Floods and droughts are one of the most destructive natural phenomena in Asia and around the world. They can cause serious damage to life, properties, public utilities and infrastructures. They hamper social and economic growth of developing countries. Knowledge on hydrology of floods and droughts; understanding on their causes, frequencies and magnitudes are required to achieve effective management and mitigation measures of floods and droughts.

Introduction to floods and droughts; hydrology of floods and droughts, forecasting and warning system; impacts and assessment; floods and mitigation; droughts and mitigation; and risk management

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I. Introduction and Overview

1. Hydrologic cycle and processes

2. Hydrologic measurements

3. Extreme events

4. Forecasting and warning

5. Impact and mitigation

6. Definitions: hazard, disaster, vulnerability, risk

II. Hydrology of Floods and Droughts

1. Estimation techniques (unit hydrograph, statistical analysis)

2. Flood characteristics and routing

3. Drought types and severity

4. Hydrologic and hydraulic models

III. Forecasting and Warning System

1. Overview of forecasting models

2. Equipments for forecasting

3. Flood and Drought Warning

4. Warning procedure and dissemination

IV. Impacts and Assessment

1. Impacts: physical, socio-economic and environmental

2. Assessment tools and techniques

3. Vulnerability and capacity assessment

4. Stakeholder participation

V. Floods and Mitigation

1. Mitigation Measures

2. Preparedness, Readiness, Emergency Response and Rehabilitation

3. Flood Damages

4. Institutional Arrangement

5. Collaboration and Coordination

VI. Droughts and Mitigation

1. Mitigation and Adaptation Measures

2. Drought Damages

3.Drought Management

4. Institutional Arrangement

5. Collaboration and Coordination

VII. Risk Management

1. Framework of risk management

2. Risk decision-making principles

3.Risk assessment methods

4. Prevention, preparedness and mitigation

5. Tools, strategies and organizational arrangements

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Lecture notes will be provided

1. ESCAP (1991): Manual and Guidelines for Comprehensive Flood Loss Prevention and Management, United Nations, No. ST/ESCAP/933, Bangkok, Thailand
2. New South Wales Government (1986): Flood Plain Development Manual, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
3. Tingsanchali, T.(1996): Floods and Human Interaction, Professorial Inaugural Lecture, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

1. Journal of Hydrology
2. Journal of Hydrological Processes
3. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
4. Journal of Hydraulic Research
5. Water Resources Research, U.S. Geological Survey.

Mid semester exam 30%
Final exam 60%, and
Assignment 10%.

Exams are normally open book