Universidad De La Frontera | Dr. Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini

IIO222 - Programación Aplicada (undergraduate)

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Description of the Applied Programming undergraduate course at the Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco)

Applied Programming course at the Civil Engineering Department (UFRO)

Identification of the course

Professional degree: Civil Engineering
ID and name: IIO3222, Programación Aplicada (Applied Programming)
Type of training: specialised, theoretical and practical
Weekly dedication: 4 hrs intra-classroom, 2 hrs extra-classroom
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Sciences
Department: Civil Engineering
SCT Credits: 4
Required courses: ICC157 Basic programming, COD592 Basic English
Duration: 1 semester (16 weeks)
Language: Spanish

Description

This compulsory course introduces Civil Engineering students to the potential of scientific programming as a fundamental tool for solving complex problems inherent to the discipline. Throughout the course, students will explore how programming concepts and techniques, along with the use of open-source languages widely used in data science and civil engineering, can be applied to model, simulate, and analyse problems in the field of civil engineering. The focus will be on developing practical skills to transform engineering challenges into efficient algorithms, enabling the automation of data downloads, calculations, and the interactive visualization of data and results. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the necessary skills to integrate scientific programming into their daily workflow, preparing them to face the technological challenges of the 21st century.

Professional skills

Design solutions to problems related to the use of water resources in engineering projects, applying solid knowledge of basic sciences and engineering, in compliance with current regulations and project specifications, and using appropriate technological tools, while demonstrating the ability to work in teams, engage in independent learning, and act with social responsibility.

Generic skills

Teamwork

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course or module, students should be able to:

RA1: Critically analyse a relevant problem in the field of Civil Engineering, in one of the following areas: Structures and Geotechnics, Water Resources and Hydraulics, or Transportation and Road Infrastructure.
RA2: Analyze data obtained through acquisition techniques, visualising them graphically using appropriate tools, in one of the following areas of Civil Engineering: Structures and Geotechnics, Water Resources and Hydraulics, or Transportation and Road Infrastructure.
RA3: Develop a web application that allows data entry and download, analysis, and the visualization of the corresponding results, using scientific programming in the field of Civil Engineering, in the areas of: Structures and Geotechnics, Water Resources and Hydraulics, or Transportation and Road Infrastructure.
RA4: Improve teamwork skills through the development of tasks and/or a final project that must be carried out collaboratively within a team.

Introduction to scientific programming: Description of the programming language (R/Python). Data types. Assignment, symbols, operators.
Exploratory data analysis in Civil Engineering: Basic statistical summary. Static data visualization. Data cleaning. Outlier detection. Data storage.
Functions and control structures: User-defined functions. Data flow control structures. Iterative structures.
Time series: Reading time series. Manipulating time series. Visualizing time series.
Spatial data: Reading spatial data. Manipulating spatial data. Visualizing spatial data.
Advanced programming techniques: Web crawling. Web scraping. Automatic report generation.
Interactive visualization: Introduction to interactive data visualization. Interactive application development.

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Bloomfield, Víctor A. (2014). . ISBN 9781439884485. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Gerrard, P.; Johnson, R.; Johnson, R. (2015). . ISBN: 9781783555253.

Supplementary bibliography

Trejo, O. (2017). . Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 9781788291361.
Shahare, G. Manchalwar, J., Wankhede, K., Meshram, S., Kalbande, K., & Wyawahare, N. (2024). In 2024 2nd International Conference on Advancements and Key Challenges in Green Energy and Computing (AKGEC).
Ren, K. (2016). . Packt Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 9781785889776.
Lovelace, Robin, Jakub Nowosad, and Jannes Muenchow. (2025). . Second edition. CRC Press. ISBN: 9781032248882.

IIO409 - Hydrological Modelling (undergraduate)

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Description of the Hydrological Modelling undergraduate course at the Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco)

Hydrological Modelling course at the Civil Engineering Department (UFRO)

Identification of the course

Professional degree: Civil Engineering
ID and name: IIO409, Modelación Hidrológica (Hydrological Modelling)
Type of training: specialised, theoretical and practical
Weekly dedication: 4 hrs intra-classroom, 4 hrs extra-classroom
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Sciences
Department: Civil Engineering
SCT Credits: 5
Required courses: None ()
Duration: 1 semester (16 weeks)
Language: Spanish

Description

This elective course deepens the training of students interested in the Water Resources and Hydraulics area through instruction in the application of techniques for the mathematical simulation of the transformation of precipitation into surface runoff within a catchment. The first part of the course reviews the different types of hydrological models, their structure, and the formulation of conceptual models to represent the hydrological processes of a given catchment. Subsequently, the principal sources of in situ and satellite data are described. The course then introduces the main techniques for sensitivity analysis, calibration and validation, and uncertainty analysis of model parameters and associated outputs. Finally, the course examines the range of climate change scenarios available for Chile and analyzes their potential impacts on water resource availability at the catchment scale.

