Ground Improvement

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in England is reopening after an £8.5 million (USD $12.2 million) renovation. The upgrade included the installation of a barrier membrane for the canal's clay liner--though referred to in the article as permeable--and geotextile separators to serve as underlay to riprap. Learn more here.;

Frank Achelpoehler wants to expand to a 2500-head dairy operation in Liberty, Indiana; but the state's environment officials are wary of mega-farm construction. Liner and waste management problems in the past year have been the cause of significant concern among citizens, public debate, and slower approvals. Achelpoehler's farm is also located within the New Madrid fault line. He's filed a new proposal, though, that includes two smaller lagoons, rather than one massive one, and additional emergency runoff collection zones in the event of seismic disturbance. Learn more here.;

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009.

Erosion control specialist North American Green is offering a free technical seminar for engineers who specify erosion control and vegetation establishment products. Three sessions will be offered in April, with one taking place April 8 in Charleston, West Virginia and the other two April 15 and 16 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attendees will earn 3.0 Professional Development Hours (PDH) as credit and will receive valuable information for immediate use. Every attendee will receive a free, 2-gig USB flash drive, pre-loaded with helpful design and specification data. Learn more here and link to the registration online.

When Robert Koerner and Joe Welsh put together the first hard-bound book on geosynthetics (Construction and Geotechnical Engineering Using Synthetic Fabrics, 1980), neither could truly known the impact this materials sector would have on all of civil, geotechnical and environmental engineering. After witnessing (and contributing to) 30 years of dynamic practice, fascinating designs and product innovation in the geosynthetics field, Dr. Robert Koerner looks back at that first book, which he and Joe began compiling after a chance encounter with a publisher in the late 1970s.

I-CORP INTERNATIONAL's Ian Peggs served as an instructor at the 12th TRI-CORP Liner Integrity Survey and Assessment (LISA) course at the TRI/Environmental campus 23-24 March 2009. He reports that 12 attendees, including one from Chile, took part. The two-day event featured a classroom day and a hands-on, field training day with three test cells on site. Interested attended can then go for the next phase of certification, which involves a one-day field audit during a production geoelectric survey followed by a 90 minute written test. The next course will probably be scheduled for the Fall of 2009. Note: the course can be taken on the road: it has been presented in Albany, NY, at GSE in Houston, and in the Philippines. Read more.

Propex Inc. announced today that it will now operate outside of bankruptcy after spending 14 months under Chapter 11 protection. The Chattanooga-based, premier global supplier of polypropylene fabrics and fibers for the geosynthetic, concrete, furnishings and industrial markets used its time in protection to right size its balance sheet, restructure its debt and create additional cash flow. Read more in the release.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying the effective date of the final rule that amends the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations promulgated in the Federal Register on 5 December 2008, in accordance with the memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget entitled, “Implementation of Memorandum Concerning Regulatory Review” (M-09-08, 21 January 2009). The amendments will now become effective on 14 January 2010. Read more.

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics' Sam Allen and George Koerner have announced that a Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) / ASTM Workshop on "Geosynthetic Material Durability: Field and Laboratory Experiences" will be held 29 January 2010 in San Antonio, Texas. This important, new workshop will immediately follow the two days of D35's winter meetings. The four segments of the workshop will focus on long-term field experiences; accelerated weathering studies; polymers and additives packages; and a panel discussion. Abstracts for presentations will be accepted through 30 September 2009. Read more about the event.

The Montague (Michigan) City Council has approved a plan to dewater dredged marina soils in geotextile tubes up to 100 feet long. The dewatering will be allowed to happen on city-owned land, the water will flow back into the lake, and the dewatered soil will be taken to an off-site location for proper disposal. The project should be completed by early May. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Shirley D. Morrow, CPESC, CISEC has been named the new Chair of the Professional Development Committee (PDC). The goal of the PDC is to provide technically sound and proficient educational courses and programs that enhance members’ professional knowledge at each career stage through technical information exchange, facilitation of research opportunities and encouraging diversity in professional development.

