Introducing Dynamics and Control to Civil Engineers through an Experimental Flume

Abstract

This paper presents the benefits of using an irrigation canal scale model as a main tool for introducing systems dynamics and control to postgraduate civil engineers. The canal is used as an educational resource for teaching the master course Real-Time Control of Irrigation Canals. The prime educational objective of this course is that graduate students interested in building a professional career in water management, are trained to acquire skills that are essential in the development of automation projects for real irrigation canals. As supported by students’ answers to an evaluation survey, using the experimental flume allows them to not only experience the involved hydraulics concepts, but also to be introduced in a hands-on manner to the necessary steps required to face any control system design process: modeling the system, designing the controller, testing the control system by simulation, and implementing them in real time. The theoretical background on dynamics and control supporting all these steps is not usually included in a civil engineering curriculum, and thus using the canal as a teaching resource is a better way of introducing future professional civil engineers to new technologies, making a perfect bridge between the classroom and practical activities on real canal facilities. The experience presented in this paper can be easily extrapolated to other disciplines complementing a classical civil engineering curriculum.