Conference tackles key issues for soil research using electromagnetic waves
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The two-and-a-half-day event, "TDR 2006: 3rd International Symposium and Workshop on Time Domain Reflectometry for Innovative Soils Applications," will bring about 100 soil and geotechnical engineering experts from around the world, including C. Clarke Topp, to the West Lafayette campus.
Topp, who is based in Ottawa, Canada, and is the honorary chair of conference, is a soil physicist who helped pioneer the process of using time domain reflectometry, or TDR, for improving field measurement of soil water and physical properties.
"TDR measurements on soil is a field that crosses many disciplines – agriculture, engineering, electronics, soil science, physics and construction quality control," said Vincent Drnevich, professor of civil engineering and the chairman of the conference. "It is relatively new field that is attracting significant interest worldwide. Research at Purdue in this field led to several patents and to a commercial product that will be among the exhibits at the conference."
Time domain reflectometry is a method using electromagnetic waves to measure the electrical properties of materials like soil. Electrical properties are strongly related to physical and chemical properties of soils that are of interest to scientists and engineering dealing with soils.
Electromagnetic waves are generated in most cases by the application of a low-level direct current voltage to the soil through a probe consisting of rods or spikes embedded in the soil. This voltage is applied ultra quickly, and some of it is reflected back to the sending device. The "signature" of the reflected signal carries information about the electrical properties of the material surrounding the probe.
"Clarke Topp is considered the father of applying the technology of electromagnetic waves to soil research," Drnevich said. "Goals of these types of research efforts are to determine how much water is in soil, the density of soil and to identify the soil texture.
"This research helps engineers determine the suitability of soils beneath roads, foundations for buildings and for other types of construction and to monitor changes to those soils over seasonal variations. Also, it helps scientists in agronomy, soil science and agriculture determine the suitability of soils for supporting plant growth."
Topp is a fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and of the Soil Science Society of America. His research focus has been improving field measurement of soil water and physical properties. He was awarded the Applied Research Award by the Soil Science of America and the Innovator Award by the Canadian Government to Industry Technology Transfer Partnership.
Each session will start with a plenary lecture given by a noted researcher in geotechnical engineering or soil science and will include shorter talks on topics that include geotechnical applications, hydrological applications and innovations, challenges and future opportunities.
One of the plenary lecturers of J. Carlos Santamarina of Georgia Tech, who completed his doctoral studies in geotechnical engineering at Purdue.
This is the first time Purdue has held the conference. Registration will be from 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 17) in the Anniversary Drawing Room of the Purdue Memorial Union. Most of the conference sessions will be in Purdue's Stewart Center, Room 304.
Registration for the conference is $400. Students and untenured faculty can participate for $75. One-day registrations are available. Detailed information about the conference can be found online.
Writer: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, csequin@purdue.edu
Source: Vincent Drnevich, (765) 494-5029, drnevich@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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