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In Cuba, due to the need to measure the flows that circulate through small and large diameter conductors and given the momentary impossibility of acquiring high-tech solutions in international markets, these solutions have begun to be implemented as a provisional alternative variant to carry out these measurements. This paper is a summary of the main aspects that must be kept in mind when undertaking the design and construction of a proportional flowmeter, emphasizing the potentialities and weaknesses of each of the solutions that can be implemented for such purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of the upwelling of tropical cyclones Iván (2004) and Gustav (2008), both associated with coastal flooding in the area. The Delft3D-FLOW model was applied in order to determine its influence on the total sea surges that occurred. Graphs of sea elevation due to upwelling were obtained at La Coloma, Playa Bailen, Cabo de San Antonio, Playa Bibijagua and Carapachibey. In the absence of measured data, it was validated by comparing the results with previous studies and modeling in another area, with the presence of sea level measurement stations, but applying the same methodology. Finally, it was concluded that the application of the model under the methodology used correctly described the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper was calculated the return period of coastal floods for each of the coastal settlements that report this extreme event in the Cuban archipelago, based on the period 1901-2020. The chronology and classification of coastal floods for each province was used, as well as the Poisson distribution and the χ² goodness of fit test. It is concluded that the Poisson distribution was suitable in all cases for the significance level of 5%; while the greatest hazard is presented by Havana, Baracoa and the settlements of the Gulf of Batabanó in which the occurrence of a flood event is expected at least once every three to five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Varadero beach is a tourism place one of the most famous in Cuba. For the Oasis sector has been design and artificial beach compose for several submerged breakwater parallel to the coast, and an initial sand supply project. It this paper is presented the evaluation of the project applying a train of numerical model coupling ADCIRC + SWAN + Xbeach. It was analyzed the hydrodynamics and wave variables. The morphological behavior of the initial nourishment was evaluated. The results of the study show the proposal is not effective, the losses of sand and the reshape of the beach for climate condition studied do not meet the tourism demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the existing deposits in Cuba exceed their years of useful life and show a high degree of deterioration mainly due to the cracking and corrosion of the steel reinforcement. Several solutions have been given over the years to prevent corrosion, but none have solved the problem, concluding that the ideal is to replace steel with a non-corrosive material such as fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). This paper proposes the design of the walls of two case studies, using FRP bars as concrete reinforcement. The results show that even when the design requires a greater amount of FRP bars than in a similar design with steel, to cracking control, the use of these bars is a feasible solution in terms of durability and useful life of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The octubre 23th of 2005 the Wilma hurricane live the water near of Cuba, despite being more than 200 km in the Gulf of Mexico, he left his footprints in Havana. It is e necessity to protect the city form the attack of the hurricanes and other severe events, for that reason several studies in order to kwon the behavior of the flooding have been done. In this paper are presented the formulas to compute the average wave overtopping, it is define the wave characteristics by mean a train of numerical model that allow to obtain the hydrographs to force the Iber model, and were done different flooding simulation of the study area, it allow define the location with more hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Cuba, the current methodologies determine the design head and flow for run-of-river and runof- reservoir hydropower projects using statistical parameters, without any optimization process. This paper describes a software developed by the Empresa de Hidroenergía. This tool takes into account the hydrological data of the site and its specific financial premises, then obtaining the design flow and head, which maximize either the electricity generation or the Net Present Value (NPV). The optimization problem is solved by iterations and graphs or by applying the Generalized Reduced Gradient method (GRG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Cuba, the preliminary design head and flow for run-of-river hydropower are determined from statistical parameters. Therefore, the energy and the net present value are the result of parameters fixed "ex ante". In this paper, a methodology for determination of the design flow and head is proposed, as a result of an energy or net present value (NPV) maximization problem. The optimization problem is solved by iterations and graphs or by applying the Generalized Reduced Gradient method (GRG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the changes in the professional model as a starting point for curricular design of the teaching process of the hydraulic engineer in Cuba. The importance of its elaboration is highlighted, taking into account the demands of the society and the scientific-technological development achieved, which have an impact on the modes and spheres of action. Its peculiarities are analyzed as a function of four stages, which allowed identifying the qualitative leaps and the definition of its components, as well as their relationships; the cut criterion were the essential transformations that gave origin to a new curricula for the formation of this professional. Therefore