OpenTELEMAC Training

Practical Information

• Date: April 16–17, 2026
• Duration: 2 days
• Schedule: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM; 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Location: EDF Lab Paris-Saclay
• Language: Oral in French / Materials in English

To ensure an optimal learning experience, each trainer will supervise a maximum of 6 participants.

Training Program

Day 1 – Morning: "Fundamentals"

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

Day 1 – Afternoon: "Getting Started with QGIS and Telemac"

• Introduction to the files required to run a TELEMAC-2D simulation
• Interactive Practical Session:
• • Using create_mesh in Q4TS to generate a simple 2D mesh of a watercourse in France
  • Interpolating elevation data to define the domain around the riverbed
  • Using projection_field in Q4TS to assign a uniform friction coefficient and wet liquid boundaries
  • Learning to launch Telemac via a prepared command file
  • Visualizing and interpreting simulation results

Day 2 – Morning: "Becoming Familiar with the Telemac Workflow"

• Structure of command files: syntax, reference documentation, interpreting warnings and log messages
• Common Telemac keywords and their meanings
• Brief introduction to Telemac3D and other modules, as well as additional features (tracers, rating curves, tides, etc.)
• Tips for continuing self-training (documentation, Python scripts, notebooks)
• Mini Workshop: Decoding the command file from Day 1

Day 2 – Afternoon: "Towards a Realistic Flood Simulation and Beyond"

• Interactive Practical Session:
• • Refining the Day 1 mesh with Q4TS by interpolating land use data to estimate Strickler coefficients
  • Modifying the command file to simulate a river flood on the refined mesh
  • Running the simulation and performing post-processing in Paravis
  • Adjusting BOTTOM values to add a dike or retention basin of choice
  • Critical analysis: Is the simulation realistic?
• If time permits: Coupling with the WAQTEL module to study bacteria propagation in a river with a time-dependent degradation law.