CTS Webinar: Innovative Soil Solutions for Sustainable Design

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About the Event

Learn about two research projects aimed at transforming waste materials into valuable resources for sustainable soil design and stormwater management in this free webinar. Presentations will cover the reuse of Minnesota waste material in sustainably designed soils and the development of biochar (black carbon produced from biomass sources) specification criteria as a soil amendment for slopes, conveyances, and stormwater treatment systems. 

Tune in to discover how Minnesota's minerals, forestry, agriculture, and industrial by-products can be reused to reduce landfill waste, enhance public health, conserve resources, and cut costs and emissions. You'll also hear about the testing of engineered soil mixes for roadway applications, focusing on stormwater retention and support for native plants.

The webinar is being held in conjunction with a CTS Environment and Energy in Transportation Council meeting.

Speakers

Brian Barry is a research project specialist at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth. His research expertise is in chemistry and materials science. Barry's current work is exploring biochar production, characterization, agglomeration, and inoculation for use as a soil amendment and the production of bio-based reductants from regional biomass resources.

Mei Cai is a CTS scholar, research technical manager, and environmental engineer at the Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, where she has worked since 2012. Her research interests include water chemistry, stormwater treatment, climate change, watershed, and environmental statistics. She is especially focused on developing affordable and effective ways to treat wastewater and stormwater, helping to protect our resources and the environment. 

David Saftner is a CTS scholar, associate professor, and head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His areas of research include the beneficial reuse of waste soil material, geotechnical site investigation and characterization, and teaching and learning in engineering education. He teaches geotechnical engineering-related courses and has earned several teaching and advising awards.

Dwayne Stenlund is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control and inspection at the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where he has worked for more than 28 years. He is involved with design, construction, and maintenance using old and new ecological and sustainable technologies to solve difficult soil and stormwater quality problems. He has presented extensively across the United States on stormwater management technique.

Registration

This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Once you have registered, you will receive an email confirmation with a Zoom link. The link should not be shared with others; it is unique to you.

Please let us know how we can ensure that this webinar is inclusive to you. What accommodations or access needs can we help facilitate? Contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu when you register to help us provide you with the best access.

If you're unable to join us for the live broadcast, a recording will be available here after the event.

Credit

Attendees are eligible for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification maintenance credits.

Questions?

Please contact Samantha Hahn-Douville at snhahn@umn.edu.