Best Practices Through Field Guides

Whenever you find best practices, you find EXCELLENCE.

In the absence of best practices, you find MEDIOCRITY.

Midwest GeoSciences Group strives for excellence through best practices.   One of the ways we have been honored to help people is through development and distribution of our field guides:

• FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
• FIELD GUIDE FOR ROCK CORE LOGGING AND FRACTURE ANALYSIS
• FIELD GUIDE FOR SLUG TESTING AND DATA ANALYSIS
• USDA SOIL TEXTURING FIELD FLOW CHART

Photo submitted by Adam Goldberg, Hydrogeologist

Despite our pride in creating the field guides, we are humbled when we learn about how they help people.  They have become the Standard Operating Procedure for over 40 companies and have been recognized for their technical excellence.

We appreciate the opportunity to help you in this special way...especially when you're in the field and require immediate assistance --- and turn to processes on the field guides.  Thank you for your trust and relying on Midwest GeoSciences Group.

Pumped About Aquifer Testing

Aquifer testing isn't easy.   Successful aquifer testing is dependent on many technical elements....such as a sound conceptual model, effective field management, robust transducers and data loggers, understanding of data analysis, confidence in recognizing the trouble areas, and ability to deliver a meaningful solution to the purpose of the testing.

With so many possible challenges, Midwest GeoSciences Group is grateful to In-Situ, Inc for hosting our aquifer testing course at their corporate HQ in Fort Collins, Colorado....and their assistance in teaching modernized aquifer testing.

Jim Butler, PhD and Glenn Duffield lead the way during this two day course that demystifies both slug testing and aquifer pumping tests.  Jim and Glenn are great instructors with great insight and we are inspired by great enthusiasm from great participants!!!

Action shot of Jim Butler teaching slug testing.

Glenn Duffield coaching participants during the AQTESOLV analysis sessions

Thank you - most of all - to the participants.   My favorite part of the two days is connecting with and learning from participants about their projects and other fun facts.    This year's participants were an exceptional group of professionals who take great pride in their work and achievements.  We tip our hat to you.

2016 Aquifer Testing Course Super Stars

What does it mean when we say: Taking the Mystery Out of the Subsurface?

Taking the Mystery Out of the Subsurface  means that we are characterizing the sedimentary succession in terms of understanding how sediments are deposited so we can define geologic units and then predict their likely distribution, uniformity or heterogeneity, unit geometries and physical properties.  

It’s not always simple to correlate glacial sediments according to depositional or stratigraphic context.  

While it might seem easier to try and rationalize secondary observations such as N-values from blow counts, soil classifications, CPT values, geophysical measurements, water levels, hydraulic testing, contaminant mapping or geochemistry indicators – the challenge is various degrees of uncertainty remain about subsurface properties on every scale....as you likely appreciate becomes the weakest part of "site characterization"....and jeopardizes our projects and reputations.

We as scientists and engineers know there is a better way - it just takes some meaningful training and education....and the pay off is priceless.

Taking the Mystery Out of the Subsurface ensures:

 - Correct well design and placement
 - Reliable potentiometric-surface maps
 - Ground-water-monitoring system design
 - Remediation-system design
 - Excavation and foundation design
 - Field management of unanticipated conditions

Soil Classifications are poorly understood and often misused for the basis of "hydrostratigraphic units" which can easily lead to monstrous mistakes.

You're invited to participate in a comprehensive online course dedicated to Taking the Mystery Out of the Subsurface.....beginning on November 10, 2016.  

You will never see the subsurface the same again.

Groundwater Assessment and Modeling by C.P. Kumar

Groundwater Assessment and Modeling by C.P. Kumar is a comprehensive masterpiece covering the major topics of groundwater with a special focus on water resources in India.  Dr. C.P. Kumar, PhD authored this treatise based on his lifetime work and mastery of hydrogeology.

The book covers a spectrum of topics from simple data quality to advanced ground water concepts and modeling.  Dr. C.P. Kumar reported that he was motivated to write this book for undergraduate and postgraduate students, hydrgeologists and engineers, and researchers who immerse themselves in ground water science too.

I recommend this book for it's comprehensive coverage of ground water topics...it exceeds 300 pages with more than 20 chapters.  The timing of it's release is perfect with the current demand of assessment and modeling applied to groundwater over-exploitation deserving judicious and scientific resource management and conservation. 

