Activity 3.4.

4 Web Soil Survey

Introduction

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service operates a National Cooperative

Soil Survey. The survey provides online access to soil data, maps, and information for
more that ninety-five percent of the nations counties. Although an on-site soils
investigation is often needed, the Web Soil Survey information can be useful when
researching the existing soil conditions on a site.

In this activity you will use the Web Soil Survey to gather information about the soil
conditions on the Keystone Library site.

Equipment
Engineering notebook
Internet access
Pencil
Printer
USCS Soil Classification Chart
Plasticity Chart

Procedure
The following website contains the information necessary to complete the questions
below and to research the properties of soil on your site.

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

Use your engineering notebook to respond to the following questions. Rewrite the
question in your notebook.

1. Start the Web Soil Survey by depressing the START WSS button.
2. Use the navigation bar to Navigate By State and County. Define your
site as an Area of Interest using the AOI button on the Area of Interest (AOI)
tab.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 1
 3. Choose the Soil Data Explorer tab.

4. Choose the Intro to Soils tab. Research the information to answer the
following questions in your notebook.

What is soil?
Soil is a naturally occurring mixture of mineral and
organic ingredients with a definite form, structure, and composition.
What are the four classifications of mineral particles in soil?
clay, silt, sand, gravel, stones
What other types of matter can be included in soil?
other rock debris
How is soil formed?
Sometimes crystals form when liquids underground
find their way into cracks and slowly deposit minerals (Minerals, water,
air, and heat)
What is a soil scientist?
A soil scientist studies the upper few meters of the
earth's crust in terms of its physical and chemical properties; distribution,
genesis and morphology; and biological components - via site
description
What is a soil survey?
A survey that generally contains soils data for one
county, parish, or other geographic area
What type of information does a soil survey provide for construction
engineers?
Texture, color, structure, and reaction of the soil and
the relationship and thickness of the different soil horizons.

5. View the Soil Map (choose the Soil Map tab) and identify the soils that
are present on your site by their classification code. Within your design team,
assign each of the soil types to a team member for research.
a. ApBAppling sandy loam, ApDAppling sandy loam, CeB2
Cecil sandy clay loam, and CeD2Cecil sandy clay loam, etc.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 2
 6. Choose the Soil Data Explorer tab, then choose the Soils Properties
and Qualities tab. Search the data and record the following information for your
soil in your notebook. Do not change the default values in the navigation bar, but
be sure to include information for All Layers (at the bottom of Advanced
Options).

o Liquid Limit
25%
o Organic Matter
48%
o Percent Clay
8
o Percent Sand
2
o Percent Silt
17
o Plasticity Index

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 3
 7. Fill in the following table to display each soil property for each soil. You will
have to calculate the Plastic Limit. Use the USCS Soil Classification Chart and
Plasticity Graph, to classify each soil using the USCS classification.

Soil Liquid Organic Percent Percent Percent Plasticity Plastic USCS

Classification Limit Matter Clay Sand Silt Index Limit Classification
(percent) (percent) PL= LL- PI

LOAM 15 7 to >52 28 to
27 perce 50
nt

8. Choose the Suitabilities and Limitations for Use tab.

o Research the limitations for sanitary facilities
on the property. Specifically, research the limitations (if any) for
installation of septic tank absorption fields. Record your findings in
your notebook.

o Research the limitation for small commercial

buildings. Record your findings in your notebook.

9. Print out a soils map and create a soils report for your site. The soils
report should include your research, the soil classification of each soil, the
recommended soil bearing capacity for the site, the suitability of the site for a
septic system, and the suitability of the site for development.

Conclusion
1. How will these findings affect the design and construction of your project
on this site?

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