Program Overview

Program Overview

The University of Copenhagen offers a Master's program in Numerical Modelling in Fluvial, Coastal, Estuarine, and Marine Environments. This program is designed to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of hydrodynamic and geomorphic processes related to sediment transport in fluvial and coastal environments.

Program Details

• The program is part of the MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics, the MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics with a minor subject, and the MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience.
• The course consists of two main parts:
  • Time series analysis and modelling of fluvial, estuarine, and coastal processes using field data sets.
  • Calculation and numerical modeling of wave-driven flows, sediment transport, shoreline erosion, and cross-shore profile development in coastal environments, using the DHI-LITTORAL PROCESSES FM model complex.
• Simple wave transformation will be modeled using MATLAB algorithms.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge:
  • Waves and currents in coastal environments, wave theories, unidirectional currents and discharge in rivers, sediment dynamics, and sediment transport in coastal and fluvial environments.
  • Relationship between sediment transport gradients and morphological change.
• Skills:
  • Use numerical modeling to simulate hydrodynamics and sediment transport using the DHI modeling tool LITTORAL PROCESSES FM.
  • Delimit, prepare, and accomplish solutions of fluvial and deltaic problem complexes using MATLAB.
  • Account for the principles behind nearshore wave transformation and ability to calculate those transformations using MATLAB.
  • Account for nearshore processes derived from wave transformations.
  • Delimit, prepare, and accomplish solutions of coastal and marine problem complexes using LITTORAL PROCESSES FM.
  • Critical model evaluation.
  • Necessary basic skills to use other models within the DHI model complex such as MIKE21.
• Competences:
  • Analyze, assess, and apply results, methods, theory, and data in connection with numerical modeling in fluvial, coastal, estuarine, and marine environments.

Literature and Recommendations

• Please see the Absalon course page for literature details.
• A BSc in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent is recommended.

Teaching and Learning Methods

• The form of teaching is exercises combined with ad hoc lectures.
• For the teaching plan, please refer to the Absalon course page.

Workload

• Preparation: 171 hours
• Theory exercises: 35 hours
• Total: 206 hours

Assessment

• Type of assessment: Written assignment during the course and oral examination.
• The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week.
• The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure and includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.
• Duration of the examination: 20 minutes.
• A combined grade is given after the oral exam.

Exam Details

• Credit: 7.5 ECTS
• Level: Full Degree Master
• Duration: 1 block
• Placement: Block 3
• Schedule: A
• Course capacity: 25
• The course is also available as continuing and professional education.

Department and Faculty

• Contracting department: Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
• Contracting faculty: Faculty of Science

Course Coordinators and Lecturers

• Course Coordinators: Troels Aagaard
• Lecturers: Troels Aagaard, Jørn Bjarke Torp Pedersen

Language and Study Board

• Language: English
• Study board: Study Board of Geosciences and Management

Additional Information

• For questions about the course, please contact the local Student service.
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