the objective is to unveil the particularities in the evolution of the professional model for the teaching process of the hydraulic engineer in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a historical analysis of two fundamental aspects of hydraulic engineering is made. They are the construction of works and engineering teaching in Cuban context. Evolution of construction and its influence in the formation of professionals can be appreciated. Also, the presence of this professionals has influenced the amount and complexity of works. Here, some social and environmental factors are mentioned, establishing an ancient memory, which has been divided into five parts withholding five centuries. On each part development of works and teaching of this engineering are presented, thus making a historical - logical link between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with coastal aquifers exploitation under saline intrusion threats and climate change effects over them. For sustainable development of these resources variable but necessary policies are required, among them: selection of abstraction works and their appropriate design, knowledge of the aquifer system, control measures over variables for decision making, use of advanced technologies to define optimal exploitation strategies, efficient operation and maintenance of existing works. It is suggested, when feasible, to give preferential use to horizontal works but avoiding open trenches because of the inconveniences that have been observed in the Cayo Largo del Sur and Andros-Bahamas case studies. The use of vertical wells demands a careful design, not only of each well but also of their spatial distribution, therefore the paper includes some recomendations to this end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of groundwater resources is a highly complex and very important task for sustainable management of aquifers. This paper is intended to warn about inaccuracy of conventional methods for assessing resources of major aquifers and its consequent inadequate management. Also shown is the possibility of using new tools that include groundwater modeling for such assessment. Mathematical modeling can improve allocation plans of these resources under different planning horizons and even applying optimal operational policies. The paper illustrates a procedure for assessing groundwater resources using AQÜIMPE technology. This technology was developed in Cuba and applied in some Cuban aquifers, with the aim of managing not only these resources but also to assess the response of the aquifer to certain engineering works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the MADA mathematical model is presented for the optimal management of aquifer exploitation. The model is built by embedding the AQÜIMPE model for simulation of ground water aquifers into a linear programming algorithm. MADA is used to evaluate exploitation in «Cuenca Sur de la Habana» aquifer, following a given water use plan (PUA). It is shown in the paper that PUA distribution of well abstractions is not considering possible saline intrusion in the aquifer and to that end a solution is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High intensity hurricanes attack frequently the Cuban island with great damages and high costs in the evacuation of people living in vulnerable areas. This paper presents an analysis of hurricanes that have affected the region to assist in the design and construction of solutions to prevent strong sea penetrations, by means of the SWAN mathematical model. Precedent studies have shown that a simple relationship between hurricane intensity and wave heights associated to it does not exist for a given point in the coastline. The paper shows the results of an investigation applying the SWAN model, developed by the Technological University of Delft. It is applied in its non stationary form to simulate the most unfavorable possible trajectories in the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of hydraulic engineering education in Cuba from 1900 to 1959 was presented in a previous paper. In order to analyze in a better way the evolution of this education from 1959 to the present time, we have considered five stages in the time scale. In this paper the first two stages of the revolutionary period, covering from 1959 to 1977, are studied. The 1957 Civil Engineering curriculum was modified in 1961, appearing three specializations in the fifth year, one of which was Hydraulics. With the time, the subjects pertaining to Hydraulic Engineering increased their presence in the Civil Engineer curriculum until 1968 when an independent curriculum for Hydraulic Engineering was approved. The 1962 and the 1968 curricula are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe meteorological events are the main threat in the country, as there is a large population living in areas at risk from hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and flooding for different reasons. For specialized decision makers it would be useful to have historical information on the behavior of the basin under extreme events and the consequences thereof in the region. In most cases, historical rainfall records are present in the basins from the installed equipment. In this paper a procedure is presented to obtain these events from historical rainfall records. The method allows to obtain the events in the basin for further modeling, which is an important tool for decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifers vulnerability maps allow differentiating the natural characteristics of the geological environment to protect the aquifer from the action of multiple pollutants that can infiltrate from the surface, associated to natural phenomena or to man's activity. This paper evaluates the natural vulnerability and risk of contamination of the Cuenca Dolores - Sagua La Chica, located northeast of Villa Clara, Cuba. The PATHS methodology is applied, which values aquifers vulnerability analyzing: Precipitations and groundwater level, Aquifer, Tectonic and Topography of the land and Soil Hydraulic Conductivity. As a final