Practical Site Design and Engineering
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@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.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
9:00 am – 4:30 pm CDT
Agenda:
Addressing the Multiple Purposes of Site Engineering
Presented by Daniel P. Messmer, PE, D.GE
- Engineering for built elements
- Slope stabilization
- Stormwater management
- Landscape aesthetics
- Sustainability goals: minimizing disturbance and preserving natural features
Site Plans
Presented by Daniel P. Messmer, PE, D.GE
- Site plan contents
- Soil investigation and considerations
- Surface water and groundwater considerations
- Excavation specifications and hauling
- Construction grade staking
- Paving and surfacing
Break
Considering the Impact of Soils and Topography
Presented by Daniel P. Messmer, PE, D.GE
- Understanding the role of soils
- Soil characteristics, classification and engineering properties
- Identifying the underlying geological conditions
- Understanding the watershed
- Considering site topography
Lunch
Site Grading
Presented by Daniel P. Messmer, PE, D.GE
- Grading for roads, sidewalks and paths
- Grading for stairs and ramps
- Grading for retaining walls
- Grading slopes
Site Engineering for Stormwater Management and Erosion Control
Presented by Alan Atalah, PhD, PE, ASCE Fellow
- Reviewing state and local regulations
- Overarching concepts: erosion vs. sedimentation
- Ways to reduce soil erosion
- Drainage systems
- Slope stabilization
- Ways to steer/control sediments to designated spots
- Sediment traps and basins
- Establishing proper building material handling and storage
- Establishing equipment/vehicle fueling and maintenance practices
- Stormwater management plan components
Break
Doing Earthwork and Maintaining Safety
Presented by Alan Atalah, PhD, PE, ASCE Fellow
- Stripping and excavating soil
- Weight of soil and excavation hazards
- Underground installations
- Water accumulation
- Equipment safety
- Tipping loads for excavators and cranes
- Safe distance from power lines
- Traffic control plan
Dewatering Overview
Presented by Alan Atalah, PhD, PE, ASCE Fellow
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
Pending
This webinar offers 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers, 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for 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 HalfMoon Education as a Preferred Provider of continuing education (No. 1232). Course approval is currently pending in the specialty area of Sitework.
Visit halfmoonseminars.org for updates on pending credits.
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 credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards or organizations. Please verify your licensing board accepts on-demand learning. The on-demand format is approved for the following:
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.
Daniel P. Messmer, P.E., BC. GE
Project Manager with The Gateway Engineers, Inc., in PittsburghMr. Messmer has over 30 years of engineering experience in analysis, design, plan/specification development, and project management/personnel supervision for geotechnical, foundation and structural engineering projects in the transportation, industrial, municipal and commercial fields of civil engineering. Throughout his career he has placed an emphasis on quality control and staff training. Mr. Messmer is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. He earned his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Messmer was accepted into the Academy of Geo-Professionals in 2013.
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: Practical Site Design and Engineering
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This 6.5-hour course analyzes site design and engineering practices, focusing on serving the fundamental purposes of site engineering, including slope stabilization, stormwater management, erosion control, sustainability and grading. The course explores the impact of soils and topography, examines site plans and provides guidance on performing earthwork while maintaining safety.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to identify the key purposes of site engineering, such as stormwater management, slope stabilization, and minimizing environmental impact, and explain how those purposes are achieved through design.
Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to interpret site plans, including soil assessments, excavation details, and construction staking, as well as identify surface water and groundwater considerations.
Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to apply grading techniques for roads, ramps, sidewalks, retaining walls, and slopes based on soil characteristics and topography.
Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to implement stormwater and erosion control measures by understanding drainage systems, sediment control, and regulatory requirements.
LUs: 6.5
LU Type: LU|HSWs
Prerequisites: Experience with site design and evaluation
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 10/22/2027
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)