Infrastructure has become a very hot topic, as the American economy’s slump has finally encouraged government to dedicate significant money to infrastructure repair and development. Economists, including the most recent Nobel laureate (Paul Krugman), have strongly encouraged the new Congress and presidential administration to invest heavily in roads, water and so forth.
On Monday, January 19, on the eve of President-elect Obama’s inauguration, Democrats in the United States House of Representatives released initial details of a proposed $825 billion plan to spur the economy. This includes $85 billion for infrastructure.
GSI’S TIMING COULDN’T BE BETTER
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has scheduled two infrastructure short courses for users (new and experienced) of geosynthetics. These much-needed educational opportunities couldn’t have emerged at a better time.
It’s worth noting that geosynthetic materials are required for the solid waste industry in the United States, and when the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) last released grades for 13 major sectors of infrastructure in the US, the top grade awarded went to the solid waste industry. It was the only sector ASCE felt was coming close to keeping up (awarding it a C grade).
[The next ASCE report card will be issued in March 2009 with a summary coming at the end of January.]
The courses focus on public and private sector use of geosynthetics (with one course being dedicated to each). Each course will be offered twice during the spring. The dates for the one-day sessions are as follows:
- Infrastructure Development Using Geosynthetics: Public Sector Projects – March 23 and April 13
- Infrastructure Development Using Geosynthetics: Private Sector Projects – March 24 and April 14
ABOUT THE COURSES
Public Sector Projects – Focused on the design, testing and construction of geosynthetics used in new and remediated public sector infrastructure facilities such as paved highways, unpaved roads, railroads, retaining walls, steep soil slopes, embankments, filters, drains and erosion control systems. The geosynthetic materials utilized are the following: geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), and geocomposites.
COURSE BENEFITS: the course provides the latest information on design, testing and installation of geosynthetics in infrastructure related systems. Included are considerations taken from many areas of geotechnical engineering. The thrust is design-by-function leading to the determination of a factor-of-safety. Numerous examples are presented. A quantitative approach toward the proper design of geosynthetics in this important area is presented. Course notes are provided.
AUDIENCE: Federal, state and regional transportation engineers and related personnel; engineers from municipal districts and townships; municipal land developers; consulting engineers and testing laboratories servicing these organizations; manufacturers and representatives of geosynthetic materials; contractors and installers of geosynthetic materials; academic and research groups; and others desiring technically related information in this important aspect of public infrastructure systems.
Private Sector Projects – Focused on the design, testing and construction of geosynthetics in new and remediated private sector infrastructure facilities as used in the following application areas: shopping centers/industrial development; housing/apartment development; storage/staging area development; parks/playground development; golf courses/sport fields; race track/trails/pathway development; agricultural ponds and lagoons. Included are the following geosynthetic materials: geomembranes, geotextiles, geonets, geogrids, geosynthetic clay liners, geocomposites, and geopipe.
BENEFITS: the course provides the latest information on design, testing and installation of geosynthetics in the above listed broad range of private infrastructure development areas. The thrust is design-by-function leading to determination of a factor of safety. Numerous examples are presented. A quantitative approach toward proper design of geosynthetics in this important area is presented. Course notes are provided.
AUDIENCE: Owners, site developers, architects, specifiers, designers, landscape architects, operators and maintenance personnel of the above listed development areas; geosynthetics manufacturers and representatives; consulting engineering and testing laboratories; and related insurance carriers and financial organization personnel.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Drs. Robert and George Koerner will serve as instructors for both courses, which will be held at the Geosynthetic Institute in Folsom, Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia.
Additional course information can be found here.
For registration information, please contact:
Geosynthetic Institute
Marilyn Ashley
475 Kedron Ave
Folsom, PA 19033-1208
USA
+1 610 522 8440
Fax +1 610 522 8441
Email mvashley@verizon.net
http://www.geosynthetic-institute.org
Chris Kelsey is geosynthetica.net’s editorial director. He may be reached at chris@geosynthetica.net. Your event and project information and submissions are welcomed.