Professional skills

Generic skills

None.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course or module, students should be able to:

RA1: Develop a conceptual model that represents the hydrological processes of a catchment.
RA2: Select one or more hydrological models to analyse water resource availability within a near-natual catchment.
RA3: Quantify the uncertainty associated with model parameters and the resulting model outputs.

Hydrological models. Context of hydrological modeling. Types of hydrological models. Structure of a model. Formulation of the conceptual model. Selection and implementation of the computational model.
Hydrometeorological data. Existing in-situ data sources in Chile. Existing satellite data worldwide, with their respective spatial and temporal resolutions. Selection and implementation of hydrometeorological data for a hydrological basin.
Sensitivity analysis. Concept. General description of local (Morris) and global (Sobol) techniques. Computational application of the Sobol technique for identifying the sensitive parameters of a model.
Calibration/Optimisation. Concept. General description of local (Levenberg-Marquardt) and global (Shuffled Complex Evolution, Differential Evolution, Particle Swarm Optimization) techniques. Pareto front and the concept of multi-objective calibration. Computational application of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to estimate the numerical values of a model.
Uncertainty Analysis. Concept. General description of the Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) technique. Computational application of GLUE in a model.
Regionalisation. Hydrological signatures. Regionalization techniques.
Impacts of Climate Change. Climate change scenarios available for Chile. General description of downscaling techniques.

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Beven, Keith J. (2012). . 2nd edition. ISBN: ISBN:9780470714591. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Musy, A.; Hingray, B.; Picouet, C. (Eds.). (2015). Hydrology: a science for engineers. CRC press. ISBN: ISBN 9781466590595.
Shaw, Elizabeth M. ; Beven, Keith J.; Chappell, Nick A.; Lamb, Rob (2011). . ISBN: 9781315274904 (Biblioteca UFRO).

Supplementary bibliography

Several scientific articles.

IIO352/IIO422 - Hidrología (undergraduate)

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Description of the Hydrology undergraduate course at the Universidad de La Frontera (Temuco)

Hydrology course at the Civil Engineering Department (UFRO)

Identification of the course

Professional degree: Civil Engineering
ID and name: IIO352/IIO422, Hidrología (Hydrology)
Type of training: specialised, theoretical and practical
Weekly dedication: 4 hrs intra-classroom, 4 hrs extra-classroom
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering and Sciences
Department: Civil Engineering
SCT Credits: 5
Required courses: IIO316 Hydraulics, COD558 Basic English
Duration: 1 semester (16 weeks)
Language: Spanish

Description

This compulsory course studies the occurrence, distribution, and circulation of water on Earth, with particular emphasis on understanding and numerically evaluating the various components of the hydrological cycle, using a catchment as the spatial unit of analysis. It also provides knowledge on the management and exploratory analysis of hydro-meteorological data and an introduction to the use of hydrological models for both water resource management and obtaining current and future values of key hydrological variables.

Professional skills

Generic skills

Teamwork
Social responsibility

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course or module, students should be able to:

RA1: Describe the relevant phenomena of the hydrological cycle, incorporating concepts from meteorology.
RA2: Characterise basic concepts of precipitation, evaporation, and evapotranspiration for water resource assessment.
RA3: Apply numerical methods of hydrological analysis for water resource assessment.
RA4: Analyse probabilistically the hydrological variables necessary for planning hydrological and hydraulic projects.
RA5: Integrate the dimension of social responsibility associated with engineering challenges into problem-solving.
RA6: Self-evaluate their own performance as a member of a work team.

Introduction and basic concepts: Definition and scope of hydrology. The hydrological cycle and the general equation for hydrological balance. Concept of a catchment and integrated water resource management. Spatial and temporal variability of hydrological processes.
Water in the atmosphere: Basic climatology and atmospheric circulation. Solar radiation. Air temperature, humidity, and water vapor. Precipitation. Interception. Evaporation. Evapotranspiration. Methods for interpolating hydrological variables.
Water in the soil: Flow in porous media. Infiltration. Green-Ampt method. Soil uses and types.
Surface runoff: Hydrological information. Streamflow measurement. Hydrographs. Flow duration curves (FDC). Effective precipitation and direct runoff. Transit time. Precipitation-runoff relationships. Unit hydrograph. Flood routing.
Probabilistic and statistical methods in hydrology: Exploratory data analysis and descriptive statistics. Probabilistic treatment of hydrological information. Frequency and probability functions. Return period. Statistical parameters. Fitting probability distributions. Probability distributions of hydrological variables. Characterization and analysis of droughts and floods. Risk analysis. Design storms.
Introduction to hydrological models: Types of models. Concepts of sensitivity analysis, calibration/optimisation, and uncertainty analysis.

