- WWW Resources
- Catalog Description
- 635 Remediation Geotechnics. (Crosslisted with G L E 635.) I or II; 3 cr. Geotechnical practice
for remediation of sites containing contaminated soil and groundwater is discussed. Topics include
non-invasive and invasive subsurface exploration techniques, methods to monitor for the
presence of contaminants in the saturated and unsaturated zones, and geotechnically-oriented
remedial action technologies. P: Civ Engr 320 & 330. Benson.
- Course Prerequisite(s)
- Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills
-
Expect students to understand and be able to work with basic principles of geoengineering and environmental engineering. Required skills include flow computations and stress and strain computations.
-
Capability to use calculus methods through basic differential equations.
-
Capability to understand and use basic chemistry principles (mass balance, partitioning, first-order kinetics)
-
Capability to use and program spreadsheets for use in analysis.
- Textbook(s) and/or other required material
-
No textbook required.
-
Reading assignments distributed in class.
- Course objectives
-
1. Understand overall process for hazardous waste site assessment, characterization, remedial design, and remedial implementation. (Outcomes b, d, j)
-
2. 2. Understand basic regulatory framework and its influence on clean up of hazardous waste sites. (Outcomes b, j)
-
3. Understand methods and applications of environmental site characterization using hierarchical approach. Methods include surveys, geophysics, direct push technologies, and drilling and sampling. (Outcomes a, b, c, d, g, h, k)
-
4. Ability to design monitoring systems for the saturated and unsaturated zones. Ability to evaluate methods to extract ground water, pore water (unsaturated zone), and pore gas (unsaturated zone) and to specify appropriate methods for use in the field. (Outcomes b, c, d, e, h, k, l)
-
5. Ability to design and evaluate in-situ containment walls constructed with geological materials and/or geosynthetics. Understand test methods and factors necessary when specifying testing procedures. Ability to interpret test results and apply results to design. (Outcomes b, d, e, k)
-
6. Understand mechanisms controlling water-gas phase mass transfer of volatile contaminants. Ability to design and analyze systems to remove volatile contaminants from the unsaturated and saturated zones using air as the carrier medium. (Outcomes a, d, e, g, j, k, l)
-
6. Ability to analyze and design permeable reactive barriers for in situ treatment of reactive contaminants. . (Outcomes a, b, d, e, k, l)
-
7. Ability to prepare design documents in a professional manner (0utcome h).
-
8. Ability to write construction specifications based on results of analysis and design. (Outcomes h, j)
-
9. Ability to apply engineering principles with realistic site information. (Outcomes b, d, e)
- Topics covered
-
Week 1: Background
Introduction
Applicable Regulations
Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Process
-
Weeks 2-3: Non-Invasive Site Characterization
Site History
Site Reconnaissance
Surface Geophysics
Soil Gas Surveys
-
Week 4: Invasive Site Characterization
Penetration Methods
Drilling & Sampling
-
Weeks 5-6: Monitoring in the Saturated Zone
Monitoring Techniques
Monitoring Well Design
Water Samplers
-
Week 7: Monitoring in the Unsaturated Zone
-
Weeks 8-9: In Situ Containment
Types of Cut-off Walls
Backfill Design
Stability
Construction
Caps
-
Weeks 10-12: Air-Based Remediation Systems-Vapor Extraction & Air Sparging
Principles of Vapor Extraction/Air Sparging
Design Considerations
Principles of Air Sparging
Predicting Mass Removal
-
Week 13-14: Passive Reactive Walls
Mechanisms
Design Criteria
-
Week 15: Electrokinetic Soil Remediation
Basic Principles of Electrokinetics
Energy Requirements
Efficiency
Transport
- Class/laboratory schedule
-
Class meets twice weekly for 75 minutes of lecture.
- Contribution of course to meeting the professional component
- This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, and does provide design experience.
The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.
-
-
Discussion of design elements includes issues on economical factors affecting design decisions, ability to protect the environment, and capability to construct the project (i.e., manufacturability). Ethical and political elements are discussed as they pertain to the engineers responsibility to the client and society. Emphasis is placed on the engineers inherent responsibility for the health and safety of the public.
- Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives and outcomes
- This course serves students in a variety of engineering majors. The information below describes how the course contributes to the college's educational objectives.
-
-
This course relates to the primary objectives by providing thorough treatment of fluid flow in geologic media, application of mineralogical principles, and application of soil mechanics principles to engineering problems. Communication skills and professionalism are emphasized through preparation of design documents and construction specifications. Real-world principles are integrated throughout the course through the homework assignments. All of these assignments deal with the elements of the clean up of a local US Army facility (site characterization, analysis, design, and construction). Science, mathematics, and engineering are integrated through the design and analysis loop and through discussion of fundamental factors affecting flow and transport.
- Assessment of student progress toward course objectives
-
Homework is assigned for each major topic in the course to assess the students comprehension of the principles and applications. Homeworks are graded and returned to students so they can assess and improve on their performance.
-
Three exams are conducted that cover all principles in the course. Exams include principles, applications, and design elements.
- Person(s) who prepared this description
