CHOICE 3

This UE is sequenced according to the following activities: First steps - R environment; R structures; Input-output in R; Manipulations of R structures; Basics of algorithmics; Programming structures in R; Mini-project by group on an R function to be created on an applied 'Water' problem

Objectives*:

The objectives of this course are 1) to present the basics of the interpreted language of an engineering tool (environment, structures, inputs-outputs, manipulations of structures, graphics, programming), 2) to bring the fundamental theoretical knowledge allowing to create one's own functions and programs on practical examples in water sciences for 3) that the students are autonomous to pursue their self-training and expertise on R.

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Historically, the question of managing access to water resources was first raised for river water, which is closely linked to the climatic conditions of the moment, and for water delivered by man-made distribution systems. It is only more recently that the management of groundwater has been considered, as it is less subject to problems of cyclical shortage (except for the water tables accompanying rivers). In the majority of cases, access to groundwater is made on an individual basis, with each user (particularly in agriculture) accessing it by drilling at the place of his needs. But these underground resources also require management, because they are increasingly exploited and sometimes even overexploited.

This module addresses the issue of groundwater resources management by first presenting what each discipline of physical sciences (geology-hydrogeology, geochemistry, isotopy) and their tools brings to the knowledge of aquifers (at the geological level: outcrop, drilling, logging, seismic profiles ...; at the hydrogeological level: piezometry, pumping test, sampling points / outlets, quantities withdrawn ...): geometry, structure and hydrological functioning.

It then outlines the value of groundwater to the various uses that mobilize it. The economic value of groundwater is thus studied in this section (Qureshi et al., 2012). The difficulties of knowing about these groundwater withdrawals and the methods that can be used to reveal them are also specified.

It then describes the various problems posed by aquifers: current or future overexploitation of groundwater, degradation of groundwater quality, threat of saltwater intrusion, salinization of soils, etc.

Finally, it identifies the various methods for rebalancing groundwater supply and demand. Firstly, it sets out the means of increasing water supply (active management of groundwater, substitutions between resources) or avoiding the contamination of good quality water by less good quality water. Examples: active management of karstic aquifers (Lez system), artificial recharge (e.g. Seine catchment fields in Paris), inter-seasonal / inter-annual recharge (Llobregat, Catalonia), recharge with wastewater (California), damming to avoid contamination of freshwater by saltwater.

Secondly, it traces the solutions acting on water demand. These solutions are based on two drivers of individual decisions, which can sometimes be combined: maximization of individual utility and inclusion in a society that induces "pro-social" behavior. Solutions that act directly on the demand for groundwater (pricing, quotas, trading of water rights) will be explored, as well as indirect solutions (purchase of land that can protect a resource, agricultural or energy policies that can positively or negatively influence the development of individual abstractions, etc.).

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This module presents the basics of optical and radar remote sensing with the basics of image processing (consultation of image catalogs on the Internet, image downloading, import/export, visualization, contrast enhancement, radiometric and geometric image corrections, segmentation, vectorization, classification ...). In addition, this module presents applications related to water management.

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