Containment

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 website for the latest. Learn more here.;

NAUE GmbH and Co. KG, international manufacturers of high-quality geosynthetics such as Secugrid® geogrids and Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners, invites engineers, contractors, regulators and other professionals involved with geosynthetics to take a break--and take on NAUE's Gridator. Introducing: GoalGrid. GoalGrid is a free game available online (www.naue.com), and it comes just in time for the world's biggest single sport event: the FIFA football World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Learn more and play.

The dispute continues over whether England's first artificial reef--created with the placement of geotextile bags--has fulfilled its goals. Some (including many surfers, for whom the reef was ostensibly created) believe it has achieved only 4 of 11 stated goals. The design team believes it has met 10 of 11 goals. But what everyone seems to agree on is the undersea life it has promoted. The reef has developed vegetation and fishing has improved. Two studies are tracking it. Learn more here.;

SpectraPave Software is an interactive design/analysis tool that incorporates the state-of-practice design methodologies for both flexible pavements and unpaved roads. The program features both design and cost analysis tools for evaluating and quantifying the benefits of Tensar® TriAx (TX) Geogrid for unpaved applications such as haul roads and working surfaces. SpectraPave4 Software, released in February 2010, incorporates the unpaved haul road design methodology developed by Dr. J.P. Giroud and Dr. Jie Han and has been calibrated and validated for the new TriAx Geogrid product. Learn more and download a copy. Learn more here.;

The EPA is nearing the end of its air emissions monitoring study, begun in 2005, according to Bill Schrock, with the EPA’s office of air quality planning and standards. Schrock updated the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Agricultural Waste Air Emissions Advisory Group on the study at a recent meeting in Madison. The advisory group’s task is to suggest best-management practices for ammonia and hydrogen sulfide emissions from livestock farms. Learn more here.;

More than 60 members of the Industrial Fabrics Association International are preparing products for clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico following the April 20 explosion of the BP-owned Deepwater Horizon oil rig. The oil gusher at the source of the spill, located 5,000 feet below the ocean surface and about 40 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast, is emitting an estimated minimum of 210,000 gallons of oil per day with a possible maximum of more than 10 times that amount. Learn more here.;

The Essential Eurocodes Transition Guide is a user-friendly guide that brings together leading experts from the Eurocode community to share key insights into the use and application of the new codes, focussing on how users can make the transition as quickly and painlessly as possible. In addition to coverage of the underlying structure, and industry view of the Eurocodes, individual chapters address the technical aspects of each Eurocode and will be an invaluable aid to practising civil and structural engineers, as well as regulators, academics and students and all those involved with the structure and design of public sector dwellings at this time of change in industry. Learn more here.;

Ausenco Limited (ASX: AAX) today announced the agreement of a new global banking facility with ANZ Bank and HSBC Bank. The new joint banking facility for $155.2 million with ANZ and HSBC increases Ausenco's global bonding capacity, incorporating extended debt and performance guarantee / bonding facilities. Ausenco Chief Executive Officer Zimi Meka said the extended facilities provided Ausenco with funding certainty and stability to support future growth.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups. In many cities, SSOs and basement backups occur because of blockages, broken pipes and excessive water flowing into the pipes. SSOs present environmental and health problems because they discharge untreated wastewater that contains bacteria, viruses, suspended solids, toxics, trash and other pollutants into waterways. These overflows may also contribute to beach closures, shellfish bed closures, contamination of drinking water supplies and other environmental and health concerns.

TIE Technologies, Inc. (Pink Sheets:TTCS), an information technology, security and telecommunications company, and Geocomp Corp., a global leader in geo-engineering, today jointly released the details of the OilDam® product designed to mitigate damage from the Gulf oil spill. OilDam® is a comprehensive solution--utilizing geosynthetics--which can be immediately deployed to provide a reliable means to keep the oil from reaching the shore, contain it and enable its removal.

The Middle East will be a leading producer and exporter of plastic resins within the next five years, with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) capacity in the region slated to more than double by 2015. The Middle East plastics industry is expected to grow 30 percent a year. This phenomenal growth rate, and the consequent further investment and industrial development opportunities presented have prompted the organization of the First GPCA Plastics Summit, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on 14-16 June 2010.

