Containment

Geofabrics Australasia has developed a suite of videos that explain various standardized tests on geosynthetics. While these videos focus specifically on Australian standards, they are highly applicable to testing...

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.

The 25th International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management conference has issued its Call for Papers. The event will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 14-17 March 2010. It's hosted by the Civil Engineering Department of Widener University and the Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management. Deadline for receipt of abstracts: 31 October 2009. Read the abstract invitation. Learn more here.;

In the 14 May 2009 Business Week S&P Ratings News, Thomas Nadramia writes on how the drop in construction spending was faster and steeper than anticipated; and how stimulus funds might help the industry's recovery. He notes that original stimulus estimates would be close to $300 billion for infrastructure; but that the actual impact may be closer to $130 billion. A focus on roads and water is apparent. And states like California and Texas are sure to benefit more than others. Learn more here.;

The Torrington Telegram reports on its city's problem with old, unlined landfills. It also includes how an 88-acre site operated by TDS Environmental Services, combined with a high-tech garbage baler, may allow for up to 100 years of waste disposal operations. Learn more here.;

American Excelsior has been producing all natural wood fibers often referred to as "Curlex Excelsior" since 1888 and the fibers are still in use today for applications in ceiling board construction, packaging, display, erosion and sediment control and even as a filter media for oil. Now, there may be a use in oil spills and clean-up. Since Curlex fibers have a unique ability to cling to one another due to the "barbs" on each curly strand, it helps the all natural biodegradable fibers create an interlocking effect that adds integrity to the finished product. Read more.

The Board of Directors of SIBUR Holding JSC formed and approved a newly established collegial executive body of the management organization - the Executive Board of SIBUR LLC. The decision on establishment of the Executive Board of the management organization followed a considerable number of issues in SIBUR LLC operation that require collegial consideration and decision making. At the same time the Executive Board of SIBUR Holding JSC will continue to consider issues of strategic development of the Holding as a whole. See the list here.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has published its latest issue of IECA E-Update. This issue includes CETCO's distribution agreement with Tensar for the Triton Marine Mattress System, EPA veteran Steven Bubnick's retirement, new IECA staff members, great deals with EC 10 (Dallas, 16-20 February 2010), the IECA Photo Contest (Deadline: 31 December 2009), and more. Learn more here.;

The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) is to very well attended. Sunday evening opened with an evening reception on the lawn of the host site, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort. Monday morning started bright and early with a 7:30 breakfast in the main exhibit room, which bustled with activity right up until Dr. Thomas Christensen's Keynote Lecture at 8:30. Read more.

A final cleanup plan, formalized in a document known as the Record of Decision (ROD), has been signed by EPA for the Cabot Carbon/Koppers Superfund Site in Gainesville, Fla. The ROD outlines how the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Beazer East will be required to address soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water contamination from the site. With reuse of the site as a goal, the EPA plans to install an engineered capping system.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Texas shale gas extraction, which involves much publicized and criticized hydraulic fracturing of rocks, may be winning the environmental battle. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has openly criticized the state's extraction practices and charged them with contaminating water wells, but new analysis reveals that non-extraction related gas from an acquifer is actually contaminating those wells. The geochemical footprint, operators contend, proves this…and proves greater safety in natural gas tapping than perhaps thought. Learn more here.;

Tri-Tech Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIT), a premier Chinese company that provides leading turn-key solutions for customers in the segments of water resources, water and wastewater treatment, and industrial safety and pollution control, announced today the completion and recent handover of multiple projects for municipal wastewater, solid waste treatment, tail gas control, flood monitoring and control. Read the updates here.

 HS2 is a new high-speed railway under development in the United Kingdom. It will link up London, the Midlands, and the North along lines that serve eight of the...

geosynthetica is always interested in the latest news and articles regarding engineering and geosynthetics. Contact Chris Kelsey for submission information.

Orewa Beach Reef project near Auckland is progressing. Funding is being obtained steadily for the off-shore, geotextile-based artificial reef that will be constructed to stem erosion of the beach. Project supporters cite the success of other installations in Australia and New Zealand and even the acceptance and successful use of geotextile tubes in Florida. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing for public comment a draft permit that will help improve our nation's waterways by regulating the discharge of stormwater from construction sites. Stormwater discharges during construction activities can contain sediment and pollutants that harm aquatic ecosystems, increase drinking water treatment costs and pollute waters that people use for fishing, swimming and other recreational activities. Read more about the proposed Construction General Permit (CGP).

Studies from Europe are finding that municipal landfills can safely incorporate debris that has been contaminated by chemical weapons, such as sarin, mustard gas and VX. Questions about burying hazardous debris arose following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the railways in Spain and London's subway. Researchers found that modern geosynthetic-lined landfills will provide the necessary containment and groundwater protection. Learn more here.;

The latest issue of GSE's GeoVision newsletter includes items on product availability and affiliated support services that can help ease the rising costs of constrution, GSE's regional sales managers, how the HyperNet TRx® geonet and FabriNet TRx® geocomposite offer triaxial high-flow performance with a biaxial structure, and the increase in construction of leach pads to meet global gold-mining demands. View the issue in PDF from GSE's news page.

For years, members of the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers have discussed the possibility of a geomembrane welding competition at a major event. Attendees of these conferences routinely witness...

The Swabian Gate Weir was constructed in 1873 on the Dreisam River in Freiburg/Breisgau, Germany. The historic installation was listed for monument protection, but its decaying state began to...

The latest issue of Compounding World magazine is now available for viewing on-line. Use the link below to see our March 2010 edition in full. This issue includes articles on polymer distribution strategies; developments in antioxidants; the inside story on extruder design; concerns over RoHS revisions; nanotubes are the talk of Tokyo; Chemtura shifts its focus; and more. Learn more here.;

Seaman Corporation is investing $7 million in expanding capabilities at its Bristol, Tennessee manufacturing facility. The company makes, among other things, geomembranes. This latest round of investment is part of a three-year improvement in the Bristol site. Learn more here.;

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced a number of interesting work items, in the wake of the recent meeting in St. Louis. This includes five items covering areas such as nominal thickness of geosynthetics, geocomposites and pavement edge drains, soil-geotextile clogging, and more. Also, Committee D18 on Soil and Rock has items on hydraulically-applied erosion control (HECPs) products and gabions. See the latest here.

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), will host the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GBR-C 2k10) 15-16 September 2010 at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany. Technical sessions will address shear and mechanical behaviour of GCLs, chemical resistance of GCLs, testing of GCLs under unsaturated conditions, behaviour of GCLs in landfill covers (case studies), regulations, new concepts and developments in the use of GCLs, and GCLs for hydraulic and construction applications. Visit the conference's new website. Learn more here.;

Jennifer Hildebrand will lead the Internatinoal Erosion Control Association's (IECA) next free webinar event, "Construction Inspection Techniques That Really Work." This webinar will look at inspection programs that really do work! The focus will be both from the perspective of the inspector for a regulatory agency and the inspector who may be inspecting their own sites. It is worth 1 PDH. Learn more here.;