Planning a Groundwater Investigation and Modeling Study

Course Outline

This course provides guidance on planning a groundwater investigation and modeling study for engineers, hydrologists and geologists who are responsible for groundwater-related projects. The course materials are based entirely on Chapter 3 of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Manual EM 1110-2-1421 Groundwater Hydrology. Subsurface investigations are a dynamic and inexact science. This course will present basic guidelines for performing a site characterization study, integrating hydrogeologic information into a conceptual model, performing simple analytical procedures, and formulating a computer model of groundwater flow. Specific attention is given to site reconnaissance, initial data interpretation, data acquisition, the formulation of conceptual and numerical/computer models, and guidelines for project management and personnel requirements.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

• Have a better understanding of all aspects of groundwater investigation;
• Be familiar with site characterization and modeling process; and
• Learn the basics about project management and personnel requirements for groundwater investigation.

Course Content

The purpose of this course is to present a general overview of performing a groundwater site investigation and modeling study from a project management perspective. You are required to study the following U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineering Manual:

Chapter 3 of Groundwater Hydrology (Engineering Manual EM 1110-2-1421, 1999 edition, 11 pages, PDF file).

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study.

The following contains the outline of Chapter 3 of the Engineering Manual EM 1110-2-1421:

Engineering and Design - Groundwater Hydrology

Chapter 3 - Planning a Groundwater Investigation and Modeling Study

3-1 General
3-2 Steps Involved in a Hydrogeologic Site Investigation and Potential Modeling Study
3-3 Project Management
3-4 Personnel
3-5 Example of Site Characterization and Modeling Process
3-6 Conclusion

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

USGS - Water Resources of the United States
National Ground Water Association
The Groundwater Foundation
Ground-Water Remediation Technologies Analysis Center

Once you finish studying the above course content you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.org or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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