A recently published book , edited by Toru Iiyoshi and M. S. Vijay Kumar
“Opening Up Education: The Collective Advancement of Education through Open Technology, Open Content, and Open Knowledge”
The book contains essays by leaders in open education describe successes, challenges, and opportunities they have found in a range of open education initiatives.
More about the book and some sample chapters can be downloaded from here.
Interestingly, while it is presented as “sample chapters”, in fact you can download the whole book under the ‘Creative Commons” license. Very much in the spirit of the book itself!
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An interesting discussion of copyright issues related to education can be found in this article:
Education: where copyrighters and publishers are the pirates
Online Simulation Modeling Course
An introduction to modeling, mostly focused on system dynamics. Modules on Predator-Prey Systems, Hydrologic Modeling, Modeling of Socio-Economic Systems. Mostly targeted for post-graduate level, but can be used in lower level classes as well.
(You will be asked to register, but it’s free)
More about the course concept.
A companion book that is written for this course and contains an updated and revised version of most of the modules is “Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics“.
Modelling, Simulation and Optimization
The course provides a guide on modelling, simulation and optimisation that are fundamental to solving problems in a number of fields of science, technology and life. Students will learn to design, implement, simulate, and optimise a model of dynamic system.
More about the course.
The course is directly available only within Switzerland. More details and course slides are available upon request from Dr. Andrea E Rizzoli.
Integrated Enviromental Modelling and Evaluation
This is a MSc level course by Dr. Carlo Giupponi goes about modelling complex systems, fundamentals of ecology and ecosystem modelling. It aims to provide students with introductory knowledge of ecological systems, in order to allow understanding of the basic elements of the structure and functioning of ecological systems and their relationships with humans.
More about the course.
System Analysis and Integrated Modelling in Climate Change Research
Here the materials and presentations of the First winter school ‘Changes: global change science and policy’ are presented. The winter school organized by Dr. Carlo Giupponi covers topics about climate change, integrated modelling of natural and economic systems, policy development, decision making and modelling tools to tackle these issues.
EPANET is a computer program, developed by the U.S. EPA, which performs extended period (or quasi-steady) simulations of the hydraulic behaviour and water quality model of a water distribution system. A network is made up of pipes, nodes (pipe junctions), pumps, valves and tanks and reservoirs. EPANET calculates the flow through the lines, the head at the consumption nodes, the level at the tanks and reservoirs, and also the concentration of chemicals in the water distribution systems along large periods of time. Besides, it allows calculating the residing times and the origin of water among the different feeding points.
This web page proivdes the downloadable version of EPANET in Spanish together with manuals and examples (also in Spanish). The resource is provided by Dr. Petra Amparo Lopez-Jimenes (contact).
The EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is a dynamic rainfall-runoff simulation model used for single event or long-term (continuous) simulation of runoff quantity and quality from primarily urban areas. The runoff component of SWMM operates on a collection of subcatchment areas that receive precipitation and generate runoff and pollutant loads. The routing portion of SWMM transports this runoff through a system of pipes, channels, storage/treatment devices, pumps, and regulators. SWMM tracks the quantity and quality of runoff generated within each subcatchment, and the flow rate, flow depth, and quality of water in each pipe and channel during a simulation period comprised of multiple time steps.
This web page proivdes the downloadable version of SWMM in Spanish together with manuals and examples (also in Spanish). The resource is provided by Dr. Petra Amparo Lopez-Jimenes (contact).
Computational methods for water resource assessments – an exercise kit
This book editied by T. Kokkonen, A. J. Jakeman, H. Koivusalo and J. P. Norton presents a valuable teaching material that combines theory and exercises. The exercises are developed in a way that encourages readers to explore what happens ‘behind the scenes’ in environmental simulation models. Many of the exercises are also built on real data measured in the field. Most of the exercises are based on Microsoft Excel, which is the only proprietary software required for the exercises of this book and typically available to most students. More information about the book as well as the disctribution package itself is availabale here.