Ground Improvement

Will transgenic grasses be used in the immediate future's rolled erosion control products (RECPs)? Current biotechnology is creating shorter, slower-growing, greener grasses. If the environmental concerns over genetic modification can be quelled, the landscape of lawncare, bank stabilization, green roofs, and other fields may change quickly. Read it in Wired. Learn more here.;

Solmax International geomembranes have received the CE Marking required for sale and distribution in the European Union. Read the list of approved products here. Site visitors may also download the certificate from that page. Learn more here.;

David D'Souza, writing for the Goa, India-based Herald, discusses modern, double-lined landfill design but in plain language. He explains the importance of geosynthetic systems, including drainage and containment, and he does it all with easily understandable comparisons, such as geomembrane liners and bathtubs. His succinctly answered questions and plain language demonstrate one way engineers might better engage the public on critical waste designs. Read the article at the link below. Learn more here.;

Erosion control best management practices (BMPs) are being taken to the residential level in California's Tahoe Basin. While developers are receiving heavy fines for not properly controlling sediment on sites, small fines are finding their ways to home owners too. The Tahoe Resource Conservation District is now issueing BMP starter kits and asking residents to re-evaluate slope and vegetation stability, drainage trenches around homes and driveways, and other key control zones. Learn more here.;

In Jamestown, North Carolina, water and sewer system upgrades have involved significant work around the Deep River. Construction personnel have ignored the state's requirements on temporary roads and erosion control, such as building culverts out of geotextile and appropriate aggregate to accommodate the heavy construction equipment at creek crossings. Sediment pollution has been plentiful. A $225,000 fine has been recommended. Learn more here.;

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) now offers its rolled erosion control product (RECP) installation video free for downloading via the ECTC Web site. Visitors may also request a DVD copy of the program by mail. Learn more here.;

Water infiltration was likely the cause of a fatal roadway failure in Malaysia. In the Daily Express' most recent write up, an engineer is interviewed about open cuts and proper drainage control. Geosynthetic vertical drains, he notes, are among the solutions that need to be considered in these projects. Learn more here.;

Green roof designs are becoming more common in the United States. A CNN technology focus article ("continued" link below) describes this trend in urban architecture, including a note on the market's 80 percent expansion in the past year. Geosynthetics are often vital to sealing, drainage management and soil retention in these constructions. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recently installed a green roof and offers a photo journal on its page detailing the construction process. Geosynthetics were installed in the middle of April. Please cut and paste http://www.asla.org/land/050205/greenroofcentral.html# into your browser to view the photo journal. Learn more here.;

In Folsom, California, naturally occurring asbestos clusters have been found on the grounds of an elementary school and a new high school. The school district and schools have responded with a plan to cap the asbestos zones with geotextiles, clean soil, and erosion control blankets to allow new, healthier vegetation to take root. Read the article in the Folsom Telegraph. Learn more here.;

In India, the term "geotextile" is used often for either polymeric or natural fiber materials. In most other areas of the world, the word geotextile is used only for polymeric materials. Jute, a versatile natural fiber nearly as popular globally as cotton, is being harvested to great success in India for the production of many products, including temporary erosion control blankets, as reported by the Indian magazine Frontline. With government aid, the Indian jute industry is expanding and exporting the materials. It is important that product users and specifiers do not confuse the TERMINOLOGY and appropriate USE of the materials. Learn more here.;

High-tide at Stump Pass Beach was causing significant sand erosion. The installation of six geotextile tubes has corrected that trend, preserving sand and moving the high-water mark 30 feet away from its previous mark. Read the article in the Sun-Herald at the "continued" link below. Learn more here.;

North American Green's "Green Views" information series concisely addresses a number of engineering topics such as the economics of erosion control blankets and mats, EC installation, and EC interaction with golf course construction. Download here the Green Views item on turf reinforcement mats as an alternative to riprap. More are available at NA Green's Web site. Learn more here.;

What does OttoSport do in its design of equestrian arenas to intice the world's best riders to compete in these facilities? They create shock-absorbing foundations with geotextiles, drainage control and sand Learn more here.;

ASCE G-I Geosynthetics committee is soliciting papers for a mini symposium during GeoDenver 07 under the following theme: Geosynthetics in Cyclic, Seismic, and Dynamic Applications: Lesson Learned. If interested , please forward brief abstract (100 words in PDF format) to Mo Gabr, gabr@eos.ncsu.edu by April 17 2006. Geosynthetic materials are used in many difficult geological conditions as a tool for cost effective design and enhanced construction. While applications in various industry sectors are at different stages of development, documented case histories on the use of geosynthetics in cyclic, seismic, and dynamic projects are rare. This mini symposium entitled "Geosynthetics in Cyclic, Seismic, and Dynamic Applications: Lesson Learned" aims to encompass several (may be 2-4) sessions describing lessons learned when incorporating geosynthetics in such applications. The cyclic, seismic, and dynamic cases include machine and traffic, earthquakes, explosives, wave, and impact loading with reinforcement, drainage, and containment application. As such, examples with a focus on design or performance case histories are (loading being cyclic, seismic, and/or dynamic): i. Dams and Liquefaction ii. Seismic Stability of Mining Impoundments ii. Walls and Slopes iii. Water Storage Reservoirs and Waste Containment Facilities iv. Structures subjected to Wave Loading including Shorelines v. Machine Foundation vi. Bridge Foundation vii. Instrumented Pavement Sections viii. Other Applications. Learn more here.;

