Construction Site Grading and Drainage
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity.
It’s your responsibility to determine whether this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz.
Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
**Any on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Streamable MP4/PDF
You will receive an automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available approximately 10 business days after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later.
**Any streamable on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
The automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available will contain links to the video recording, materials, and program quiz.
To track your purchase, you will need to create an account on the website using the email address used for your registration.
For AIA requirements only, the on-demand recording will have occasional question prompts that will not allow the video to progress unless they are answered, and you will not be able to skip forward while watching the video.
Please note, if you attempt to resume watching the video on a separate device, your progress will not be saved.
Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
You will have unlimited access to the on-demand video recording, and it will never expire.
USB MP4/PDF
HalfMoon will mail these materials via USPS.
USB orders ship approximately 10 business days after the program takes place or after the order is placed, whichever date is later. Please allow an additional 7-10 business days for shipping.
**Any USB on-demand programs that qualify for LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
HalfMoon will contact you and issue a full refund if the product you ordered is not available. However, refunds will not be issued if completion certificates are requested.
Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Monday, April 13, 2026
9:00 am – 4:30 pm CDT
Agenda:
Presented by Dr. Alan Atalah, PhD, PE, ASCE Fellow
Introduction to Construction Site Grading and Drainage
- Project goal & objectives
- Risk concepts
- The hydrologic cycle
- Stormwater runoff
- Stormwater management
- Construction project phases
Understanding and Complying with Legal Requirements
- Why do we regulate drainage?
- NPDES permits steps
- Flood risk assessment report
- Drainage design permit process
- The Clean Water Act
- The drivers behind it
- Key stormwater regulations
- NAHB land development checklist
- Zoning use/guidelines
- Permitting or entitlement process
Site Evaluation
- What is soil?
- Erosion & sediments
- Survey/base maps/mapping
- Hydrology maps
- Soil Survey maps
- FEMA flood maps
- Contour map
- Intensity Duration Frequency (IDF) curves
- Soil permeability tests
- Soils infiltration percolation test
Site Drainage Design
- Objectives of the drainage plan?
- Temporary vs. permanent BMPs
- Erosion & sedimentation
- Stormwater management plan guidelines
- Hydraulic modeling of runoff
- EPA’s stormwater management model
- Technical release 55 (TR-55)
- NOAA-Atlas 14
- Time of Concentration (Tc)
- SWPPP quality A & C
- Best Management Plan (BMPs)
- Site planning
- Structural & nonstructural BMPs
- Infiltration & detention BMPS
- Treatment BMPS
- Sustainability BMPs
- Combined sewer systems
- Rational method to calculate outflow
- Manning’s formula
- EPA BMPs for stormwater
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
- Why stormwater pollution prevention?
- Best Management Practice (BMP)
- Construction site BMP categories
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP)
- SWPPP outline & components
- How to get “permitted”?
- Prohibited discharges
- Erosion & sediment control
- Slowing the erosion process
- Fiber roll protection
- Perimeter sediment control
- Protection of off site properties
- Drainage system controls
- Sediment traps & basins
- Slope protection
- SWPPP quality A & C
Site Grading & Surveying
- What is site grading?
- What its benefits?
- Types site grading
- Grading design steps
- Surveying equipment
- Level
- Laser level
- Theodolites
- Drones & aerial photography
- What is surveying?
- What is a layout survey?
- What is staking?
- Construction staking process
- Construction grading equipment
- Making/reading contour map
Excavating and Backfilling
- Contour maps
- Calculating cut and fill volumes
- Identifying the area of cut/fill
- Borrowing & disposing of soils
- Soil compaction
- Moisture-density relationships
- Optimum density and moisture content
- Measuring field density & moisture content
- Compactive forces
- Soil compaction factors
- Types of compaction equipment
- Compaction and consolidation
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Engineers
6.5 PDHs
Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours
AIA - American Institute of Architects
6.5 HSW LUs
Landscape Architects
6.5 HSW CE Hours
LACES - Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System
6.5 HSW PDHs
ICC - International Code Council
0.65 CEUs (Sitework)
Continuing Education Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers, 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects, and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for landscape architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers, architects and landscape architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) and the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA/CES). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .65 CEUs in the specialty area of Sitework (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
*On-Demand Credits*
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:
6.5 HSW LUs (AIA)
6.5 HSW PDHs (LA CES)
Speakers
Dr. Alan Atalah, PhD, PE, ASCE Fellow
Construction Management Professor at Bowling Green State UniversityDr. Atalah teaches construction management at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). He has taught and mentored hundreds of construction management students since 2000. Dr. Atalah has written many peer-reviewed-journal and conference papers. He has made hundreds of construction management presentations in many national and international conferences and educational seminars. Dr. Atalah has been involved in the construction of water and wastewater projects since 1984. He earned a Doctor of Engineering degree, an MS degree in Civil Engineering, and MBA degrees from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA. After his graduation with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1982, he worked on the construction of wastewater projects in very challenging conditions such as high ground water table, stratified soils, unknown utilities, congested streets, and nearby high-rise buildings. Dr. Atalah also worked on the construction of water and wastewater projects in very challenging conditions such as tunneling in very sensitive tourism and commercial areas where construction disturbance must be minimized on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Construction Site Grading and Drainage
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This 6.5-hour course will discuss site design considerations and requirements, site evaluation methods, and types of grading and provide design strategies to facilitate drainage (including temporary drainage for construction), create site plans, excavate and fill.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to discuss the fundamental site design considerations, including flooding, erosion, vegetation, runoff and pollution prevention.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to evaluate a site through surveys and soil testing and create a site plan which includes grading plans and drainage plans.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to identify existing drainage patterns, understand proposed drainage schemes, consider regulatory and permitting requirements, and discuss challenges, problems and software.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to create a contour plan and discuss how to use grade setting equipment, string lines, laser levels and grade stakes.
LUs: 6.5
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: Experience with site design
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 05/26/2026
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.
6.5 Knowledge Points
Purchase this course using Knowledge Points by clicking the button below.
(Account login required. Knowledge Points can only be redeemed by the owner of the points. Cannot be combined with any other forms of payment)