Spatial variability of soil hydraulic properties at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

Spatial variability of soil hydraulics is a study of determining representative
infiltration rate parameters for use in modeling infiltration characteristics of soil under
tropical climate in terms of geostatistical analysis. This study deals with the spatial
variability of soil hydraulics properties at University Teknologi Petronas (UTP)
campus area. The proposed project allowed understanding and characterization of
small scale spatial variability nature of infiltration characteristics of tropical soil in the
UTP campus area. The aim of the study is to evaluate the variation in soil hydraulic
characteristics around the UTP campus area by performing the double ring
infiltrometer and make a comparison of infiltration rate for each location. Horton's
infiltration equation was calibrated with the data of 50 infiltration tests performed in
different locations. This allowed arriving at a generalized for of Horton's infiltration
equation for the UTP campus area. Variation in soil hydraulic characteristics and
determining field scale flow processes are difficult because of the spatial variability of
soil properties. Methodology of this modeling the spatial variability nature of
infiltration characteristics at UTP campus area includes three parts which are
determination of geogrid locations, field data experiments and computer analysis. The
statistical parameters from the infiltration tests will be presented in statistical and
geostatistical analysis.