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Essential Step 1:
THE USE AND MISUSE OF THE UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM:
Improving Field Procedures, Techniques and Characterization

Taking the Mystery Out of the Subsurface® is the single most important factor for:

• Meaningful well screen design and placement
• Reliable potentiometric-surface maps
• Ground-water-monitoring system design
• Optimum remediation-system design
• Excavation and foundation design
• Field management of unanticipated subsurface conditions

The Challenge We Face

Soil classification is poorly understood and often misused for the basis of "hydrostratigraphic units" which can lead to monsterous mistakes.

Professionals struggle with basic field procedures and subsurface analysis skills...in large part because the process is not easy but most of us lack the training to do more than just interpret - or guess at - sedimentary relationships.

The Solution

The first essential step is to accurately classify the soil using the Unified Soil Classification (USCS) and give some context to subsurface units. It's not always simple to correlate sediments according to it's depositional and stratigraphic context.

It's easier to try and rationalize secondary observations such as N-values from blow counts, soil classifications, CPT values, geophysical measurements, water level correlations, hydraulic testing or geochemistry indicators - but various degrees of uncertainty remain about subsurface properties on every scale....and as you're likely aware, this is the weakest part of "site characterization."

Help is on the way. In the webinar, we will:

• Examine the purpose behind the USCS,
• Assess the USCS strengths and weaknesses,
• Teach how to correctly and efficiently classify soils in the USCS, and
• Share some common ways our industry mistakenly uses the USCS.

Unfortunately, the industry's state-of-practice overlooks simple improvements to make the classification a useful characterization tool and often misuses the classification in site evaluation.

Key Points

• Background of the USCS
• Coarse-Grained vs. Fine-Grained Sediments
• Laboratory Methods vs. Field Classification Techniques
• Particle Size Curves and how to understand them
• Poorly-Graded vs. Well-Graded
• Understand the Coefficient of Uniformity and the Coefficient of Curvature
• Lean Clay vs. Fat Clay vs. Silt
• Plasticity Chart and how it applies to fine-grained sediments
• Common mistakes and confusing terms
• How the USCS applies to building the geologic framework, and how it doesn't
• A simple Case Study that illustrates stratigraphic context for soil classification

Continuing Education Units:

Free Record of Attendance Forms are included with each registration for everyone at your Computer Site. Site coordinators are invited to return the completed and signed copy of the Form to us following the course module for (1) maintaining a separate copy as a service to attendees and (2) forwarding to NIU confirming attendance for those who order certificates.

Course Completion Certificate from Northern Illinois University are available for a small administrative fee to NIU. The Certificate is optional and may be ordered separately following the course module to confirm your attendance and showcase the certificate on your office wall. Instructions for ordering certificates will be given during the online course.

Who Should Attend:

Any consultant, regulator or manager who works on ground water or geotechnical projects. This course is considered a mid- to advanced-level course based on past attendee feedback.

What You Get From the Entire Series:

• 6.0 hours of online interactive course instruction¹,
• 1.0 hour of self-guided soil classification and description practice¹,
• 5 soil samples for the workshop practice¹,
• FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS,
• USDA SOIL TEXTURING FIELD FLOW CHART,
• Quizzes, References, Course Notebook with Slides¹,
• Free Record of Attendance Form,
• Option to upgrade soil samples to MIDWESTGEO SUPER SOIL KIT¹ (while they last),
• Option for Personalized Tutorial Hands-On Workshop¹ (while they last),
• Option to order course completion certificate from NIU.
  
  (1) applies to registration for the entire series

Soil Sample Classifications included with the Entire Series:

	USCS	USDA
1	LEAN CLAY (CL)	Silt Loam
2	LEAN CLAY WITH SAND (CL)	Clay Loam
3	SILT (ML)	Silt
4	WELL GRADED SAND (SW)	Gravelly Sand
5	POORLY GRADED SAND (SP)	Sand

Soil sample volumes are about 100 ml (half sample volume of MIDWESTGEO SUPER SOIL KIT)

Five Calibrated Soil Samples With This Online Course

What Make This Online Course So Powerful?
This course is priceless because you will instantly learn how to manage subsurface uncertainties, improve efficiencies, and literally Take the Mystery Out of the Surface®.

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Advanced registration is not necessary but ensures you receive course materials before the course.

Optional Add-Ons:

• UPGRADE to MIDWESTGEO SUPER SOIL KIT: $299¹
• PERSONALIZED TUTORIAL SESSION: Free Munsell Soil Color Book per paid registration²
• CEU certificate from Northern Illinois University: $14.95³
  
  (1) applies to registration for the entire series.
  (2) PERSONALIZED TUTORIAL SESSION is $299 per Computer Site. Restrictions apply and sites are limited.
  (3) CEU certificate available for individual modules or the entire series, following the course. Suitable for framing on office wall.

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Instructor Bio

Tim Kemmis, PhD, PG is a Senior Hydrogeology Consultant and Project Manager for large-scale subsurface investigations. His unique experience as both an applied researcher and consultant has enabled Tim to effectively teach staff at all levels how unravel sedimentary complexities by making fundamentally sound observations, preparing complete and accurate boring logs and confidently correlating geologic units.

Tim worked 14 years for the Iowa Geological Survey, during which he received his Ph.D., and where he:

• Carried out glacial sedimentologic investigations
• Remapped the Des Moines Glacial lobe
• Established the formal glacial stratigraphy for the lobe based on depositional environments
• Discovered a new type of hummocky glacial topography
• Determined the geometry and origin of jointing in glacial tills
• Developed a lithofacies code to decipher the history of glacial outwash and alluvial sequences

Tim worked 15 years for Earth Tech, on a variety of hydrgeologic and geotechnical projects, where he:

• Created project standards for soil boring logging and subsurface characterizations
• Provided technical and expert witness support
• Managed hydrogeologic and geotechnical projects around the world
• Mentored and trained staff
• Helped clients achieve their financial objectives when faced with technical challenges

Tim is a co-founder of Midwest GeoSciences Group and has successfully taught many courses and webinars dedicated to improving boring logs and helping geologists think on their feet.

Tim received his bachelor's degree in agricultural soil science from the University of Illinois and his master's degree in glacial geology while working as a graduate assistant at the Illinois State Geological Survey.