Online course : Introduction to openTELEMAC

Training introduction to TELEMAC-2D

Course Overview
This two-day intensive training introduces you to TELEMAC-2D, from the underlying hydrodynamic equations to the development of real-world simulations.
Through guided, interactive sessions, you will learn how to build, run, and analyze river flood simulations using QGIS, Q4TS, openTELEMAC, and Salomé.
The course concludes with a general introduction to other OpenTELEMAC modules and functionalities, including practical guidance on how to continue learning and experimenting independently.

Target Audience
Online training aimed at students in hydraulics, academics, and professionals from engineering firms or industry.
Prior knowledge in fluid mechanics (Navier–Stokes equations, CFD) is required.
A working installation of QGIS with Q4TS, openTELEMAC, and Salomé is necessary — either installed locally or accessed via Simvia’s Docker images through WSL (recommended, though it requires some familiarity with Linux).

If you experience installation issues or uncertainty, we recommend using Simvia’s preconfigured Docker images:

Docker is designed for Linux environments.
If you are using Windows, you can easily set up a Linux virtual machine using WSL.

Instructor
Louis Haurie, PhD – Theoretical physicist with a strong interest in physical simulation, from mathematical formulation to numerical implementation.
Uses openTELEMAC in industrial support projects to help advance and troubleshoot complex simulations.

Languages Offered
English.

Dates
December 15–16, 2025

Program Overview (by half-day)

Day 1 – Morning : "fundamentals"

  • General presentation of the openTELEMAC system and example applications
  • Theoretical background: from Navier–Stokes equations to Saint-Venant equations — understanding the assumptions behind OpenTELEMAC
  • Overview of Telemac closure models (friction, wind, turbulence, diffusion, advection, etc.)
  • The method of characteristics and its importance in Telemac simulations

Day 1 – Afternoon : "first steps with QGIS and TELEMAC"

  • Presentation of the files required to run a TELEMAC-2D simulation
  • Interactive hands-on session:
    • Use Q4TS’s create_mesh to generate a simple 2D mesh of a river in France
    • Interpolate elevation data to define the riverbed
    • Use projection_field in Q4TS to assign a uniform friction coefficient and define wet boundary conditions
    • Learn to launch Telemac using a prepared command file
    • Visualize and interpret simulation results

Day 2 – Morning : "getting familiar with the TELEMAC system workflow"

  • Structure of command files: syntax rules, reference documentation, and interpretation of warnings and log messages
  • Common Telemac keywords and their meanings
  • Brief introduction to TELEMAC-3D and other modules, as well as additional features (tracers, rating curves, tides, etc.)
  • Guidance for independent learning (documentation, Python scripts, notebooks)
  • Workshop: dissecting the command file from Day 1

Day 2 – Afternoon : "toward reallistic flooding simulation and outlooks"

  • Interactive hands-on session:
    • Refine the Day 1 mesh using Q4TS by interpolating land-use data to estimate Strickler coefficients
    • Modify the command file to simulate a river flood on the refined mesh
    • Run the simulation and perform post-processing in Paravis
    • Edit BOTTOM values to add a levee or retention basin of your choice
    • Critical analysis: Is the simulation realistic?
    • If time allows: coupling with the WAQTEL module to study the propagation of bacteria in a river with a time-dependent degradation law
Online course introduction to TELEMAC-2D, QGIS, Q4TS