Using Open Source Software In Engineering Studies To Teach Water Operation & Management

In this work, we will describe the educational use of open source software in two subjects related to water management in engineering studies: "Networks of Fluids" and "Management and Maintenance of Hydraulic Systems". Both are devoted to different aspects of the water cycle management. In these subjects, state-of-the-art operation and management techniques are taught to the students. Apart from the transmission of good practices and standard applied protocols, the focus is practical and is based on hands-on computer real-life exercises, which involves not only intensive programming using high-level software, but also the spatial representation of results. To that purpose two main open source codes are used: EPANET and R. Students learn by projects using these tools and by addressing real-life problems regarding the correct calculation of water distribution networks with EPANET while more general issues about a great deal of water management aspects are adressed with R. The use of this open source software makes it possible a learning by projects approach, thus contributing to minimizing the gap between theoretical education and real-life problems for future engineers.