Teaching
Graduate Courses
ENGG 6610 Urban Stormwater Management
The course addresses stormwater management system design to minimize the effects of urbanization on flooding, channel geomorphology, groundwater recharge and quality, receiving water quality and aquatic communities. The importance of integrating low impact development and source controls in a management strategy is stressed. Students design traditional minor system components, lot-level and conveyance systems (including infiltration practices, vegetated swales, bioretention), and an extended detention wet pond. The course is delivered using lectures, discussions of journal articles, student presentations, guest lecturers and field trips. An oral exam, a paper on a topic of choice and a design project are the major course evaluation components.
ENGG 6860 Stream and Wetland Restoration
This course explores the multi-disciplinary principles of stream and wetland restoration and the tools and techniques for restoration design. Students are exposed to stream and wetland restoration literature from a wide variety of disciplines. The importance of starting with headwater systems and “looking to the watershed” for restoration opportunities is emphasized. Restoration design is approached from a water resources engineering perspective with emphasis on process-based restoration. Numerous case studies are examined as a means of identifying more successful design approaches and lessons learned.
ENGG 6910 Specail Topics: Ecological Flow Assessment
This course guides students through a large and interdisciplinary body of literature. The natural flow regime is discussed in relation to requirements for connectivity along the channel and with ripiarian and hyporheic zones, geomorphic functions and physical habitat, water quality and food webs. Important characteristics of an ecological flow assessment process and a wide variety of tools to quantify flows are reviewed.
Undergraduate Courses
ENGG 4370 Urban Water Systems Design
Urban water systems design includes the design of water distribution, wastewater collection, and stormwater management systems. Lectures cover design considerations for these systems and "review" closed conduit and open channel hydraulics to equip students with adequate knowledge for design. Problem sets are provided to allow students to practice hydraulic fundamentals and straight forward designs. Tutorials familiarize students with the software tools needed for tests and an individual project involving the design and simulation of a stormwater management system. The project report provides a means to evaluate each student’s ability to concisely and articulately discuss results and develop evidence-based arguments leading to sound conclusions.
ENGG 2550 Water Management
Water management emphasizes management in a watershed context. It explores groundwater, river, lake and wetland resources and considers the influence of fundamental engineering and hydrologic principles on water supply and demand management, wastewater management, and integrated watershed management. Selected problems, including international water resources issues, are studied to reveal the technical, economic and socio-political aspects of water management decisions. Lectures are complemented by in-class discussions of assigned readings and topics. Students have the opportunity to explore potential solutions to a water resources challenge of their choosing through a research paper or presentation. Assessment for the course also includes a critique of a current newspaper article on a water management issue.
ENGG 4250 Watershed Systems Design
Hydrological analysis of watershed systems includes quantification of stream flow for design of structures and channels, prediction of flooding and protection of low flows. Hydraulic analysis is applied to design of dams, reservoirs, control structures, energy dissipation structures, bridges and culverts. Techniques for analysis of steady flow profiles, flood waves and sediment transport are covered and applied to the design of natural and constructed channels and protective works for rivers. Assessment for the course includes problem sets and a term design project.
ENGG 41X0
The capstone design project involves the application of engineering analysis and design principles to a problem in water resources or environmental engineering. Design projects which Dr. Bradford has advised include:
• design of a bioretention system for the proposed Westminster Woods East Subdivision, Guelph
• low-head hydroelectric generation retrofit on the Speed River, Guelph
• alternative designs for reducing sanitary sewer overflows in Atikokan, Ontario
• reclaimed wastewater reuse in the City of Guelph, a feasibility and implementation study
• Wilket creek day lighting design
• sustainable wastewater management retrofit for East Village, University of Guelph
• preliminary design of a constructed wetland system for Bishop Macdonell High School, Guelph