LEARNING TO FIELD CLASSIFY SEDIMENTS Using the Unified Soil Classification System
Course Date:
December 17, 2025 (Wednesday) 10:00AM - 12Noon
Location:
Training Room Atlas Technical Consultants 7988 CenterPoint Drive, Suite 100 Fishers, IN 46256
Instructor:
• Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM
Continuing Education Information:
2.0 Professional Development Hours 0.2 Continuing Education Units Certificate provided by Midwest GeoSciences Group
NY Professional Geologists and Professional Engineers receive a special NY SED-approved CE certificate from Midwest GeoSciences Group (Approved CE Provider #213).
Indiana PGs for 2.0 PDHs.
Pennsylvania PGs eligible for 120 minutes.
New Hampshire PGs eligible for 2.0 PDHs.
Delaware PGs eligible for 2.0 PDHS.
North Carolina PGs eligible for 2.0 PDHs.
South Carolina PGs eligible for 2.0 PDHs.
Texas PGs eligible for 2.0 PDHs.
Who should attend:
This training is designed for the people who go in the field for subsurface investigations.
Do you want this training privately for your team? Contact Dan Kelleher at dan@midwestgeo.com or call 763.607.0092 for a quote and to schedule a date.
Course Details
Learn the field procedures for classifying soil according to the Unified Soil Classification System.
Most universities don't teach USCS field procedures, even when they teach soil lab testing methods. Plus, it's rare when corporations teach the standard methods and procedures for field soil classification. To compound the challenge, there's different soil classification systems designed for specific project types that share terminology but have different definitions.
Get clarity and defuse the confusion. There are nuances to using the USCS that make it simple to grasp the proper procedures. This training reveals those nuances to efficiently classify sediments in the field, consistently and reliably.
Theres a big advantage to quickly classifying sediments while soil samples are rapidly being collected during a drilling program.
Learn to differentiate silt from clay and assign USCS GROUP NAMES and SYMBOLS according to procedures. Learn the difference between well-graded sand from poorly-graded sand, and the precise requirements for each classification.
Each soil classification system was created for a purpose. And while each classification system has merit, none of them are perfect. Learn the gaps within the USCS and know how to fill them in using standard methods and terminology.
The USCS is the most widely-used soil classification system in the world, but like all soil classification systems, it does not identify the geology. And it's understanding the geology that allows us to take the mystery out of the subsurface.
Registration
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Limited seating.
This course is limited to 20 students. First come, first served.
Advanced registration is necessary for participation in this limited-enrollment short course. Pre-registration is required to reserve space and receive course materials. If you require special arrangements for equipment or handicap facilities, please indicate when registering for the course.
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:
Two hours of instruction and practice, a FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS, instructional handout, post-training quiz, and a Course Completion Certificate.
Calibrated soil samples are used for teaching and practicing both fine-grained soil and coarse-grained soil.
No food or beverages served for this two-hour training event.
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
Purchase your own soil samples to take home. There's no shipping charges since the samples are distributed at the training location.
Item No 1: USCS Calibrated Soil Kit for $224.00.
CANCELLATIONS:
No Refunds.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
One substitute may be allowed for one registration in case the original registrant cannot attend.
QUESTIONS:
Contact Dan Kelleher at either 763.607.0092 or dan@midwestgeo.com
Do you want this training privately for your team? Contact Dan Kelleher at dan@midwestgeo.com or call 763.607.0092 for a quote and to schedule a date.
Instructors
Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM
Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM is a hydrogeologist dedicated to hydrogeological and geotechnical analysis of sedimentary sequences, aquifer testing, fractured rock hydrogeology, and predictive ground water modeling. Dan's business acumen promotes personal trust, integrity, and relentless QA/QC.
Dan leads specialized technical teams for challenging projects and facilitates educational courses and webinars for geologists, engineers and environmental scientists.
He and Tim Kemmis co-founded of Midwest GeoSciences Group to simply professionals to do better job of TAKING THE MYSTERY OUT OF THE SUBSURFACE (R), this course is part of the journey.
Venue and Accommodations
CLASSROOM VENUE:
Training Room
Atlas Technical Consultants
7988 CenterPoint Drive, Suite 100
Fishers, IN 46256
REGISTRATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Advance registration is necessary for participation in limited-enrollment events. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Safety and integrity is paramount. Each participant is responsible for his/her own safety and agrees to help keep all other participants safe. No harassing behavior or intimidation is acceptable. All affiliates of this course want each participant to feel comfortable during our events.
One substitute may be allowed for one registration in case the original registrant cannot attend.
No refunds.
COVID: All affiliates for this event follow the COVID protocols set forth by the property owner.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY: In consideration of my presence during any and all activities associated with this event, I grant Midwest GeoSciences Group the unrestricted, nonexclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, worldwide, perpetual right, Midwest GeoSciences Group sole and absolute discretion, to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display my name, likeness, persona, appearance, picture, silhouette and/or any recording or other reproductions of my physical likeness, voice and/or sounds made by me (collectively, the "Image"), in any manner whatsoever. I hereby voluntarily relinquish any right that I may have to examine or approve the Image or any products or promotional materials that may be used in conjunction therewith.
I agree to defend, hold harmless and indemnify Midwest GeoSciences Group and their benefactors for and from any judgments, suits of law or equity or any damages which may be proximately caused by the actions and/or omissions by me in the execution of its rights and duties under the terms and conditions of this agreement.
If you are reading this, thank you. We want this experience to be positive in every way for everyone.
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