
  6. Presentation of findings and discussions of results
  7. Research project planning, coordination and management
  8. Strengthening writing, communication and presentation skills

II. Laboratory and Field Methods

  1. Determination of Water Retention Characteristics Curve using Pressure Chamber Method
  2. Hydraulic Conductivity Tests (Laboratory Method)
  3. Use of Tension Infiltrometer to Measure Hydraulic Properties of Soil in the Field
  4. To be finalized (IREM part)
  5. Calibration of Weir (Steady and Unsteady Cases)
  6. Transitions in Open Channel Flow
  7. Bottom Resistance in Free Surface Flow
  8. To be finalized (Hydraulics Lab part)
  9. Field Practices: Flow Measurement; Sediment Sampling; Water Quality Sampling and Analysis for Surface and Ground Water
Lecture notes and compendium of relevant handouts and related materials and manuals
ACS (1996): Principles of Environmental Sampling , 2 nd edition, Lawrence, H. Keith (ed.), American Chemical Society (ACS), Washington, D. C.
AIT (2000): Hydraulic Laboratory Manual, AIT, Bangkok .
APHA (1998): Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater , 20 th edition, American Public Health Association (APHA), Washington , D.C.
ASA (1986): Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1, Physical and Mineralogical Methods , 2 nd edition, Monograph No. 9 American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Madison .
Carter, M. Ed Soil Sampling Methods 1993. Canadian Society of Soil Science Equipment Operation Manual, 09.09 Tension Infiltrometer
Creswell J.W (2002) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, 2nd Edition, Sage Publication, 2002.
Day, R. 1994 How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper 4 th Ed. Oryx Press USA
French, R.H. 1986 Open Channel Flow McGraw-Hill Book Company
Fowler F. Jr. (2002) Survey Research Methods (Applied Social Research Methods Series, 3rd Edition Sage Publications.
Hailman J.P. and H. B. Strier (1997): Planning, Proposing, and Presenting Science Effectively: A Guide for Graduate Students and Researchers in the Behavioural Sciences and Biology, Oxford University Press.
Holeman, J.P.(1994) Experiments Methods for Engineers, McGraw- Hill Inc., New York.P..
Instruction Manuals: Unsaturated Permeameter DIK-4150; Falling Head Permeameter
DIK 4050 Volk, M. 2005
. Pump Characteristics and Applications 2 nd Ed. CRC Press
Systems Research and Behavior Science Social Research
The final grade will be based on the following weight distribution:
Assignments from the Research Design part and Exercises from the Field and Laboratory Methods part will comprise 70% and the Final Exams covering both parts will comprise 30% of the overall grade.
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