This course is of interest to students in science, environment, engineering, law and other disciplines because of the importance of water resources to our society. The course will include the study of changes in water in the landscape, traditional methods of observing and modelling hydrological processes, what we can (and cannot) measure and how satellite observations complement and/or replace traditional approaches. Students will learn about a variety of satellite missions designed to measure soil moisture, total water storage and river/dam levels.  Emphasis will be on the quantification of changes in water resources and the way in which remotely sensed observations can transform hydrology modelling.

Laboratory: The practical component will include the analysis of actual observations related to water resources (precipitation, total water storage, depth to groundwater etc) through the development of python software.

  

Honours Pathway Option

Additional readings of greater conceptual difficulty requiring an advanced scientific understanding will be made available for students enrolled in the Honours pathway option (HPO). 20 per cent of the marks available on the exam will be answers to alternate questions for HPO students. Integration of this material in the independent project will be expected.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the different components of water in the landscape and how they interact.
2. Undertake quantitative analysis and interpretation of actual data related to water in Australia.
3. Understand a variety of remote sensing satellite missions and how the observations inform water research.
4. Critically evaluate technical reports and journal articles.
5. Synthesise key concepts in hydrology and/or remote sensing to understand changes in water resources.

Research-Led Teaching

There will be numerous opportunities for research-led teaching in the course, including the examination of recent research articles and reports (and their data), as well the

opportunity for independent study.

Field Trips

There are no field trips associated with this course

Examination Material or equipment

Scientific calculator permitted in final exam

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• other methods as required.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Honours Pathway Option

Additional readings of greater conceptual difficulty requiring an advanced scientific understanding will be made available for students enrolled in the Honours pathway option (HPO). 20 per cent of the marks available on the exam will be answers to alternate questions for HPO students. Integration of this material in the independent project will be expected.

Please contact the course convener in the first week of the semester if interested in undertaking the HPO.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to the course; the global and regional water cycle, and how water is observed from space.
2	Precipitation: processes, measurement, and satellite precipitation observations (e.g. GPM/TRMM).	Precipitation computing assignment released.
3	Evapotranspiration: physical controls and remote sensing of evapotranspiration.
4	Runoff and streamflow: hydrographs, catchments, and satellite altimetry of rivers and lakes (e.g. SWOT).	Precipitation computing assignment due.
5	Soil moisture and the unsaturated zone: water retention, infiltration, and satellite soil moisture (e.g. SMAP/SMOS).	Soil moisture computing assignment released.
6	Groundwater: occurrence, storage, and hydrogeological principles; total water storage change from satellite gravity (GRACE).
7	Aquifers: types, hydraulic properties, and characterisation.	Soil moisture computing assignment due.
8	Theory of groundwater flow I: Darcy's law and saturated flow.
9	Theory of groundwater flow II: wells, pumping, and transient flow.	Groundwater computing assignment released.
10	Geology and hydrogeology: how the geological setting controls groundwater.	Oral presentation of paper critique.
11	Groundwater management and water resources in Australia.	Groundwater computing assignment due.
12	Water resources in a changing climate: integrating observations and synthesis.	Theory examination held in the formal examination period.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Computing assignment 1	10 %	21/08/2026	04/09/2026	1,2,3
Computing Assignment 2	15 %	25/09/2026	09/10/2026	1,2,3
Computing assignment 3	15 %	23/10/2026	*	1,2,3
Oral critique of a scientific paper	20 %	16/10/2026	*	4,5
Final exam	30 %	*	*	1,2,3,5
Tutorial participation	10 %	*	*	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Tutorial participation is assessed in the weekly two-hour Wednesday tutorial and forms 10% of the overall mark for the course. It is graded on the quality of engagement rather than on attendance: students are expected to attempt the tutorial problems beforehand and to contribute in class by presenting solutions, asking and answering questions, and working through problems with the group. Each tutorial is marked on a short scale (0 = absent or not engaged, 1 = present and engaged, 2 = actively contributed), and the best eight tutorials count so that a couple of missed sessions carry no penalty.

Examination(s)

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and results returned to the student (official end of Semester results released on ANUHub). Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Computing assignment 1

Analyse real precipitation data using Python. Full task details are distributed in the relevant class and made available on Canvas.

Assessment Task 2

Computing Assignment 2

Analyse soil moisture data using Python, including satellite soil moisture observations. Full task details are distributed in the relevant class and made available on Canvas.

Assessment Task 3

Computing assignment 3

Analyse groundwater data using Python, for example changes in groundwater levels and storage. Full task details are distributed in the relevant class and made available on Canvas.

Assessment Task 4

Oral critique of a scientific paper

Give a short oral presentation critiquing a scientific paper selected from a list provided. Briefly summarise the paper, then focus on what was done well or poorly, how the scientific community received it, and what impact it has had and why. The presentation is followed by questions and discussion.

Assessment Task 5

Final exam

A written exam will be held during the examination period at the end of Semester 2.

The date range indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ANUHub.

Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Assessment Task 6

Tutorial participation

Tutorial participation is assessed across the weekly tutorials on the quality of engagement, not on attendance. Students are expected to attempt the tutorial problems beforehand and to contribute in class by presenting solutions, asking or answering questions, and working through problems with the group. Each tutorial is marked on a short scale (0 = absent or not engaged, 1 = present and engaged, 2 = actively contributed), and the best 8 tutorials count so that a couple of missed sessions carry no penalty.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Computing assignment submissions: students should submit their python code and all relevant input files required to run their code (unless they are standard, unmodified input files from external sources).

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

Feedback on assignments will be returned via Canvas directly to the students.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not permitted

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students