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Hakim, Gregory J. and Patoux, Jérôme (2022). . Second edition. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 9781108832717. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Naghettini, Mauro (2017). . Springer International Publishing. ISBN:978-3-319-43560-2. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Jain, Sharad K. and Singh, Vijay P. (2019). . McGraw Hill. ISBN:978-1259641985. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Bloomfield, Víctor A. (2014). . ISBN 9781439884485. (Biblioteca UFRO).
Shaw, Elizabeth M. ; Beven, Keith J.; Chappell, Nick A.; Lamb, Rob (2011). . ISBN: 9781315274904 (Biblioteca UFRO).

Supplementary bibliography

Robinson, M. and Ward, R. C. (2017). . IWA Publishing. ISBN: 9781780407296.
Musy, A. and Higy, C. (2011) (pp. 263-274). CRC Press. ISBN: 9781578087099.
Stowhas, L. (2017). . Editorial USM.
Espíldora, B. 2020. . ISBN: 978-956-306-154-3.
Fernández, B. and Gironás, J. (2021). . Springer. ISBN: 978-3-030-56900-6.
Little C., Zambrano-Bigiarini M., Benítez S. and Rivera A. (2016), . Editado por Centro de Análisis de Políticas Públicas, Instituto de Asuntos Públicos.
Vijay P. Singh (2017). (Second Edition). McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN: 0071835105.
Te Chow, V.; Maidment, D. R.; Mays, L. W. (1994). . McGraw Hill. ISBN: 9789586001717.
Helsel, D. R.; Hirsch, R. M. ; Ryberg, K. R.; Archfield, S. A.; Gilroy, E. J. (2020). Statistical methods in water resources: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 4, chapter A3, 458 p., .
DGA (2016). Atlas del Agua: Chile 2016.
Balram Panigrahi, B. P. and Kajal Panigrahi, K. P. (2020). Engineering hydrology.
Reddy, P. J. (2021). Stochastic Hydrology (HB). Laxmi Publications, Ltd.

Courses I have previously taught, but not anymore

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Description of undergraduate and graduate courses I have previously taught, but not anymore.

Courses I have previously taught, but not anymore

Undergraduate course as main professor

2017-2020: IIO-101: Introduction to Civil Engineering [in Spanish]. Civil Engineering Degree, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
2015-2016: IIM-361: Fluid mechanics [in Spanish]. Civil Engineering Degree, Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
2014: 999035: Hydrology [in Spanish]. Environmental Engineering Degree, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
2014: 999102: Introduction to the R statistical environment for analysing hydro-meteorological data [in Spanish]. Environmental Engineering Degree, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
2014: 4204082: Introduction to the R statistical environment R for analysing ecological and environmental data [in Spanish]. Environmental Engineering Degree, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.

Undergraduate courses as collaborator

2014: 999043: Water resources management [in Spanish]. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
2014: 999075: Environmental modelling [in Spanish]. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
2014: 999064: Advanced hydrology [in Spanish]. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and EULA-Chile Centre, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile.

One-day seminars as main professor

30 Aug 2010. On the Effects of Hydrological Uncertainty in Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources. Seminar for doctoral students of Civil Agricultural Engineering, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
1. Training on Hydrological Modelling for D.G.A. Trainer of Hydrological Modelling (surface water) to the Regional Water Directorates in Chile, Regional D.G.A.s, Chile.

Universidad De La Frontera | Dr. Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini

IIO222 - Programación Aplicada (undergraduate)

Identification of the course

Description

Professional skills

Generic skills

Learning outcomes

Contents

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Supplementary bibliography

IIO409 - Hydrological Modelling (undergraduate)

Identification of the course

Description

Professional skills

Generic skills

Learning outcomes

Contents

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Supplementary bibliography

IIO352/IIO422 - Hidrología (undergraduate)

Identification of the course

Description

Professional skills

Generic skills

Learning outcomes

Contents

Bibliography

Basic bibliography

Supplementary bibliography

Courses I have previously taught, but not anymore

Undergraduate course as main professor

Undergraduate courses as collaborator

One-day seminars as main professor