Python for Civil Engineers

This course

is an introduction to programming in Python for people with little or no previous programming experience
is aimed at Civil Engineers: using the analysis of hydrology data as a motivating example
references the Jupyter Notebook, but can be taught using a regular Python interpreter as well
uses Python 3 rather than Python 2

Questionnaire

Please complete this questionnaire at the start of the course.

Prerequisites

Learners should install Python before the class starts. Please see the setup instructions for details.

Schedule

	Setup	Download files required for the lesson
00:00	1. Running Python	How can I run Python programs?
00:40	2. Variables and Assignment	How can I store data in programs?
01:10	3. Data Types and Type Conversion	What kinds of data do programs store? How can I convert one type to another?
01:50	4. Built-in Functions, Help and Errors	How can I use built-in functions? How can I find out what they do? What kind of errors can occur in programs?
02:20	5. Lists	How can I store multiple values?
03:05	6. For Loops	How can I make a program do many things?
03:35	7. Conditionals	How can programs do different things for different data?
04:15	8. Writing Functions	How can I create my own functions?
05:30	9. Variable Scope	How do function calls actually work? How can I determine where errors occurred?
05:55	10. Libraries	How can I use software that other people have written? How can I find out what that software does?
06:35	11. Storing data in Numpy arrays	What is a Numpy array and when is it useful? How can I import and clean data in Python?
07:20	12. Retrieving data from Numpy arrays	How can I select data from a NumPy array?
08:00	13. Visualizing data with Matplotlib	How can I plot my data? How can I save my plot for publishing?
08:50	14. Code Quality	How can I make my programs more readable? How can programs check their own operation? How can I document my code? How can I make my code more reproducibility?
09:30	15. Running your Code as a Python Script	How can I export my Jupyter notebook as a Python script? How do I run a Python script? How can I pass an argument to my script?
10:10	16. Wrap-Up	What else is out there and where do I find it?
10:30	Finish