result the Map of Vulnerability and the Map of Contamination Risk are obtained for the basin at a scale of 1:100 000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to create and calibrate a two-dimensional regional groundwater model for the "Cuentas Claras" aquifer. First, an overall model was conceived and it was subjected to a calibration process. For that purpose AQÜIMPE groundwater simulation software was applied. As the calibration was not achieved for the overall model, the idea of conceiving a partial model representing only the exploitation zone was carried through. The recharge coming from the mountains was introduced to this second model as a groundwater intake, and therefore it had to be calibrated as well. As a final result, a logical calibration of the model was achieved with high accuracy. The present work also attempts to contribute with the groundwater management strategies of this aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high frequency of tropical storms in Cuba has made Cuban people to follow informations released by the forecast department of the Instituto de Meteorología (Meteorology Institute) together with instructions emitted by the Estado Mayor Nacional de Defensa Civil (Civil Defense National Headquarters), with the purpose of planning relevant protection measures aimmed at disaster mitigation. These informations deal mainly with wind intensity among others but very little is said about rainfall amounts and their consequent flooding danger. The authors of this paper present a first approach to a classification scale of tropical storms according to their associated rainfall considering only rainfall-related variables. Other important variables, such as soil properties, soil use, etc. are left aside for later analysis which in a near future will allow better classification criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high frequency of tropical storms in Cuba has made Cuban people to follow informations released by the forecast department of the Instituto de Meteorología (Meteorological Institute) together with instructions emitted by the Estado Mayor Nacional de Defensa Civil (Civil Defense National Headquarters), with the purpose of planning relevant protection measures aimmed at disaster mitigation. These informations deal mainly with wind intensity among others but very little is said about rainfall amounts and their consequent flooding danger. The authors of this paper are herein presenting, as a first part, a very short synthesis of the state of the art situation of this important subject. The subject will be treated subsequently in the second part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of INRH policy, related to evaluation, design and construction of infrastructure for water resources exploitation, a diversified development plan was elaborated. As a complement of the plan the joint use of waters is considered, consisting in the use of ground water for supplying population located in this area, distributed through water networks, and the capacity created on reservoirs being used for irrigation purposes. Nevertheless, during severe droughts, ground water is also used for irrigation among other uses. All these actions have contributed to diminish overexploitation of the South Aquifer, which provoked marine intrusion with damages to important sectors of it. Besides, they stopped the soil salinization process and provide good quality water for any purpose. This paper describes experiences of the authors on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of the present paper are concerned with evaluating pollutant contributions to aquatic ecosystems according to the products processed in Cuban fishing facilities. The captures in 1955-1999 were between 3 950 and 23 970 t/year in 12 years of sampling, with BOD between 56 and 342 t/year and of DQO between 111 and 676 t/year. The principal nutrient was total nitrogen, followed by total phosphorous and finally ammonia-nitrogen, representing a total contribution of 136,3; 52,7 and 18,0 t/year respectively in those 12 years. The report culminates with the possible affectations caused by polluted water discharges to the ecosystem, recommending the use of the information offered in this document with the objective to elaborate future plans allowing the establishment of environmental management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows the experience in handling the design of Caibarien- Santa Maria key causeway to fit it with the environmental characteristics of the watershed in which it is located. By means of a cause-effect modeling graphic, corroborated by an up-dated informatics software, it is demonstrated the fundamental character that keeping the ocean-island shelf interchange has, as well as the hydrodynamics, in the preservation of the marine environmental characteristics. It is also explained the general strategy that was followed, on the assumption that the causeway is, according to the environmental point of view, a hydraulic construction as a set of its main components: the road layout, the calculation of bridges by hydraulically quasi-homogenous sections, the manner the bridges are located, the off-road induced works and the so-called ecological bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years Cuban analysts have been working to obtain flood hydrograms in some regions of the country applying HEC-HMS model but the experience is not yet enough. The present paper reports research work with HEC-HMS model in mountainous basins of the Cuban eastern region and some recommendations are obtained from its application in Las Coloradas basin. Valuable experiences were derived with calculation methods and their best application range as well as suitable parameter values for them. Physico-geographic and climatical characteristics of eastern mountainous basins were taken into account and their existing hydrometeorological information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study about regional analysis of maximum rainfall series. A summary of several aspects usually covered in regional analysis is introduced, such as parameter