Loading...
The Vadose Zone: From Theory to Practise Course
Brief Description
The Vadose Zone: From Theory to Practice workshop focuses on the vadose zone and on the role of unsaturated mechanics in variably saturated fractured and weathered rock, complex soils such as residuum. It covers implications and applications including Lugeon tests, tracer tests, testing of fractured rock, urban vadose zone, and geotechnical and hydrological matters and investigation. It entails sessions with speakers who will also interact with the audience. Join us for this event to learn more about the vadose zone.
The vadose zone links the land surface with the groundwater table affecting groundwater recharge and quality, the properties of geological materials in engineering, and living ecosystems. The science is complex because it is subject to differences in scale from pore scale to regional scale. It affects the movement of water that changes with changing water content, and it differs across spatial and temporal dimensions.
This workshop focuses on the vadose zone and on the role of unsaturated mechanics in variably saturated fractured and weathered rock, complex soils such as residuum, and saprolite, and the interface between soil and rock. The vadose zone also determines and affects urban applications such as excavations, contamination, seepage, drainage, groundwater dependent ecosystems, and land use planning.
 
 

Learning Outcomes
After successfully attending this workshop, you will be able to
Think differently about the water cycle and the rock cycle
Understand what happens in soil and rock, and how very small water content changes can have significant consequences
Appreciate where this fits into town planning and environmental impact assessments, and the associated developments like cemeteries and permeable pavements
Communicate with people about what’s happening below their feet
Understand where groundwater come from, and why water has so many implications on development
Understand applications, including cemeteries, packer (Lugeon) tests, tracer tests, and rock excavations
Understand why engineering geology, hydrogeology, hydropedology, and hydrology are the first reports for environmental impact assessment


Course Content
Day 1
Earth Materials
Vadose Zone Hydrology
Unsaturated Soils
Fine-grained Residual Soils
Fractured Rocks in the Vadose Zone
Discussion
 
Day 2
Lugeon Tests and Dam
Tracers and Tracer Testing in Rocks
Testing of Fractured Rock
Urban Vadose Zone and Cemeteries
Geotechnical Matters and Investigation
Hydrological Matter and Investigation
The Way Forward
 
The Vadose Zone: From Theory to Practice carries:
2 SACNASP CPD Points
2 ECSA CPD Points
Entry Requirements

Honours/ HQESF 8 and above.

Course Number:
P002601
Catalogue and Category:
Environmental Management and Geophysics
Who Should attend:

The course is intended for any individual who wants to better understand and appreciate the science of the Vadose Zone,  such as practicing water scientists, earth scientists, postgraduate students, town planners, municipal engineers, geotechnical and water engineers, environmental scientists, and academics.
The workshop is pitched at HQESF 8 level.


Delivery Mode:
Contact Sessions
Contact Days:
2