In a bid to meet unrelenting demand, oil boom manufacturers are working around the clock to supply their product to the Gulf Coast oil spill, with the ecological disaster creating opportunities for plastics sheet foam in particular. Protective and flexible packaging manufacturer Pregis Corp. has seized on the opportunity to promote its Microfoam low-density polypropylene (PP) sheet foam, looking to beat out polyethylene (PE) alternatives. Learn more here.;

As a gateway for the region, Egypt's plastics industry boasts a rapid a growth rate which is fueled by industrial modernization initiatives spearheaded by the Egyptian government. According to 2005/06 figures, there are 1,276 factories in Egypt with total market volume of $4.03 billion and total investments reaching about $4 billion. Egypt consumed plastic materials and resins worth nearly $1.6 billion. Demand is expected to grow at 10 percent annually for the next three years, due to the increasing number of newly established factories. Additionally, Egypt exports plastics to the Gulf region. Learn more here.;

Poly(vinyl chloride) is applied in almost every aspect of our lives because it is easily modified and inexpensive. However, it is characterized by poor heat and UV resistance due to the presence of some abnormal structures that originate from synthesis. Such groups include unsaturated double bonds, allylic chlorines and branch points. Addition of thermal stabilizers is, therefore, required to prevent thermal degradation during processing (which usually occurs at temperatures of 150–180°C). Commonly used thermal stabilizers for PVC belong to one of four categories: lead salts, metal soap, organotin compounds and some auxiliary stabilizing materials. Learn more here.;

Global construction activity is expected to remain flat during 2010 and then grow nearly +5% in 2011 according to the latest report from IHS Global Insight. Learn more here.;

The World Bioenergy Award was awarded for the first time at the inauguration of the World Bioenergy international conference and trade fair on 25 May in Jönköping, Sweden. Competition was stiff, with 90 nominees from around the world. Seven finalists had been selected from among the nominees. The jury chose Laércio Couto as the winner because thanks to his practically focused research he has proven that it is possible to combine consideration for the environment with energy production.

Construction work has been started in the territory of Ust-Luga merchant seaport under the construction project of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transshipment complex. The new export terminal will be the largest Russian LPG transshipment terminal. Its favorable geographic position will enable SIBUR to transport its products to previously inaccessible markets of North-West Europe.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the report "Globalisation in Fisheries and Aquaculture: Opportunities and Challenges" to its offering. This overview of global markets for fish and fish products finds that they have changed considerably over the past few decades and continue to do so, with ever growing interactions across countries and continents.

The Biotic Earth blog has posted a nice update from a critical erosion control project performed at the Milner Ridge wastewater facility in Manitoba, Canada. The work was part of stabilizing the soils around the wastewater ponds, the slopes for which were in jeopardy of failure from erosion. A combination of erosion control blankets and biotic-enriched hydromulch was used. One year later, the site is showing tremendous signs of success; as is this combination approach to erosion control in cold climates. 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.;

Precision Geosynthetic Laboratories International (PGLI) has been approved by the City of Los Angeles for the testing of Waterproofing Membranes and Methane Barriers. They are the first and only laboratory approved for Waterproofing Membranes and Methane Barrier. Their Test Agency permit number is TA 24784. They are capable of performing all of the tests required by the Los Angeles Department of Building Services for both Waterproofing Membranes and Methane Barriers.

The man responsible for watching and caring for millions of fish has reached the end of his career at the Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery near Riverdale, North Dakota. Jon Gravning has officially retired. Geosynthetica visited the hatchery in late 2009 to view installation work on the lined ponds. The people at Garrison were extremely helpful and open about the hatchery process. Gravning was part of the culture that makes Garrison such a successful facility. We wish him well. Learn more here.;

World marketed energy consumption grows 49 percent between 2007 and 2035, driven by economic growth in the developing nations of the world, according to the Reference case projection from the International Energy Outlook 2010 (IEO2010) released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Renewables are the fastest-growing source of world energy supply. Read more.

Closure activites at Gould Electronics' former battery landfill in Throop, Pennsylvania are nearly complete. A geosynthetic capping system has been installed over a concentrated 10-acre portion. Contaminated soil was moved from the 43-acre site (and adjoining 100-acre woodland) to this focused cell beginning in 2008. Eventually, the area might be converted into a 200-acre park. Learn more here.;

ASTM Committee F17 on Plastic Piping Systems has release a work item, WK28901. The item, "Standard Terminology Relating to Plastic Piping Systems," is a revision to existing standard F412-09. Learn more here.;