Ground Improvement

Maccaferri's professional development webinars have built a steady, strong following and addressed topics such as geotextiles and geogrids, MSE wall design and installation, gabions, rockfall protection, and embankment construction. These sessions run roughly 90 min, include expert presenters, provide a non-credit 0.15 CEU certificate, technical document downloads, and ample time for direct Q&A between the listening audience and the presenters. In November, the company is presenting two new sessions, both of which are free to participants. Learn more.

HUESKER’s annual GeoForum events are characterized by high-caliber presentations and high-quality networking. The smaller-by-design gatherings leave considerable room for Q&A on some of the day’s most important geosynthetic topics....

The massive coal ash retention pond breach in Tennessee has reignited debate about how best to dispose of coal ash. Too often, ash is buried in unlined cells. And, increasingly, opposition is being raised over the construction of unlined cells. Though it will cost more in the short run, the construction of proper waste containment cells, with liners and fully engineered, reinforced earth walls, seems to be the right solution.

The exhibit hall has been sold out and organizers of GeoAmericas 2016 have had to add hotel rooms to the conference block at the venue, the Loews Miami...

In response to multiple international requests, the organizers of the 6th European Conference on Geosynthetics have offered a final extension for EuroGeo 6 abstracts.  All submissions to be considered must be submitted...

On 3 January 2012, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice requesting additional data on the performance of technologies in controlling turbidity in stormwater discharges from construction sites. The notice also requests information on other topics relevant to establishing numeric effluent limitations for stormwater discharges from these sites, including sample collection, applicability to electric transmission line construction, cold weather considerations, and the ability of small sites to meet a numeric standard. The comment period closes March 5. Simultaneously, the agency has submitted a final general permit on construction site stormwater discharges to the White House for review. This permit excludes turbidity limits. The final permit is expected by February 15. Learn more here.;

The Thirteenth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium (Sardinia 2011) will be held 3-7 October 2011 in Santa Margherita di Pula, Sardinia, Italy. Themes include wastewater, waste management strategies, climate change, decision tools, legislation and more. The deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended to March 1. Learn more here.;

An extraordinary crater in Schmalkalden, Thuringen became Germany's most prominent sinkhole after its sudden development on an early November day. What made this sinkhole particularly alarming was its development...

The Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia wanted to convert an unusable plot of land into a much needed drill field and shooting range complex. The site presented several challenges due to the changing grades and extensive rock blasting and fill areas. The retaining walls were built on a crushed gravel leveling pad and reached 34 feet high, extending over a quarter mile long, and holding up over 100,000 cubic yards of fill. The walls were used to create a level 6-acre field. To reinforce the land, Stratagrid SG200 and SG350 soil reinforcement was placed in embedment lengths of 22 feet behind nearly 50,000 square feet of block wall. The geogrid was placed on every other course with 2-inch minus crushed rock used for reinforced backfill.

Landfill solar energy covers are now starting to be taken more seriously following the installation at a site in Texas, US. A new project in Georgia now aims to go one step further and convert a 35-acre landfill into one of the world’s largest solar covers. Mark Roberts looks at the advancements in geomembranes and cost and practical considerations for landfill owners. Learn more here.;

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics will hold a seminar on geosynthetics in India 2 – 4 December 2015. The event will be held at the Bombay Textile...

Many Civil Engineers wish to use natural vegetation as a means of erosion protection. To enable engineers to do so while also offering reliable protection in the vulnerable period when vegetation is still developing, Colbond has introduced a new product: Enkamat J. Enkamat J combines for the first time a standard polyamide Enkamat with a biodegradable fabric stitched to it.

"Resilience and Innovation" is the perfect theme for this year's annual conference of the Canadian Geotechnical Society. Originally scheduled for Winnipeg, the organizers moved the conference online to provide...

A massive fly ash landfill is to be located along a river in Connecticut. The proposal is causing considerable debate. The fly ash will come from garbage-to-energy plants--which themselves are supposed to alleviate landfill pressures. State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials are now working to educate the public on the advanced liner and drainage system planned for the site. Learn more here.;

Propex has announced the appointment of John W. Goers to the position of Vice President - Sales for its Geotextile Systems division. Goers comes to Propex from Firestone, where he most recently served as General Manager of Firestone's Specialty Products business, which manufactures geomembranes for retail, residential, industrial, commercial, civil and environmental industries.

SKZ's 2nd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East will be held in Dubai, UAE, 10-11 November 2009. The speaker and topic line up has been announced and it is certainly an impressive list. Ian Peggs of I-CORP will present on predicting end-of-life for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes and the incorporation of flexible solar cells on exposed landfill caps; Carl De Leon of Solmax will present on geomembrane liners in harsh, petrochemical containment operations; Detlef Schramm of Dow will present a geomembrane global review; Silke Schwöbken of SENSOR will present on drainage detection systems; and much more. Dr. Helmut Zanzinger will chair the seminar. Download the program in PDF.

When the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference convenes in Cape Town, South Africa 8 – 11 February 2016, geosynthetics manufacturer and engineering services provider HUESKER will be on...

Northwest Arkansas MS4s are hosting the International Erosion Control Association's South Central Chapter's (SCIECA) Muddy Water Blues Conference at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Bentonville, Arkansas on 28-31 March 2010. Registration is open to anyone with an interest in stormwater. The conference will feature discussions and training to prepare officials, municipal and contractor employees with the skills to meet the challenges encountered with creating, operating, managing and enforcing stormwater programs. For additional information, contact Phil Handley at email: philip.handleyiii@saws.org or call +1 210 233 3564. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA Region One) annual conference will be held 16 – 19 February 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. Register for Environmental Connection 2016 by December...

SIBUR has begun implementation of the SCM - Supply Chain Management project aimed to save logistical costs, optimization of the raw and finished products stock level, and improvement of client service. The project provides for centralization of management functions of the supply chains starting from purchase of the fresh raw materials and ending with delivery of the finished products to its end users. The whole process is supposed to be entirely automated by integrating of the existing autonomous software products into a uniform SCM IT-system.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 5th National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach seeks abstract and workshop proposals through 30 January 2009. The event will provide practitioners from around the country the opportunity to learn and share ideas on developing and implementing nonpoint source and stormwater outreach strategies that produce positive, measurable outcomes, comply with NPDES requirements, and can be successfully implemented with modest budgets. The conference will take place 11-14 May 2009 in Portland, Oregon. Learn more in the call and conference PDF. 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.;

In the autumn edition of TenCate's magazine txtures, TenCate Grass occupies a prominent place. Worldwide the TenCate Grass group occupies a leading market position in components for synthetic turf systems. The group responds to global trends such as sustainability and the environment through the development and production of these components and its system approach. The online edition of txtures 3 will be available on 13 September. Learn more here.;

Coulby Pond in Wickliffe, Ohio is getting so full of sediment that the aquatic life is declining. City officials are to debate tonight, Monday, whether to move forth with dredging. But dredging operations may not be enough. Bank reinforcement may be needed, and a liner may need to be installed to prevent further erosion. Learn more here.;

GIGSA News Flash South Africa is having a very serious erosion control problem. If you would like to consider joining the South African Chapter of IECA or have any imput into solving the problem, this is a very useful association to belong to. For more information visist http://www.ieca.org or http://www.ieca.co.za