Course detail

Odtokové a erozní poměry v povodí

FAST-BSA105Acad. year: 2027/2028

The course focuses on runoff and erosion conditions in small catchments, as well as the drainage of waterlogged areas. Students will gain hands-on experience with Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and contour line analysis to identify critical entry points where concentrated surface runoff enters built-up areas, posing a risk of property damage.

Using the SCS Curve Number (CN) rainfall-runoff method, students will calculate runoff characteristics required for the design of soil conservation and flood protection measures aimed at protecting built-up areas, soil, and water resources. Furthermore, the course addresses soil erosion processes. Students will conduct spatial analyses of soil erosion and learn to quantify soil loss.

They will also master the fundamentals of drainage engineering, including designing land drainage systems for waterlogged areas, field identification of existing drainage networks, and evaluating potential changes in the use and management of agricultural drainage systems within the landscape.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Landscape Water Management (VHK)

Entry knowledge

Fundamentals of hydraulics, hydrology, pedology (soil science), and hydropedology. Basic working knowledge of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), MS Excel, and MS Word.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course Credit: Completion of assigned coursework and meeting the mandatory attendance.

Examination: Evaluation of knowledge via a written test, with the possibility of an oral examination. 

Aims

Professional Knowledge:

Students will gain fundamental professional knowledge regarding runoff and erosion conditions in small catchments. They will retain, understand, analyze, and subsequently apply this knowledge to different practical scenarios. During practical classes, students will learn to analyze areas in terms of runoff and erosion conditions and identify critical entry points for the protection of built-up areas. They will acquire the knowledge necessary to calculate runoff characteristics, quantify soil loss, and design drainage facilities.

Professional Skills:

Upon completing the course, students will be able to apply, evaluate, and utilize the acquired knowledge for practical application in civil engineering. Practical classes will strengthen students' ability to reason and engage in technical discussion. Students will be able to calculate runoff characteristics for small catchments and estimate soil loss at the level of a Runoff Assessment Study. They will learn to identify drainage systems in the field and subsequently design modifications for the use and operation of agricultural drainage facilities within the landscape

General Competencies:

Students will acquire the qualifications and competence necessary to pursue advanced coursework in landscape water management. Should they choose a different specialization, they will remain fully qualified to perform fundamental spatial analyses. Students will be capable of independently interpreting spatial analysis results and applying their knowledge of runoff and erosion conditions to diverse areas, up to the level of preparing a comprehensive Runoff Assessment Study.

Study aids

Compulsory Literature:
SOBOTKOVÁ, Veronika; KOZEL, Tomáš and DUMBROVSKÝ, Miroslav. Odtokové a erozní poměry v povodí [Runoff and Erosion Conditions in Catchments]. Lecture notes. Online. VUT, 2025. Available from: ELEARNING IS VUT [https://moodle.vut.cz/login/index.php?noredirect=1](https://moodle.vut.cz/login/index.php?noredirect=1).
PODHRÁZSKÁ, Jana et al. Ochrana zemědělské půdy před erozí [Protection of Agricultural Land Against Erosion]. Methodology. Prague: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation (VÚMOP, v.v.i.), 2024. ISBN 978-80-7212-667-5 (current edition).

