Finding Soil Material for a Construction Project

Authored by Tej Gautam, Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geology, Marietta College.
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This is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.

Initial Publication Date: February 24, 2013

Summary

For this activity, students will prepare soil maps and data tables using the soil data from United States Department of Agriculture- Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). Using 'Web Soil Survey (WSS)', an online program developed and operated by USDA-NRCS, a small area around Marietta City will be chosen and possible sites for acquiring soil as a construction material for an engineering project will be determined.

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Learning Goals

  • Become familiar with soil types, creating and using soil maps
  • Develop data table and analyzing results
  • Develop decision making skills by finding appropriate sites
  • Analyze environmental sustainability using surface erosional concepts
  • Support your approach or decision with scientific concepts

Context for Use

This is appropriate for upper level undergraduate classes as a lab or a project activity.

Description and Teaching Materials

This laboratory activity involves uing 'Web Soil Survey (WSS)', an online program developed and operated by United States Department of Agriculture- Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), to identify a small area around Marietta City where students choose a location and possible sources of soil as a construction material for an engineering project. Students prepare soil maps and data tables using the soil database from the USDA-NRCS website.

Lab: Finding Soil Material for a Construction Project (Acrobat (PDF) 274kB Feb22 13)

Teaching Notes and Tips

Assessment

References and Resources

Web Soil Survey (WSS): http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

How to use WSS: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm