Correlational of soil permeability and infiltration rate at the ITERA infiltration drainage development plan

Abstract

Physical development has an impact on the availability of groundwater. The limited water surface requires humans to manage available wisely. Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA) is a state campus on the Island of Sumatera and has an area of 275ha. The eco-drain concept attempted to recover groundwater at all masterplan development. This study aims to reveal how much influence infiltration rate has on soil permeability in the ITERA Infiltration Drainage Development Plan. This research used quantitative research using a correlational approach by processing primary data and further analyzing it in the soil mechanics laboratory at the 8 points of the equal research location. Infiltration rate data was obtained using a double-ring infiltrometer and analyzed with the Horton Method, then the sampling at a depth of ±50 cm analysis with the Falling Head Method. Based on the result, there is no correlation between both tests and resulted in different soil types. The infiltration rate test result of the soil type is loamy sand – sandy loam with moderately – moderately slow infiltration classification. The soil permeability type is fine sand or silty clay with medium and low permeability, and the infiltration rate only affected 37.6% of the permeability soil result.