Eight presenters from the Indonesian Geosynthetic Alliance (INA) and the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will lead a one-day seminar on roads in Indonesia and the applicability of geosynthetics to the nation's infrastructure improvements, 6 April 2006 at Bina Nusantara University. Dr. JP Giroud will speak on "The Applications and Main Functions of Geosynthetics Materials in Road Pavement Construction." Other topics include designing for soft soils, geosynthetics for repair of failed slopes, and case histories. For a complete schedule, click the "continued" link below.

Colorado based geosynthetic leader Colorado Lining International (CLI) has purchased water feature builder Alliance Golf Corporation of Evansville, Indiana and formed ClearWater Construction International, LLC. ClearWater will combine the resources of CLI’s liner fabrication and related geosynthetic business with Alliance’s water feature and dirt moving abilities. According to CLI President John Heap, “The Alliance acquisition furthers CLI’S long time philosophy of providing the best combination of products and services to our clients. With the formation of ClearWater, we now provide total vertical integration of lake and stream construction.” ClearWater Construction will provide full creative and construction services for water features, including pond and stream preparation geomembrane lining and related geosynthetic products, pump, piping, and recircurlation systems, dry-stack rock and timber retaining walls, hardscape and turf reinforced shorelines, and aeration systems. ClearWater will operate from the current Alliance office in Evansville, Indiana and the CLI headquarters in Parker, CO. All Alliance Golf employees have joined the ClearWater team. CLI General Manager, Pat Elliott, states, “The acquisition and formation of ClearWater will not change CLI’s relationship or policies with our existing clients.” Former Alliance Golf President Steve Scott states, “This is an excellent partnership, with dynamic individuals which will give developers, owners, architects, engineers, and builders pricing, service, and technical expertise never before available. Utilizing the resources of CLI’s management and administration, allows ClearWater’s sales and field personnel to fully focus on our customers’ needs.”

The Freedonia Group's latest study on the geosynthetics market forecasts a 4% growth between 2006 and 2011 with the greatest expansion being in waste management and erosion control. Learn more here.;

George and Bob Koerner offer an overview and intitial feedback on the state of CQA and GSI's Inspector Certification Program (GCI-ICP).

What does one do with poor drainage around a home? WBRZ, News 2, Louisiana knows: Install geotextile-wrapped perforated pipe and clean aggregate in ditches to drain the water. Learn more here.;

Tensar is adding a 60,000 square foot expansion to its Atlanta, Georgia geogrid manufacturing facility. This will bring the total plant to more than 200,000 square feet, it will significantly increased the production capacity for Tensar's biaxial geogrids. Read the full announcement here.

Advanced green roof systems rely on geosynthetic drainage and sealing technologies. They are transforming urban landscapes, reducing the load upon municipal stormwater systems, and making sustainability and energy conservation a profitable endeavor. Now, a new system allows for water collected in the green roof system to be used twice before being released into waste water systems. Learn more here.;

This project led by Beach Restoration Inc. includes a submerged groin field of geotextile tubes… Learn more here.;

Sun Capital Partners, a private investment firm located in Boca Raton, Florida, has acquired two fabric producers: Consoltex and Linq Industrial Fabrics. Linq is a long-time producer of geotextiles and drainage geocomposites. Learn more here.;

Pennsylvania's Centre County is engaged in a difficult environmental debate over acid drainage from its Skytop Mountain site. The acid runs from the large pyrite stacks created during road construction. In an opinion letter to the Centre Daily Times, Andrew Sicree calls for calm in the debate, discouraging the fly ash debate and encouraging a more sensible, experience-driven heap-leach design. Interested engineering firms should take note. Learn more here.;

Malta is set to develop its second modern landfill as part of a plan to rehabilitate the heavily polluted Maghab site. The nation's first truly engineered landfill, the taz-Zwejra Landfill, utilizes a lining system with textured geomembrane, a geotextile protection liner, a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and a leachate drainage system. The new Ghallis ta' Gewwa Landfill will be built in a similar style and will be used extensively in engineering education efforts, David Lindsay writes for the Malta Independent. Learn more here.;