Competencies and objectives

 

Course context for academic year 2025-26

The subject River Engineering is offered in the second semester of the third year of the Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. It is an elective course not linked to any of the specialization blocks outlined in the Ministerial Order CIN/307/2009.

Its purpose is to train and equip students with the necessary skills for planning, designing, and constructing river training works and environmental restoration projects in fluvial environments. The course is delivered through theoretical lectures, practical classes, and field visits.

The course delves into the study of sediment transport processes and fluvial morphology, with special emphasis on the development of river ecosystem restoration projects.

A solid background in Hydraulics—particularly in open channel flow—Hydrology, Construction Materials, and Soil Mechanics is essential for a proper understanding of the subject.

RELATION WITH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs):

DIGITALIZATION:

  • Programming of various practical exercises using spreadsheets.
  • Use of GIS tools applied to River Engineering.
  • Use of professional software for the design of gabion walls (PirkaSoft).
  • Development of digital tools for sizing riverbank protection using riprap.

 

 

Course competencies (verified by ANECA in official undergraduate and Master’s degrees) for academic year 2025-26

UA Basic Transversal Competences

  • CT10 : Capacity to confront, plan and solve real problems demanded by society in the field of engineering.
  • CT11 : Capacity to learn and apply new concepts and methods in an autonomous and interdisciplinary fashion.
  • CT12 : Capacity to assimilate and adapt to the permanent evolution of technology when developing one's professional career.
  • CT13 : Capacity to adopt the scientific method when planning and carrying out different academic and professional tasks.
  • CT14 : Capacitat d'autocrítica necessària per a l'anàlisi i millora de la qualitat d'un projecte.
  • CT7 : Capacity for oral and written exposition.
  • CT8 : Capacity to plan tasks and commit oneself to satisfying goals and deadlines.
  • CT9 : Capacity for group work.

 

Specific Competences (Civil Branch)

  • CE7 : Knowledge and understanding of fluid mechanics and the basic flow equations for application to conduit systems, both pressurised and free-flow.
  • CE8 : Knowledge, understanding and application of the concepts of surface and underground hydrology. Capacity to assess and regulate water resources.

 

Specific Competences (Specific Technology):>>Hydrology

  • CEH1 : Knowledge and ability to plan and size hydraulic works and installations, for industrial water production, energy systems, hydroelectric plants and management of surface and underground water resources.
  • CEH2 : Knowledge and understanding of the working of ecosystems and environmental factors.

 

 

 

Learning outcomes (Training objectives)

No data

 

 

Specific objectives stated by the academic staff for academic year 2025-26

O-1, O-2, O-3, O-4, O-5, O-7, O-10
o Identify the different types of rivers and/or river reaches, along with their geomorphological and hydraulic conditions.
o State the fundamental laws governing sediment transport in river systems.
o Predict the impacts on the fluvial system resulting from potential interventions in its surroundings.
o Design intervention strategies in river environments to modify specific aspects of fluvial dynamics.
o Design intervention and environmental restoration strategies in river environments to improve their environmental quality.

 

 

General

Code: 33554
Lecturer responsible:
Valdés Abellán, Javier
Credits ECTS: 6,00
Theoretical credits: 1,20
Practical credits: 1,20
Distance-base hours: 3,60

Departments involved

  • Dept: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
    Area: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
    Theoretical credits: 0
    Practical credits: 0
  • Dept: CIVIL ENGINEERING
    Area: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
    Theoretical credits: 1,2
    Practical credits: 1,2
    This Dept. is responsible for the course.
    This Dept. is responsible for the final mark record.

Study programmes where this course is taught