estimation, frequency analysis and others. The results of an example using the so-called "index flood" method proposed by Dalrymple in 1960 are shown. The case study refers to the annual maximum rainfall series in the river Zaza basin. As a conclusion of the study in this basin, it can be established that when it is divided into three sub-regions, they can be considered as homogeneous and they can be adjusted to different theoretical probability distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great diversity of man-produced contaminating agents goes to the water, directly or indirectly, provoking changes which are contradictory with the harmonic unfolding of nature. A pollutant, not being the most aggressive among organic polluting agents, is the one coming from the industrial processing of fishing resources. Despite in some aquatic resources processing facilities waste waters treatment systems have been installed, the fact is that more than 70% of them lack any treatment. For this reason, in the paper physical and chemical characteristics of the fishing industry organics riles are indicated as design basic data for treatment systems of these waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presented shows the results of an experimental study by physical model, in a tank of irregular waves at the Center of Studies in Ports and Coasts (CEPYC) in Spain. An empiric model is obtained to estimate the average rate of overtopping of the storm wave over curved seawalls. The conditions selected for the study reflect the environmental characteristics and marine climate of the Cuban coasts. The results obtained are applied to the well known Malecón de la Habana which suffers severe damages during the occurrence of meteorological phenomena generated in the Gulf of Mexico. The results are shown in tables and graphics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time of concentration and the so called Curve Number are two important parameters for obtaining runoff hydrographs at any point of a natural river system in a watershed from rainfall data; in Cuba, the time of concentration is usually calculated considering two time components (sheet flow time and channel flow time). In some other cases the time of concentration is calculated using only one component (channel flow time). Some mistakes could arise due to this simplification, because according to updated bibliography three components must be taking into account to compute the time of concentration: travel time in sheet flow segments over the watershed land surface, travel time in shallow flow segments and travel time in channel segments. For the Curve Number determination, a general coincidence exists about its definition and the procedure to calculate its values. Nevertheless, the procedure can become bothersome in the case of a watershed with several soil types and soil uses. Criteria and procedures for both parameters are shown in this paper, which contribute to an adequate solution to estimate their values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General science development and Cuba education achievements together with systematic improvement of Academic Curriculum in Cuba universities demand a permanent refinement of performance attitudes of teachers as well as of students. On the other hand the need arises to involve students to community endeavours science the very first years of their career and this, in turn is reflected into necessary changes to their hydraulic engineering academic curriculum with purpose of graduating a high quality engineer. As a consequence of the above, the Irrigation and Drainage engineering has been adapted to this new situation. In this paper consideration is given to the main changes that have been introduced in the discipline in the context of the new academic curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results obtained in the Centro de Investigaciones Hidráulicas, ISPAJE, Cuba in the use of the first version of MultiH_Virtual for Hydraulic teaching, are presented. This product allows the reproduction of practices in the office, the university or in the home and improves the pregraduated and postgraduated formation based on the use of computer and electronic equipments. This paper describes the most relevant aspects that MultiH_Virtual offers to students and profesionals of cuban and foreign universities, being remarked their strengths and the lines of their future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents the culmination of the study about the evolution of Hydraulic Engineering Education in Cuba from their beginnings until the present time. Since the establishment in 1976 of the Ministry of Higher Education (MES) a process of continuous improvement in the curriculum of studies of university careers was accelerated and the Higher Polytechnic Institute José Antonio Echeverría was founded. When the so-called plan A was established in 1977-1978 Hydraulic Engineering had three specializations. During the following years plans B and C and their variants were applied until the present time that e new curricular design is under elaboration (plan D). It must be said that the plan C that started its application in 1990-91 represents the most profound and radical transformation in the field of curricular design seen until this moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation of a well field under automatic control implies important benefits mainly as related to the efficiency of the operation and the quality of service. Although this technology was applied in the country already more than ten years ago, at present it is only used in two water supply systems. The main features that must be taken into account for the automatic control of a well field are described in this paper along with the selection of its relevant variables and criteria for adequate choice of instrumentation. The Cayo Redondo well field of Manzanillo water supply system is introduced as a case study and application example. Finally, the advantages of this technology for aquifer evaluation and monitoring are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]