The next geomembrane installation training sessions from Firestone will be held April 21 (Atlanta, Georgia) and May 7 (Tampa, Florida). Partner/Hosts are common to these gatherings. The Atlanta session will be with Ewing Irrigation, and the Tampa session will be with RH Moore and Associates. PondGard Installation Training seminars are four hours long and are recommended for landscape contractors, water feature designers and geomembrane installers. Subjects include decorative ponds, retention ponds, waterfall features and the associated project nuances involved with these types of applications. Learn more about these sessions and register to attend via Firestone's website. Learn more here.;

The Indian coir industry is pushing hard to gain market share in Latin America against erosion control materials that uses synthetic nettings and backings. Though biodegradable nettings and backings are possible (and often used), the coir industry is focusing on those that aren't. Learn more here.;

The eighth edition of AMERICANA, the International Environmental Technology Trade Show and Conference, initiated and organized by RÉSEAU environnement, welcomed some 8,000 participants from every sector of the environmental industry, 400 exhibitors and more than 230 speakers and delegates from 60 countries. AMERICANA 2009 gave professionals an opportunity to present the latest developments in the areas such as water, air, soil, solid waste, energy and sustainable development, and to discuss subjects ranging from life cycle analysis and biofuels to environmental management and sustainable transportation and development. READ MORE in the release.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced that it is reinstating GRI standard GM18, "Test Methods, Test Properties and Testing Frequencies for Flexible Polypropylene Nonreinforced (fPP) and Reinforced (fPP-R) Geomembranes." This reinstatement follows a four-year absence and significant discussion in the geosynthetic community on the proper testing of and standardization approaches for polypropylene geomembranes and service life estimations. GRI's standards are generic, voluntary and free for use. A copy of the specification is available here.

SKZ's 2nd International Conference - Geosynthetics Middle East will be held in Dubai, UAE (10-11 November 2009). A first announcement and call for papers has been issued with proposals due by 30 March 2009. This year's topics include polymer developments; products (Geomembranes and Geogrids; also, Geotextiles, Geocomposites, Erosion control products, Geopipes); testing, quality assurance, certification; installation, welding; applications, projects, case studies; durability, lifetime. Dr. Helmut Zanzinger will chair the seminar. Download the call for papers here and send your abstracts to SKZ by March 30.

During the Geosynthetics 2009 gathering in Salt Lake City, Prof. Dennes Bergado, who is the director of the Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics (ACSIG), informed us that from 3 to 4 December 2009 the International Symposium on Geotechnical Engineering, Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics for Sustainable Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change would be held in Bangkok, Thailand. The brochure for this intriguing gathering can be viewed in PDF here.

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.

Stormwater industry leaders Craig Beatty, John Moll, and David Mongeau have co-authored an introduction to the newly formed Stormwater Equipment Manufacturers Association (SWEMA). They write, "The stormwater sector needs to band together for a common cause. We need to support the regulatory and engineering communities, as well as the individual cities and states now grappling with how to implement Clean Water Act and other stormwater regulations." Read more in their message and about SWEMA here.

Meg Griffin of the Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has authored a short review of the FGI's inaugural meeting, which was held at Geosynthetics 2009 in Salt Lake City (late February). FGI installed a board of directors. Meg writes, "The main objectives of the new FGI include conducting research on fabricated geomembranes, disseminating technical information, establishing and maintaining a world wide website, and answering technical questions regarding the design, testing, specification, and installation of fabricated geomembranes." Read more.

Applied Market Information (AMI) reminds all that the call for proposals for Waterproof Membranes 2009 close on 17 April 2009. The event will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany from 19-21 October 2009 and will be the third installment in this series. Contact the conference organizers for more information. Learn more here.;

A photo piece for you: Riva Nortje and Jabulile Msiza of Jones Wagener in South Africa. They were out monitoring the construction of a hazardous leachate pond in Rivonia and paused for a photograph. We're always happy for views from around the world of geosynthetic practice. Thanks much to Jones Wagener and to Riva and Jabulile for sharing this shot from the field! If you have photos of your sites to share, please send them to Chris Kelsey at chris@geosynthetica.net.

A final look at the bienniel Geosynthetics conference, which convened in Salt Lake City, Utah 25-27 February 2009. Geosynthetics 2009 operated under the theme “Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering,” two subjects key to Western states like Utah. But those certainly weren't the only subjects discussed in the sessions, keynote lectures, and on the exhibit hall floor. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then you've some "reading" to do in our photo essay from Geosynthetics 2009.

Registration continues for September's GeoAfrica 2009! But the early-bird discount is available only through 31 March 2009, so be sure to register now. Fees increase ZAR 600 thereafter (USD $60). The conference is shaping up to be a grand one, with more than 100 papers over three days, a sold-out exhibit hall and plenty of networking opportunities. This is the first African regional conference on geosynthetics. GeoAfrica 2009 will take place 2-5 September 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Becky Gauthier has resigned from the IECA Board of Directors. The Board has appointed Lee Johnson, CPESC to serve the remainder of Gauthier’s term which ends in February 2012. Read more in the release.