Enterprises University of Pretoria. The Vadose Zone: From Theory to Practise Course

The Vadose Zone: From Theory to Practise Course

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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:

Research Solutions

Business Units

Fourth Industrial Revolution