Containment

The Times of India reports that India's Orissa coastline is to receive about Rs 227 (USD $50 million) of 1200 alotted for construction projects. One of the target zones is in Puri. However, officials would like a 2008-approved geosynthetic erosion-control seawall to be finished first before this new round of funding, which includes World Bank support, is implemented. The seawall was to have been constructed by January 2009 but the process has stalled. Learn more here.;

The UK publication Building has published an article about the challenges of Europe's largest onshore wind farm--and the problem isn't wind. It's building 90km of access roads on peat and other tricky soils at 22-sq-mile site. The solution is a combination of geotextiles and geogrids for separation and reinforcement. It's precisely the approach being adopted everywhere that windfarms are being constructed, and for good reason: it works. Learn more here.;

While we await the open of Geosynthetics 2009 and to report all the news and innovations that are revealed from the gathering, we want to take a moment to remind our readers of a number of key opportunities coming up in the geosynthetics community. Of note, the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) is holding another GMA Lobby Day in Washington DC; T-CLIC returns with more training, short course, and certification events; and the Geosynthetic Institute is offering public and private-focused infrastructure courses.

Henderson County, North Carolina's neutral-revenue tax discussions are telling of the trend in county-level environmental management concerns. Listed among the county's top priorities are school funding, $30 million in new development, erosion and sediment control measures and enforcement, and waste management. Learn more here.;

Even among construction professionals, it's widely believed that building green adds 10% or more to the cost of new projects -- but analysts say such beliefs have little basis in reality. Experts say that although about two-thirds of construction-industry professionals believe there's a hefty green-building premium, studies suggest that in fact going green brings negligible costs or a premium of as low as 1% to 2% Learn more here.;

During the co-located Geosynthetics 2015 and Environmental Connection 2015 conferences in Portland, Oregon (15 – 18 February 2015), North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) held a drawing in the exhibit...

In March 2014, I published “A Brief History of Geotextiles” in Land and Water Magazine. (A copy of that article may be downloaded in PDF here.) It would take...

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 key deadlines (abstracts, early registration) and sponsorship opportunities.

The 3rd Pan-American Conference on Geosynthetics (GeoAmericas 2016) convenes in Miami, Florida April 10 – 13 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This is the first time the event...

Saudi Arabian investors are reportedly planning to pump large sums into developing aquaculture projects not only in the region, but in depressed areas of Asia and Africa. The Saudi-based National Prawn Company (NPC) intends an initial investment of USD 300 million (Dh1.1 billion) to start large-scale fish production in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, says the latest edition of Hatchery International…. Learn more here.;

A five-year review of all of the Commonwealth of Virginia's Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) local programs has shown both good compliance and, where compliance is lacking, quick action to come into compliance. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) indicates that 94.5 percent of the locally administered programs were consistent with state law. Learn more here.;

In an initiative to contribute to the water conservation movement, polymer procession company EMMBI Polyarns Limited has announced the launch of its sophisticated range of water conservation products -- 'AquaSave'. Under the brand 'AquaSave', Emmbi Polyarns would launch a range of water conserving products like flexible water tank (Flexi tank), Rain water harvesting system, canal liners, pond liners and geosynthetics.

Tentative Schedule 09:00 - 10:15 Session 1 - 9 papers @ 8 mins ea. 10:15 - 10:30 Coffee Break in meeting room area 10:30 - 11:45 Session 2 - 9 papers @ 8 mins ea. 11:45...

The Obama Administration this week proposed a budget of $10 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The President's budget includes a $41.4 million increase in tribal funding across the nation, of which $30 million is targeted for the new multi-media grants to tribes to move beyond capacity building to implementation of Federal environmental programs. In the Pacific Southwest, EPA is committed to protecting the health and environment of 147 federally recognized tribes, as well as a tribal land base of over 27 million acres.

By Rebecca Kauten - The Great Lakes and Great Rivers Chapters of IECA represent nine American states (IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MO, NE, OH, WI) and one Canadian province (ON)....

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.;

BASF SE, the world's biggest chemical company, said it plans to outpace the expected 5 percent annual growth in the global plastics market by boosting operations in Asia. BASF's plastics division will report higher sales and a "significant" improvement in earnings in 2010, board member Martin Brudermueller reiterated at a press conference in Frankenthal, Germany. Demand in Asia will grow at 6 percent a year through 2015, he said. Learn more here.;

The deadline for submitting abstracts to Mine Closure 2011 has been extended to February 15. Erosion control and closure/capping systems will be among the key concepts discussed. Geosynthetica encourages its readers to submit. The 6th International Mine Closure Conference (MC 2011) will be held 18-21 September 2011 in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. This conference is a not-for-profit conference and is presented annually in various parts of the world by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG) and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation (CLR). Learn more here.;

Fredericton, Canada's ADI Group Inc. and its subsidiaries ADI Systems Inc. and Geomembrane Technologies Inc. announced they have been selected as a platinum winner in the Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies program. "To achieve platinum status, which involves being recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies for six consecutive years, is a remarkable achievement," said Hollis Cole, CEO of ADI Group, in a release. Learn more here.;

The American Institute of Architects has approved Raven Industries Engineered Films Division as a course provider for the AIA Continuing Education System, the primary source of ongoing professional education for the design and building industry. This approval was effective 1 November 2010, and Raven has prepared their initial course for implementation. AIA members are required to complete 18 hours, also called Learning Units (LU), of continuing education annually. Eight hours must relate to Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) topics, with four being material on Sustainable Design (SD). Initially Raven Industries is delivering a one-hour AIA/CES course, which provides one LU of HSW content. Read more.

Dr. Dennes Bergado writes with news of a gathering in Thailand: Geosynthetics Asia 2012, the 5th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics. The first Call for Abstracts for this event, to be held under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and to be hosted by IGS Thailand, can be viewed in PDF here. Geosynthetics Asia 2012 will take place 10-14 December 2012 in Bangkok.

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 conducted...

It is very rich and prestigious the audience of stakeholders who will take part in RemTech Expo (www.remtechexpo.com), the most specialized event in Italy on the remediation of contaminated...

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Region One will honor winners of its Awards of Environmental Excellence during a special program at Environmental Connection 2015, which will be held...

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Region One will hold its annual conference and exhibition 25-28 February 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. The event, Environmental Connection, provides an enormous opportunity...