Nicky Araujo, Archie Filshill and John Heap collect awards for SIGSA, CETCO Contracting and Colorado Lining, respectively, during the first IAGI Awards (2011).

Two years ago the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) Board set up the IAGI Installation Awards of Excellence. The first Awards were handed out in 2011 and represented an international range of work and applications. The 2013 I2 Awards have now opened to entries.

In a letter to IAGI Members, Managing Director Laurie Honnigford offered her encouragement to all members to participate in the awards. Open only to projects on which an IAGI Member has worked and free to the association’s members to enter, the awards help raise the profile on their vital role in engineering and construction. For waste management, mining, environmental protection and other applications, the experience and quality of geosynthetic installers has an enormous impact on whether designs are executed properly and installations begin their service lives in optimal condition.

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Members are also reminded that in assembling an entry they should not wait until the 15 January 2013 deadline. It can take a little time to make sure all information is filled in correctly and visual materials are submitted properly to ensure the entry can be used.

In addition to announcing the winners publicly, IAGI shares winning entries with industry publications for articles and write ups. (For an example, see this winning project from CETCO Contracting [now InterGeo Services].)

Each entry is judged by a panel of three industry experts. (These experts may come from outside the association too.)

DEADLINE: All entries are due 15 January 2013.

The awards will be announced on 2 April 2013 during the Geosynthetics 2013 show in Long Beach, California. A ceremony will be held to honor the winners.

For those eligible to participate, please contact Laurie Honnigford at iagi@iagi.org.