Ground Improvement

TenCate Geosynthetics and AGT International have signed a letter of intent for collaboration on the installation of TenCate GeoDetect® technology in a dike body at the Yellow River in Dayulan (Zhengzhou) in the Henan province in China. TenCate GeoDetect® is a monitoring system based on geotextiles with interwoven fibre optics, which registers changes in embankments and dikes. The system will be used in the AGT Flood Early Warning System.

This instructional webinar will provide attendees with knowledge on the use of geotextile containers and polymeric marine mattresses for island breakwater creation. On-site project experience from the City of Ft. Pierce Marina in Florida will be shared. This project features a permanent wave barrier, configured as a carefully sculpted, but naturally appearing, artificial island breakwater. This solution was proposed to protect the marina from a 100-year storm event, as mandated by FEMA regulations. Learn more here.;

The Associated Press reports that Idaho-based Hecla Mining Co. pay $102,000 in penalties following a spill of mine tailings at a zinc and lead facility near Mullan, Idaho. More than 22,000 gallons of hazardous material was released. Of greatest concern in the incident is the roughly 900 gallons of liquid mill tailings that spilled into the South Fork Coeur d'Alene River during a heavy storm in 2006. That accident occurred at the ironically named Lucky Friday Mine. The company has taken numerous steps to correct these matters and prevent them from being repeated. Learn more here.;

James Goddard, who recently retired from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) as the company's Chief Engineer, has been made an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), the major trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry. In recognition of Goddard's contributions to the PPI and the industry, the award was made during the group's annual membership meeting in May 2011.

Tensar International recently installed a magnetic fuel treatment system from Maxsys to one of their gas-fired, steam-raising boilers. The project has reported cut gas consumption by 5.78%--a considerable financial savings in the manufacturing process and an admirable environmental benefit. Also, extensive analysis by the Blackburn-United Kingdom facility's chief engineer has found that boiler efficiency has improved by 5.46%. Read more in the release.

It’s long been said that investing in land is smart because “they aren’t making more of it.” In general, this is true. Mitigation strategies create more habitat, but not...

Waste Management of Hawaii has completed the first of three phases repairs at the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, but the landfill remains only partially open. The company reported that it has repaired the eastern side of cell E6, which was damaged by a January 13 storm. Also damaged in that storm was a point at which the liner edge meets the gulch wall. Falling rock was to blame. Learn more here.;

A blogger has taken on analysis of the track record for the artificial surf reefs constructed over the last 12 years. Grades are poor, with C- being the best. One of those recipients is Narrowneck Reef in Australia. The system in Narrowneck is large and uses geotextile bags. While the reef serves its main purpose--controlling beach erosion--it hasn't turned out to be a surfer's dream (nor was it built to be). Pratt's Reef in the America's also uses geotextile bags, but received a grade of F. The tiny installation has not had an effect and is being dismantled. Learn more here.;

Ruby Henn Road near Great Falls, Montana is a forest road. A spring hole developed in it earlier this year, making passage difficult. But before the season is too cold for road construction, crews are going to repair the route by excavating saturated soil, placing geotextiles, adding washed rock and drainage piping, and backfilling. Learn more here.;

Pop over to ESCN.tv for a chance to win a full registration to the EC09 conference in Reno, Nevada! ESCN's "I'm A Survivor" contest will award two full registrations to the event (to be held 9-12 February 2009) plus three nights of lodging at the Atlantis Casino Resort. Feeling lucky? Stop by ESCN.tv today. Learn more here.;

During a Nor'easter in March of 2010, heavy surf and high winds devastated the dune system protecting beach front homes, near the Hampton's, on the twin forks of Long Island, New York. With the dunes gone, there was nothing left to protect the beachfront properties from future storms. Instead of doing a "sand push" along the beach, or trucking in sand to rebuild the dunes, Maccaferri was approached to offer an alternative long term solution. The steel sheeting shown in the top right image was a temporary solution after an earlier storm; however, the US Army Corp of Engineers mandated that it was to be removed. The MacTubes® were installed as the only means of defense against future storms.

The influential American transportation organization, AASHTO, has developed a list of the top ten transportation topics that it forecasts will be part of the national conversation in 2010. Constructing safer roads, securing funding, and capacity management are just some of the issues. Read the full list in AASHTO's release.

The EcoPerspectives blog on the French nuclear industry has published a piece about La Manche Storage Center (CSM) for essentially short-lived waste of “low”- and intermediate-level radioactivity. One of the reports was on the advisability of installing a more durable cover over the waste. The next annual surveillance reports must evaluate the rate of infiltration through the geomembrane now over the waste. Read more. Learn more here.;

GeoAfrica 2017 will be held between 08-11 October 2017 in Marrakech, Morocco. This major event marks the 3rd African Regional Conference on Geosynthetics. To be held under the auspices of...

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.;

This year, China's government released a textile industry plan for 2009 through 2011. It includes support and targets for more than doubling geotextile production. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting nominations for the 15th annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The awards recognize innovative chemical technologies that incorporate green chemistry into the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals, and that have broad applications in industry. For the challenge, nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances from a chemical product or process. Any individual, group or nongovernmental organization, both nonprofit and for-profit, including academia and industry, may nominate a green chemistry technology for the awards. Self-nominations are welcome. Awards are made each year in five categories, including "Greener Synthetic Pathways."

AMI is pleased to invite you to consider speaking or attending the 4th international conference on Waterproof Membranes to be held from 30 November to 2 December 2010 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. There is a welcome reception and registration on the first evening followed by a two-day technical program. AMI's Sally Humphreys invites presentations through 28 May 2010.

Geotextile sand containers (GSCs) have grown substantially in erosion control and scour protection applications. Beachfronts, ports, and property have all gained substantial protection using these “soft armor” solutions. NAUE’s...

The first Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) is nearly upon us. The event will take place 7-10 September 2008 in Copper Mountain, Colorado. The event organizers have announced their final schedule. For those attending, be sure to reserve lodging soon. Rooms have filled quickly for this event. Read more about the schedule in the release.

Brownfields 2011--the 14th National Brownfields Conference--will take place 3-5 April 2011 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The event is the largest, most comprehensive conference in the United States focused on cleaning up and redeveloping abandoned, underutilized, and potentially contaminated properties. The US Environmental Protection Agency is significantly involved in the conference. Learn more here.;

International manufacturer of geosynthetics, synthetic turf and other materials TenCate has released its financial performance report for the first nine months of 2011. According to the statement, geosynthetics sales showed "a positive trend on all continents." The relative proportion of sales in South America and Asia rose, while Emas Kiara was integrated within TenCate Geosynthetics Asia.

If you are interested in presenting at EC12, you only have until Friday, 27 May 2011 to submit your 400-word abstract. Details on how to submit along with recommended topics may be found on IECA's website. EC12 will be held 26-29 February 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

NAUE America has announced the appointment of Paul O'Malley as President of NAUE America, effective 1 January 2012. In the United States, the international manufacturer specializes its business around Secugrid® and Combigrid® geogrids for reinforcement utilization in applications such as road construction, wind farm development, retaining walls and soil stabilization. O'Malley is a veteran of the construction and engineering materials field, including numerous years involved in geosynthetics. Read more in the official release.

Get the latest information on PlastaFlex IG (Industrial Grade) and PlastaFlex FG (Fish Grade) geomembranes. Download the data sheet here (PDF). Learn more here.;