An October 2009 photograph of ACE Geosynthetics’ winning entry from the International Achievement Awards. ACE’s geosynthetic reinforcement survived the deadliest and most-damaging typhoon in Taiwan’s history.
In early August 2009, Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan. The storm was the deadliest typhoon ever to strike Taiwan. More than 450 people were killed, and initial estimates of the property, structure and infrastructure damage has been estimated at USD $3.3 billion.
But one of the lessons learned in this typhoon is that geosynthetic reinforced structures can preserve infrastructure even against such a catastrophic event.
In September, ACE Geosynthetics took home the top prize in the Geosynthetic Projects category of the 2009 International Achievement Awards (IAA). The winning entries in the IAA competition were announced during IFAI Expo, the annual conference of the Industrial Fabrics Association International’s (IFAI). ACE’s winning project comes from a complex road and slope repair in Taiwan.
However, ACE submitted the project for the IAA two months before Typhoon Morakot. Today, the road and wall stand as a testament to geosynthetic reinforcement technologies and as to why the IAA judges were correct in recognizing this project.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
ACE Geosynthetics profile on Geosynthetica
International Achievement Awards (IAA) Geosynthetic Projects
Have an image to share from your site? Contact Chris Kelsey at chris@geosynthetica.net.
Published 5 October 2009