Congratulations, Dr. C.P. Kumar on your outstanding work!!

 -Dan Kelleher 08SEPT2016

Amazon Ordering Weblink Here

Sandi Morris Olympic Pole Vaulter

Harry Morris - geologist colleague and friend - is experiencing the history that his daughter is making at the 2016 Olympics.  His daughter, Sandi, is on the United States Olympic Team preparing to pole vault her way into the history books.

GeoMan Harry Morris at 2016 Olympics in Rio
(Lookin' Great, Harry!)

UPDATE:  Sandi Morris WON THE OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL and set the American Olympic Record in Rio... CONGRATULATIONS SANDI!

Sandi @ 2016 Olumpics

Sandi had an advantage as a vaulter at a young age because her Dad, Harry, was a pole vaulter too.    Not only is Harry a professional colleague and friend to me, he is a fellow pole vaulter.  Although the timing of our paths didn't cross at Western Illinois University, we both pole vaulted for WIU during our college days and we worked together well, but our competitive nature overflowed a few times outside of work.  I admit Harry beat me in a barefooted race when we raced on the grass in our white shirt and ties during a lunch...once.

It's an amazing perspective to see Harry's professional journey from my vantage point:  a friend whom I have a cosmic connection who has a daughter with world-class God-given athletic abilities rising to the top of international pole vault competition.  I'm so, so proud of the whole Morris family.

Anyone with kids in sports knows it's a family affair and I tip my hat to proud wife and mother, Kerry Morris.  Best wishes to the entire Morris Family.    -Dan Kelleher 

Harry, Sandi, and Kerry at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

The MIDWESTGEO SUPER SOIL KIT is comprised of 9 soil samples that classify within eight USDA textural classifications, but have also been classified according to the Unified Soil Classification System. 

This kit is the most powerful tool ever designed for learning how to classify soil with accuracy and confidence! This unique collection of soil samples is classified using not only the USDA and USCS, but includes instructions and helpful hints for simplifying classification procedures in the field.

GeoMan at the South Pole

Congratulations to the United States Ice Coring Program during their remarkable achievement of coring to 1,751 meters!

Pictured is GeoMan Jay Johnson donning his GeoMan SuperHero Shirt by Midwest GeoSciences Group!

Midnight at the South Pole

Gotta Love It.

A Few Ways that On-Site Coordinators Can Enrich a Webinar Experience

We look for ways to improve everyone's webinar experience.  Thanks to participants who have shared their ideas and strategies to enrich a live or on-demand webinar experience and add value along the way.  

Here are some ways that On-Site Coordinators can enrich a webinar experience:

1.       Designate a space that is conducive for uninterrupted events. 

2.       Invite special guests to the event.  Inviting clients and stakeholders to share a webinar at your office through mutual interests.

3.       Create a list of questions before the event.  Prepare questions to ensure your educational objectives are achieved.

4.       Determine your CEU requirements. Understand your licensure CEU requirements and state to state differences.

5.       Be a good on-site host.  Create an environment conducive to learning with beverages, comfortable chairs, appropriate lighting, and room temperature.  Be proactive to eliminate distractions such as individual laptops in your group setting.

6.       Engage the instructor.  Join the Question and Answer Session and then take 10 minutes more to discuss at your site.

7.         Offer feedback.  Assess the quality of the webinar.  Recognize how promotional material may cause a conflict of interest in the educational message. 

8.         Thank your guests and distribute post-webinar material.  Forward post-webinar emails with CEU options to your attendees and invite their feedback too.

You are invited to share how you enrich webinars and add value to the experience too.

Midwest GeoSciences Group offers a Subscription Service for On-Demand Webinars along with live events.   Subscriptions are perfect for training your staff for soil logging, rock core logging, environmental sampling, wellinstallation, slug testing, etc.

CEUs are available from Northern Illinois University.

Creativity for Drone Use is Soaring !!

Creativity is soaring!!!!!  New ideas are becoming reality for drone applications.

Midwest GeoSciences Group invites you to an exclusive webinar event dedicated to drones being used for a spectrum of mapping techniques and geophysical investigations.

Webinar series begins on Feb 9.   Webinar Registration Portal.

New Frontier with Big Potential...and some Potential Big Risks