Development of a virtual hydrologic observatory for integration of field observations and model simulations into engineering hydrology courses

Abstract

This study reports on the development of a virtual-reality hydrologic observatory that integrates field observations collected in a real watershed, with the capabilities of a process-based hydrologic numerical model that simulates rainfall-runoff processes in the same watershed. The educational observatory aims to: (1) facilitate the introduction of field experience and observational skills into hydrology courses using innovative virtual techniques, and (2) develop students' knowledge and investigative skills on rainfall-runoff processes through the use of interactive and visually-supported hydrologic simulations, and (3) instill in the students the concept that data and models complement each other and that model predictions are not perfect and should be always checked against independent observations.. The observatory mimics students' experience during a real visit to the watershed where they can virtually download and analyze data from various hydrologic instruments. The conceptual design of the observatory is based on teaching the students with the model, instead of teaching them about the model. The simulation component of the observatory is built on a distributed process-based hydrologic model to allow for physical representation and simulation of important rainfall-runoff processes and provide spatially-detailed predictions at any location in the watershed. The observatory combines visual and quantitative information where students can visualize the watershed and its processes, but can also extract quantitative information and perform further analyses. The visualization techniques of the observatory are built using a set of Open Source tools so that it can be easily distributed to interested users through a web site. The observatory can be used to support various learning modules on field investigations, analysis of natural variability of hydrologic variables, visualization of runoff processes, and hypotheses testing. The observatory can be introduced in hydrologic engineering courses or other related earth-science courses. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2010.