575.728.81 - Sediment Transport and River Mechanics

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Modules will open at their assigned time and remain open during the course.

Course Topics

• upland soil erosion
• channel hydraulics
• sediment properties 
• sediment entrainment
• suspended sediment and bedload
• sediment supply
• channel equilibrium and channel forming flows
• floodplains
• streambank erosion
• channel classifications
• sediment budgets
• sediment fingerprinting

Course Goals

To identify and describe the processes that transport sediment and form river channels.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• 1. Estimating and modeling soil erosion including its importance in the sediment cycle.
• 2. Differentiate the various modes of sediment transport and hydraulic processes involved with sediment.
• 3. How to compute suspended loads and bedload.
• 4. Use empirical formulas and models to estimate sediment transport.
• 5. Describe the important geomorphic elements that govern sediment supply, bankfull flows, channel equilibrium and hysteresis
• 6. Identify channel morphologic components (planform and cross sectional), sinuosity, floodplains, channel classification, stream order.
• 7. Quantify channel erosion and deposition.
• 8. Construct sediment budgets and ‘fingerprint’ the sources of sediment.

Textbooks

There is no textbook.

Student Coursework Requirements

Grading is based on assignments, quizzes, and discussion.  The breakdown of each is as follows:

Each module will have one or more assignments.  There are 12 modules to the class.  Each module runs one week with the exception of module 4 and 10 which each run 2 weeks.  For grading, if there are more than one assignment in a module, each assignment has a given weight assigned to it that is used to derive the assignment grade for that module.  The final grade for all assignments is calculated by averaging all 12 module assignments (where module 4 and 10 are counted twice because they run 2 weeks).

A given module opens up on Sunday at midnight.  The assignments for that module are due the next Sunday at midnight.  For modules 4 and 10, the assignments are due 2 weeks after the module opened up.  I will take off 5 points for each day an assignment is late – no exceptions.

 Each module has a discussion topA discussion topic will open up Sunday at midnight and close the following Sunday at Midnight.  You have to enter your discussion before or receive a zero grade.

Quizzes for that module open up Sunday at midnight and close one week later at midnight.   You will only have one chance to take the quiz.   The quizzes are based on the lectures and readings.

Grading Policy

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.