UNION COLLEGE

Environmental Science, Policy & Engineering Program (ESPE)

Spring 2023

Geoenvironmental Applications

ENS-252

Lectures: TTH 10:55 AM - 12:40 PM, Olin-306. Lab: TH 1:55 - 4:45 PM, Olin-306.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ENS-252. Geoenvironmental Applications: This course introduces field applications related to soil and water. It explores the natural characteristics and testing of soil as a construction material and as a bearing layer. It covers seepage analysis, aquifers, and well fields. It details the components of containment systems for waste disposal to alleviate environmental pollution and contamination. It also presents the basics of water movement in closed conduits and in open channels, and the development of supply networks. For labs, students gain experience in utilizing industry-standard testing methods of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Tests include soil classification, composition, flow and permeability, compaction, compressibility, strength, slope stability, and environmental geotechnology with focus on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) design specifications. Prerequisite(s): Prerequisites: MTH-112 or higher, and PHY-120 or higher. Corequisite(s): ENS 252L CC: SCLB Lecture/Lab Hours Three class hours and a weekly lab.

COURSE GRADE

• Assignments = 25%
• Lab Reports = 20%
• Mid Term Test (6th week) = 20%
• Project = 15%
• Final Examination = 20%

• Attendance of exams is mandatory. If you must miss the midterm test due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control (a letter from the Dean of Students will be required in this case), your 20 points of the midterm test will be automatically transferred to the final exam, i.e., your final will be graded out of 40 points. No makeup for the midterm test will be allowed for any reason. If you miss the midterm without a supporting letter from the Dean of Students, there will be 5 points penalty, i.e., the maximum score you can earn in your final exam is 35/40.
• If you must miss the final exam due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control (a letter from the Dean of Students will be required in this case), your grade in the course will be prorated based on the components of your term work. No makeup for the final exam will be allowed for any reason.
• Due date for assigned course work will be announced in class. Late submission of course work is assessed at -1 point per day or part thereof.
• The academic performance of the students in this course will be held to the standards of Union College's Honor Code.
• Students with disabilities will be accommodated as per Union College's Policy.

TEXTBOOKS

• Das, B.M. (2020). "Principles of Geotechnical Engineering" Tenth Edition, Cengage Learning. [Suggested].
• Koerner, R.M. (2012). "Designing with Geosynthetics" Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall. [Suggested].

COURSE SYLLABUS

LABORATORY SCHEDULE

Lab (1): Grain size distribution of granular soils (for soil classification).

Lab (2): Atterberg limits of cohesive soils (clay).

Lab (3): Moisture-density relations of soils (compaction test).

Lab (4): Permeability of granular soils (constant head).

Lab (5): Unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soil.

Lab (6): Direct shear test of soils under consolidated drained conditions.

Lab (7): One-dimensional consolidation properties of soils.

Lab (8): Unconsolidated, undrained compressive strength of cohesive soils in triaxial compression.

Lab (9): Testing of Geosynthetics

Lab (10): Applications of Geosynthetics.

SPECIFICATIONS OF LAB REPORT

Students will work in randomly divided groups. Groups are to submit lab reports showing their specific test results. All group members will get the same grade, therefore it is the group members' collective responsibility to contribute to the effort of report preparation. Any student in any group who wishes to submit his/her own lab report is free to do so and will be graded independently. The lab report shall include a cover page with the names of all partners in the group, course and test titles, and date. The report itself shall contain the objective of the test, procedure, a clear sketch of equipment used, tables of data recorded, presentation of results in charts and graphs, and conclusions. The report should emphasize the technical aspect of the test. Emphasis of grading will be placed on the technical content of the report as well as clarity, creativity, and correctness of writing.

TERM PAPER "ENVIROTOPIA"

Introduction

Envirotopia is a research-based paper with focus on environmental soil hazards and the efforts made for clean up and remediation. It is also possible to conduct an environmental impact study of a site where a new facility is proposed. Furthermore, one can make site characterization for real estate development the focus of his/her project.

Paper Subject

• Each student selects the paper subject they like to study. Students in this course come from many departments. Students may wish to address in their project a problem that is closely related to their major since soil problems/contamination/pollution has many environmental dimensions. Students may also wish to explore a new field of interest or use a theme of a subject that has intrigued them.
• The Geoenvironmental Applications course covers a wide variety of topics. These topics include soil composition, permeability, compaction, shear strength, consolidation, and recent advances in environmental geotechnology. A quick scan of the above topics, one can immediately see that each and every one of these topics requires an in-depth study of soil properties and structure in order to determine the most proper method for efficient clean up and remediation of contaminated soil. This may also be necessary for site characterization and environmental impact studies.
• There are numerous examples in the literature of well established as well as experimental methods for site clean up. Students are to report in depth on a project of their choice and explain the rationale behind the selection of the method used and its relationship with the site soil conditions and properties.
• Students can select their subject at anytime during the course but no later than the 7th week of the term. All papers must be on different subjects.
• A student that was the first in selecting a given subject would be the only one entitled to it. The earlier you select a subject, the wider the selection available to you.
• You can drop a subject you selected and select a different one as long as this is done no later than the 7th week of the term (provided that the new subject had not been previously taken by another student).
• Once you settled on a subject, upload to Nexus a title for your paper and a brief description of your intended subject. The instructor will provide you with feedback on the viability of the selected subject.

Resources

• Students may collect the materials (technical and non-technical) for their chosen project from one or more of the following sources (in no specific order): the Internet, publications, professional journals, magazines, textbooks, movies, documentaries, and all other credible sources including interviews with knowledgeable and experienced individuals.
• Students are required to cite in their paper all the sources they used in their research in the form of "References", "Bibliography", Works Cited", "Footnotes", or any standard method of citation. Internet sites are cited using the address (URL) of those sites. All other references are to be cited with the name of author, year, title of paper or book, page, and publisher.
• Students are responsible for checking the accuracy of materials obtained from Internet sources. Many Internet sources are not peer-reviewed and may lack credibility. Remember that in this day and age, any one can publish anything on the Internet. This does not qualify published materials to be worthy of an academic endeavor such as a term paper.

Submittals

Papers should be a Word document or PDF. There is no minimum or maximum page limit for papers. In addition to the text, students may wish to supplement their papers with proper photos, pictures, tables, graphs, charts, and figures. Supplementing materials must be referenced at least once in the text of the paper.

Grading Criteria

In their written paper and oral presentation, students are expected to highlight and detail the principles their selected project is founded on. The grade in this term paper will be assigned based on the quality and depth of thought, organization, and relevance of content to the subject under consideration, understanding, clarity of presentation, and demonstration of ability to address questions with comprehension.

The grade in this paper will be assigned based on the quality and organization of the report, relevance of content to the problem under consideration, understanding, clarity of presentation, organization, and demonstration of ability to address questions with comprehension.

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