Finding Soil Material for a Construction Project

Authored by Tej Gautam, Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geology, Marietta College.

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.

Soils, Geoscience, Soils and Agriculture, Engineering | College Lower (13-14) | Local Issues

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Topics

Soils, Geoscience, Soils and Agriculture, Engineering

Grade Level

College Lower (13-14)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice

Local Issues: Providing students with experiences that draw on local needs and conditions demonstrates relevance and highlights opportunities close to home.

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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)