Recommended Literature:
CÁBLÍK, Jan and JŮVA, Karel. Protierozní ochrana půdy [Soil Erosion Control]. Prague: Státní zemědělské nakladatelství, 1963.
DRBAL, Karel; DUMBROVSKÝ, M. et al. Metodický návod pro identifikaci KB [Methodological Guidelines for the Identification of Critical Points]. Brno: Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic (MŽP), 2009, 7 p. Available online: [https://heis.vuv.cz/data/webmap/datovesady/uap/kritickebody/HTML_UAP$KritickeBody$stazeni.asp?doc=full](https://heis.vuv.cz/data/webmap/datovesady/uap/kritickebody/HTML_UAP$KritickeBody$stazeni.asp?doc=full)
DÝROVÁ, Eva. Ochrana a organizace povodí [Watershed Protection and Management]. Course textbook. Brno: BUT in Brno, 1988.
HOLÝ, Miloš et al. Eroze a životní prostředí [Erosion and the Environment]. Prague: CTU in Prague, 1998.
HRÁDEK, František. Implementace hydrologického modelu DeSQ [Implementation of the DeSQ Hydrological Model]. Prague: CULS, 1997.
JANEČEK, Miloslav et al. Ochrana zemědělské půdy před erozí [Protection of Agricultural Land Against Erosion]. Methodology. Prague: CULS, 2012. ISBN 978-80-87415-42-9.
KULHAVÝ, František and KULHAVÝ, Zbyněk. Navrhování hydromelioračních staveb [Design of Land Improvement Structures]. Prague: ČKAIT, s.r.o., 2008. ISBN 978-80-87093-83-2.
MORGAN, Royston Philip Charles. Soil Erosion and Conservation. Third Edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2005, 304 p. ISBN 1-4051-1781-8.
MORGAN, Royston Philip Charles and NEARING, Mark A. (eds.). Handbook of Erosion Modelling. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4051-9010-7.
TOY, Terrence J.; FOSTER, George R. and RENARD, Kenneth G. Soil Erosion: Processes, Prediction, Measurement and Control. New York: Wiley, 2002, 352 p. ISBN 0-471-38369-4.
Decree No. 240/2021 Coll., Decree on the Protection of Agricultural Land Against Erosion. 2021.
Decree No. 227/2018 Sb., Decree on the Characteristics of Evaluated Soil-Ecological Units (BPEJ) and the Procedure for Their Maintenance and Updating. 2018.
ČSN 75 4500 Protection of Agricultural Land Against Erosion (Czech National Standard). 1996.
ČSN 75 0140 Land Improvement – Terminology of Erosion, Land Improvement and Soil Reclamation (Czech National Standard). 2016.
ČSN 75 0145 Land Improvement – Terminology in Pedology (Czech National Standard). 1995.
ČSN 75 4200 Land Improvement – Regulation of Water Regime of Agricultural Soils by Drainage (Czech National Standard). 1994.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

PODHRÁZSKÁ, Jana a kol. Ochrana zemědělské půdy před erozí. Metodika. Praha: Výzkumný ústav meliorací o ochrany půdy, 2024. ISBN 978-80-7212-667-5 (aktuální vydání).  (CS)
SOBOTKOVÁ, Veronika; KOZEL, Tomáš a DUMBROVSKÝ, Miroslav. Odtokové a erozní poměry v povodí. Přednášky. Online. VUT, 2026. Dostupné z: ELEARNING IS VUT https://moodle.vut.cz/login/index.php?noredirect=1. (CS)

Recommended reading

CÁBLÍK, Jan a JŮVA Karel. Protierozní ochrana půdy. Praha: Státní zemědělské nakladatelství, 1963.  (CS)
ČSN 75 0140 Meliorace – Terminologie eroze, hydromeliorace a rekultivace půdy. 2016.  (CS)
ČSN 75 0145 Meliorace. Terminologie v pedologii. 1995.  (CS)
ČSN 75 4200 Hydromeliorace. Úprava vodního režimu zemědělských půd odvodněním. 1994. (CS)
ČSN 75 4500 Protierozní ochrana zemědělské půdy. 1996.  (CS)
DRBAL, Karel.; DUMBROVSKÝ, M. a kol. Metodický návod pro identifikaci KB. Brno: MŽP, 2009, 7 str. Dostupné online: https://heis.vuv.cz/data/webmap/datovesady/uap/kritickebody/HTML_UAP$KritickeBody$stazeni.asp?doc=full  (CS)
DÝROVÁ, Eva. Ochrana a organizace povodí. Skripta. Brno: VUT v Brně, 1988.   (CS)
HOLÝ, Miloš a kol. Eroze a životní prostředí. Praha: ČVUT, 1998.  (CS)
HRÁDEK, František. Implementace hydrologického modelu DeSQ. Praha: ČZU, 1997.  (CS)
JANEČEK, Miloslav a kol. Ochrana zemědělské půdy před erozí. Metodika. Praha: ČZU, 2012. ISBN 978-80-87415-42-9.  (CS)
KULHAVÝ František a KULHAVÝ Zbyněk. Navrhování hydromelioračních staveb. Praha: ČKAIT, s.r.o., 2008. ISBN 978-80-87093-83-2.  (CS)
MORGAN, Royston Philip Charles a NEARING, Mark A. (ed.). Handbook of Erosion Modelling, London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4051-9010-7.  (EN)
MORGAN, Royston Philip Charles. Soil Erosion and Conservation. Third Edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 2005, p. 304, ISBN 1-4051-1781-8.  (EN)
TOY, Terrence J.; FOSTER, George R. a RENARD, Kenneth G. Soil erosion: processes, prediction, measurement and control. New York: Wiley, 2002, 352 p. ISBN 0-471-38369-4.  (EN)
Vyhláška č. 227/2018 Sb. Vyhláška o charakteristice bonitovaných půdně ekologických jednotek a postupu pro jejich vedení a aktualizaci. 2018.  (CS)
Vyhláška č. 240/2021 Sb. Vyhláška o ochraně zemědělské půdy před erozí. 2021.  (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SIS Bachelor's

    specialization V , 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory, profile core courses

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Runoff Conditions – Introduction, overview of runoff conditions in small catchments, identification of critical entry points threatening built-up areas.
  2. Runoff Conditions – Rainfall-runoff modeling, classification of hydrological models, determination of catchment retention capacity.
  3. Runoff Conditions – The SCS-CN method, determination of surface runoff parameters, methods for calculating peak discharge and direct runoff volume in small catchments.
  4. Erosion Conditions – Soil erosion occurrence globally and in the Czech Republic, erosion classification, factors influencing erosion, erosion intensity, and tolerable soil loss limits.
  5. Erosion Conditions – Soil erosion modeling, classification of erosion models, theoretical analysis of water erosion.
  6. Erosion Conditions – Assessment of soil erosion risk, catchment analysis for quantifying erosion risk.
  7. Erosion Conditions – Other types of erosion: wind erosion and snowmelt erosion, analysis of erosion processes, erosion forms, intensity determination.
  8. Soil Conservation and Watershed Management – Design of soil conservation and erosion control measures, their classification and detailed description.
  9. Land Drainage – Causes, occurrence, and assessment of soil waterlogging, distribution and movement of water in soil.
  10. Land Drainage – Modeling water movement in soil, model classification, saturated and unsaturated flow in non-deformable porous media, subsurface runoff.
  11. Land Drainage – Main drainage structures: classification, design principles, and sizing; detailed drainage systems: classification, design parameters, and subsurface pipe drainage sizing.
  12. Land Drainage – Special drainage applications: close-to-nature drainage, landslide-prone areas, sports fields, calculation principles, drainage water quality.
  13. Land Drainage – Environmental impact of land drainage, field identification of drainage systems, and potential adaptations of the primary function of drainage systems in the landscape.

Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Runoff Conditions – Overview of the case study area, basic territory characteristics.
  2. Runoff Conditions – Identification of basic landscape elements (land cover, soil types, hydrological network), preparation of map outputs.
  3. Runoff Conditions – Identification of critical entry points where concentrated surface runoff enters the municipality, delineation of contributing catchments and thalwegs.
  4. Runoff Conditions – Continuation of critical point identification, delineation of contributing catchments and thalwegs.
  5. Runoff Conditions – Calculation of basic parameters for contributing catchments and thalwegs, preparation of map and textual outputs.
  6. Runoff Conditions – Calculation of runoff characteristics in contributing catchments using the SCS-CN method.
  7. Runoff Conditions – Continuation of runoff characteristics calculation, preparation of map and textual outputs.
  8. Erosion Conditions – Calculation of the long-term average soil loss for the selected case study area.
  9. Erosion Conditions – Alternative calculation scenarios for the long-term average soil loss.
  10. Erosion Conditions – Preparation of map and textual outputs.
  11. Land Drainage – Overview of the waterlogged area, design of a land drainage system.
  12. Land Drainage – Dimensioning of the drainage system.
  13. Land Drainage – Preparation of technical drawings for the proposed drainage system.

Self-study

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D.

Individual preparation for an ending of the course

52 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Veronika Sobotková, Ph.D.