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.

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.
it generally contains:
o 45% Minerals (clay, silt, sand, gravel,
stones).
o 25% Water (the amount varies depending
upon precipitation and the water-holding capacity of the soil).
o 25% Air (an essential ingredient for living
organisms).
o 5% Organic matter or humus (both living
and dead organisms)

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 1
 What are the four classifications of mineral particles in soil?
partially weathered rock
ash from volcanoes
sediments moved and deposited by wind/water
ground-up rock deposited by glaciers
What other types of matter can be included in soil?
unconsolidated organic material is included in soil
How is soil formed? on your site by their classification code.
Within your design team, assign each of the soil types to a team member for
research.
ref
https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
5. 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
symbol, name, rating
WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 33.8

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 33.8

o Organic Matter
symbol, name, rating
WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 0.55

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 0.55

o Percent Clay
symbol, name, rating

WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 26.3

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 26.3

o Percent Sand
symbol, name, rating
WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 47.0

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 2
WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 47.0

o Percent Silt
symbol, name, rating
WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 26.6

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 26.6

o Plasticity Index
symbol, name, rating
WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes 12.2

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes 12.2

6. 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

WkD 33.8 0.55 26.3 47.0 26.6 12.2 21.6 CL

WkE 33.8 0.55 26.3 47.0 26.6 12.2 21.6 CL

7. 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.

Map Map unit name Rating Component name Rating reasons (numeric
unit (percent) values)
symbol

WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to Very limited Wilkes (85%) Depth to bedrock (1.00)
15 percent slopes
Slope (0.63)

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 3
WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to Very limited Wilkes (75%) Depth to bedrock (1.00)
25 percent slopes
Slope (1.00)

Winnsboro (10%) Slow water movement (1.00)

Slope (1.00)

Depth to bedrock (0.85)

Wynott (8%) Slow water movement (1.00)

Slope (1.00)

Depth to bedrock (1.00)

o Research the limitation for small commercial

buildings. Record your findings in your notebook.

Map Map unit name Rating Component Rating reasons (numeric

unit name values)
symbol (percent)

WkD Wilkes loam, 8 to 15 Very Wilkes (85%) Slope (1.00)

percent slopes limited
Depth to soft bedrock
(1.00)

WkE Wilkes loam, 15 to 25 Very Wilkes (75%) Slope (1.00)

percent slopes limited
Depth to soft bedrock
(1.00)

Winnsboro Slope (1.00)

(10%)
Shrink-swell (1.00)

Wynott (8%) Slope (1.00)

Shrink-swell (0.66)

8. 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.

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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 4
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Civil Engineering and Architecture Activity 3.4.4 Web Soil Survey Page 5