Containment

The International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) Indian Chapter (IGS India) has moved forward on its initiative to publish the Indian Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Improvement on a twice-yearly basis, with the first issue covering January-June and the second issue July-December. Read about the articles in and download the inaugural issue here in PDF, learn about the publication's mission, and download guidelines to help you submit material to the journal.

Download the Pro-X4 Extrusion Welder Brochure here.

Extrusion welding is an essential skill on many geosynthetic installations, including the most sensitive liner installations. Demtech Services, Inc.'s latest extrusion welder, the Pro-X4, has added a number of new features for installation crews, including an impressive extrusion output of up to 14 pounds/hour (6.2 kilos/hour). The Pro-X4's custom-built armature and windings and its "bullet-proof" gearbox have been designed to handle the demanding challenges of job sites everywhere. The proprietary temperature control and user interface software display on a large, easy-to-read LCD screen and control panel. And the Pro-X4 has electronic "cold start" protection and adjustable, ergonomic handles for right- and left-handed operation. It's also just 21 pounds...nearly 10 pounds lighter than the Pro-X extrusion welder.

Engineering News Record (ENR) has published a slideshow of the world's ten largest green roof installations. From Chicago's Millennium Park to Frankfurt's airport, Singapore's Polytechnic to Spain's Expo Zaragoza, the piece gives interesting snapshots of the range of innovation in and uses for green roofs. Geosynthetic separation, filtration, drainage and containment technologies are commonly used in green roof construction. Learn more here.;

GSE Holding, Inc., a leading global manufacturer and provider of geosynthetic lining products and services, is pleased to announce the release of a new Leak Location geomembrane with a textured conductive bottom layer. This new combination of unique features provides engineers with increased shear performance for improved slope stability, while also allowing installers to perform Exposed Electrical Liner Integrity Surveys to check for leaks.

ASTM Internnational Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK38128, Guide for Identification, Packaging, Handling, Storage and Deployment of Fabricated Geomembrane Panels. The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee (D35.10 - Geomembranes). Learn more here.;

Coffey Managing Director John Douglas has been listed amongst the most influential engineers in Engineers Australia's annual Top 100 publication. Mr Douglas was recognised in the Consulting category, alongside the Managing Directors from SKM, Worley Parsons, Parson's Brinkerhoff and Arup Australia. Coffey businesses include strong activity in mining, environmental and geotechnical engineering, including with geosynthetics.

The first of three CUGR reservoirs is the 843 acre R-2 basin. When completely filled it can contain more than 9 billion gallons of water! The water will be pumped from the Scioto River by 4 vertical turbine pumps, each capable of pumping 40 million gallons of water per day through the 20,000 foot long, 72 inch pipeline from the pump station to the reservoir. The reservoir is being lined with 37 million square feet of 40 mil polypropylene geomembrane liner fabricated and installed by EPI.

The Geosynthetic Institute's Dr. Robert Koerner (Director Emiritus) and Jaime Koerner (Special Projects Manager) have issued the Geosynthetic Research Institute's (GRI) White Paper #23, "U.S. State Environmental Agency Status with Respect To Reviewing and Permitting Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Landfill Berms." They write in the open that "Many state departments across the country are being asked to approve permits for the construction of large mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) berms usually located at the perimeter of a specific solid waste landfill." Their survey yielded responses from 30 state agencies, giving this white paper significant feedback on the current state-of-practice in terms of regulatory acceptance, preparedness, concerns, and more. Download a copy here (PDF).

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has published the second 2012 issue of its IGS News. Issue 28, Volume 2 is packed with content, including the 2012 - 2016 Election Candidate Profiles & Election Schedule for the IGS Council, a profile of the IGS Council (geographical and professional composition), a "Filtration User" survey, translation of the Society's key mathematical symbols document, a GeoAmericas 2012 conference report, Dennes Bergado's retirement symposium (on climate change and geosynthetics) and much more. Read the issue here (PDF).

Dan Rohe, president of Environmental Protection, Inc. will present information on the use of PVC geomembranes at the Colombian Mining Conference 2012, to be held in Santa Marta, Colombia from July 17 to 19. The conference is the 9th version of the Intersectoral Mining Congress in South America. Conference topics will include items such as new port developments for mining in Colombia, the Infrastructure on the TLC (river), environmental impact analysis vs the growth of the national economy through mining, and the new mining code, among others. Santa Marta is the only port on the Colombian Caribbean that has rail service, which interfaces with the Interior Andino, the valley of the Magdalena and the Cesar coal zone.

On June 28, Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the National Dam Safety Act of 2012, which would reauthorize the National Dam Safety Program (NDSP), first authorized through the Water Resources Development Act of 1996. The NDSP focuses on the safety of the nation's dams by providing vital support for the 50 state dam safety programs. Forty-nine states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have established state dam safety programs; Alabama is the lone exception.

CETCO Lining Technologies has announced the official release of three new product lines in its GCL portfolio. The names of the new product lines are InterLoK, Resistex and Continuum. Each product features a unique engineered clay technology designed by the research and development team at CETCO to enhance the permeability and/or chemical resistance. InterLoK, Resistex, and Continuum GCLs are now available in the U.S. with an expected release in Europe later this year.

ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock has announced work item WK38062, Revision of D6459 - 11, Standard Test Method for Determination of Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) Performance in Protecting Hillslopes from Rainfall-Induced Erosion. The balloted issue regards revising issues associated with Note 7 in the standard. Note 7 reads: "Distribution of rain drop size and intensity over the plot may affect results and needs to be evaluated on a case-specific basis." Learn more here.;

GSE Environmental's "Geosynthetics for Success" Technical Seminar Series returns with two dates in August and another in October. These events bring top-tier speakers together on major engineering topics, new technologies, new designs and more. For attendees, it is an opportunity not only to learn about the latest regulations and engineering approaches but advances in geosynthetic technologies that are helping make some applications possible and others more economical and sustainable. Professional development credits are also available for attendees. In August, the technical seminar series will arrive in Australia, first in Perth (August 7) and then in Brisbane (August 9). In October, the seminar returns to the USA for a session in Chantilly, Virgina. Learn more.

Colorado Lining International, Inc and Castagra Products, Inc. have paired up to bring the containment industry an environmental benign containment solution to market using a safe, non-toxic, vegetable oil based plastic that has a 20-year pedigree of protecting ships and concrete structures. The Ecodur Spray Liner System is also a solvent free spray-on liner system comprised completely of natural products with no harmful manufacturing emissions. It is NSF 61 Certified as a product suitable for use in drinking water storage tanks, piping systems and related structures and surfaces as a lining or coating. Uses include secondary fuel containment, tank linings and coatings, waste water treatment, landscape water containment, fuel storage, and pipeline secondary containment. Learn more.

Manasanat's Mohammad Reza Ashgbousi has provided us with some notes on the use of geotextile tubes to stabilize the harbor front at Bandar-e Anazali along Iran's Caspian Sea coastline. The sea's rise in the late 1970s has led to decades of hard armor coastal protection strategies and land reclamation operations; but the cost of hard armor has risen sharply. Here, they've incorporated geotextile tubes for the first time and found them to be an excellent solution. Read about the project.

CETCO Lining Technologies has published a paper from Christos Athanassopoulos, P.E., CETCO, and Richard J. Vamos, Ph.D, P.E., DAI Environmental, Inc., on "Carbon Footprint Comparison of GCLs and Compacted Clay Liners." Geosynthetic clay liners can have a significant impact carbon footprint reduction in construction when measured against the thickness of compacted clay required to equal GCL performance. The reduction in truckload traffic alone (550 for CCL, 3.5 for GCL in this analysis) represents a significant carbon footprint savings. Athanassopoulos and Vamos's work includes excellent comparative tables of the carbon footprint aspects of site work and two appendixes demonstrating the full methodolgy used to reveal these project savings.

The International Symposium on Sustainable Geosynthetics and Green Technology for Climate Change (SGCC) was held in Bangkok, Thailand 20-21 June 2012 and honored Prof. Dennis T. Bergado, a geosynthetics veteran who is retiring. Prof. Bergado has held numerous leadership positions in the industry, such as serving as President of the International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) Thailand Chapter, Director of Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics (ACSIG), and Secretary General of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS). The event welcomed attendees and speakers from more than 20 countries as critical issues of environmental change were explored in the context of the roles geosynthetics play and can play in mitigating climate change impact.

The Solid Waste Association of North America's (SWANA) 17th Annual Landfill Symposium will convene in Atlanta, Georgia 27-28 February 2013. The association seeks abstract submissions through August 1 for topics such as solar energy at landfills, beneficial reuse gas projects, transitioning from an active landfill to a sustainable income facility during post-closure, landfill design, and more. Submit an abstract here. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Region One has launched its Mentorship Program as a new membership benefit. The IECA Mentorship Program is a way for established members and students or new members to connect with one another and form partnerships of mutual learning as mentors and mentees. This program intends to provide a database of members, who have volunteered to serve as a mentor, to other members.

The upgrade of Delegat's Marlborough Winery wastewater treatment plant included a new 15 mega litre covered anaerobic lagoon for buffer storage of untreated winery wastewater, and a 15 mega litre uncovered storage lagoon for treated winery wastewater. Viking Containment performed the work. Read about it here.

American Excelsior Company has announced the production of Curlex® Bloc shoreline and sediment devices, which are designed to protect shorelines especially where vegetation is preferred. Made from Curlex fibers, the rectangular blocks have a flat surface, which is intended to give a greater intimate soil contact than rounded products. They are designed to buffer strong wave action and flow velocity. In addition, due to its natural fibers, you can plant vegetation through the Curlex Blocs to help enhance a natural shoreline in sensitive wetland areas. Learn more.

The 6th edition of AMI's Waterproof Membranes conference will be held 11-13 December 2012 at Hotel Nikko in Düsseldorf, Germany. This annual gathering focuses on the exchange of technical information on geomembranes and roofing/architectural membranes. Research updates, market data, case studies and manufacturing advances are presented. Learn more about the event, registration, and sponsorship opportunities at the event website. Learn more here.;

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has announced the recipients of the 2012 Excellence Awards. This year's awards honor 41 programs and facilities in 14 different categories spanning the width and breadth of the municipal solid waste industry. The winners will be acknowledged and awarded at the annual WASTECON conference in Washington, D.C. on 14 August 2012. See a breakdown of the winners of the 2012 Excellence Awards by category here.