Teaching the Systems Approach to Water Resources Development. A Contribution to the International Hydrological Programme. UNESCO Technical Papers in Hydrology No. 25.

Because of the uncertainty related to water resources development projects, and because of the multitude of factors influencing their performance, the systems analysis approach is often used as an instrument in the planning and design process. The approach will also yield good results in the programming of the maintenance and management of the engineering works. Definitions, characteristics, and a short history of the systems approach to water resources development are discussed in chapter 1. Manpower needs are considered in chapter 2. Systems analysis in curricula for hydrologists and engineers (focusing on undergraduate programs for civil engineers and post-graduate programs) are discussed in chapter 3. Subjects which are important, if not essential, for systems analysis of water resources are reviewed in chapter 4. These subjects include political science, economics, engineering economy, project financing, mathematics, computer programming, and statistics. Use of problem work and case studies as well as integration with design work, cooperation among disciplines, and management games are discussed in the fifth and last chapter. (BC)