Urban Soils

Catalog description

This course introduces the student to natural and human-influenced soils. SOILS 404 Urban Soils (3) This course introduces the student to the management of soils in urban and suburban settings via comparisons in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. The soil is also examined as the interface between the biotic and abiotic components of an urban site. Therefore, site management of soil during or following placement is examined in detail. Urban soil physical and chemical properties are discussed in terms of site stability. The interactions between stormwater management, erosion control, soil mechanics, and the soil's ability to support vegetation are examined in the context of sustaining urban environments. The soil design process is presented: site assessment, biophysical analysis, profile construction, specification formulations, and conformance testing and inspection protocols. Professional practical examples such as mine reclamation, brown field restoration, and landscape construction are presented to illustrate the process. The student completes a series of exercises to gain experience in soil examination, soil/land use interpretation, site assessment, soil erosion calculations and a group assignment that evaluates soil issues on a reclamation or construction project.