Skip to main content
Sign In

Resources For: Prospective Students | Current Students | Parents | Faculty & Staff | Alumni & Friends | Patients

College of Engineering and Applied Science

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UC Denver
 

Research

Hydrology and Hydraulics
 

Overview

Research in hydrology and hydraulics covers the following areas of interest:

  • Statistical and Stochastic Hydrologic Analyses
  • Flash Flood Forecasting and Flood Predictions
  • Surface Water and River Flow Modeling Techniques
  • Urban Storm Water Modeling and Mitigation
  • Storm Water Best Management Practices
  • Laminar and Turbulent Flow Numerical Simulations
  • Pipe Network Simulation and Analysis
  • Risk Analysis and Optimization Techniques

Faculty engineering experience in hydrology and hydraulics includes:

  • Highway Drainage Systems
  • Watershed Master Drainage Planning
  • Storm Water Detention and Retention System Design and Analysis
  • Infiltration Practices for Groundwater Recharge or Storm Water Quality Control
  • River Floodplain Management and Encroachment Modeling
  • Flood Damage and Risk-cost Analysis

Projects

On-Campus Stormwater Test Site
Since 2007, Parking Lot K on campus was converted into a test site for storm water study. The main purpose for this project is to conduct prototype tests on innovative concepts and new construction materials developed for storm water best management practices. This project is sponsored by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Denver, Colorado.


Porous Detention Basin Study
Rain gardens are often used as an on-site detention basin for runoff volume reduction. This research project is sponsored by the Urban Watersheds Research Institute to investigate how to incorporate urban waste material into the 2-layered filtering media underneath the basin bottom. The findings from this project have been incorporated into the Urban Stormwater Design Criteria Volume 3, http://www.udfcd.org. The technical paper and reports for this study can be found at http://www.ascelibrary.org/


Street Hydraulics and Inlet Sizing

Starting in 2006 through 2011, Colorado Department of Transportation and Urban Drainage and Flood Control District jointly sponsor this research project to investigate street inlet hydraulics. A new methodology was developed to size Type 13 and 16 street inlets with consideration of the decay nature of clogging effect. The reports and technical papers for this study can be found at http://www.ascelibrary.org

James C.Y. Guo, Professor
Hydrology and Hydraulics Engineering
E-mail: James.Guo@UCDenver.edu
Phone: 303-556-2849
Office: North Classroom 3021D
Website: http://carbon.ucdenver.edu/~jguo/index.html


Education
Ph.D. Water Resources, University of Illinois at Champaign /Urbana in 1982
M.S. Water Resources, National Taiwan University in 1976
B.S. Hydraulic Engineering, National Cheng-Kung University, in 1974


Research Topics:

  • Numerical Simulation of Laminar and Turbulent Flows
  • River and Floodplain Hydraulics
  • Reservoir System and Optimal Operations
  • Groundwater and Well Hydraulics
  • Flood Prediction and Forecasting
  • Urban Watershed Low-Impact Designs
  • Stormwater Management and Planning
  • Street and Roadway Drainage
  • Optimization and Value Engineering

Dr. Guo has published more than 50 journal articles in the areas of his research interests. His work has been accepted as design criteria in the design manuals used by metropolitan Denver and Las Vegas. Dr. Guo received the 2006 ASCE Best Technical Paper Award.

Laboratory

The Hydraulic Laboratory was established in early 1980s. The laboratory was designed to provide teaching and research needs. The two channel flumes, 12- and 24-inch wide, are equipped with pumps and circulation systems that produce open channel flows on an adjustable slope to study back water profiles, hydraulic jumps, weir and orifice flows. The pipe network panel allows students to conduct tests on pipe friction and energy losses through various valves. The air tunnel apparatus produces turbulent air flows through a steel pipe of 20 feet long.

Students will learn how to measure flow velocity and pressure difference using manometers, pressure gauges, and pito-tubes. The Hydraulics Laboratory is also used to conduct bench-scale tests on storm water related studies, including infiltration tests, clogging measurement, and calibration of street inlet capacity.