Ground Improvement

The North American Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS North America) has established an Excellence in Service Award to recognize members who have shown outstanding leadership and dedication...

Building a trail across the Dublin Mountains is no easy task, but a dedicated band of volunteers in Mountain Meitheal are actually attempting to link Tallaght and Shankill across the wooded terrain. And they're making the trail long-lasting by installing a geotextile separation and soil stabilization fabric beneath trail aggregate of local stones and sand. Learn more here.;

Many conferences are targeted by hotel booking scams and room resellers who are not associated with the event. These non-sanctioned buyers convince potential attendees that rooms are selling out...

The Nordic region’s mining firms and technology suppliers have not escaped the chill winds that swept through the world’s financial and trading centers. But neither have they stopped key investment programs. Mining Journal's European editor, Kyran Casteel, reports on iron ore, gold silver and other mining activity in Scandinavia. Learn more here.;

Concrete Canvas Ltd was presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation on the 17 July 2014 by the Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan Mrs Kate Thomas. The awards...

Though much attention was given in the press to the flooding in the central United States this year, Europe has also experienced significant floods. In Romania, they put out a call for support, including emergency geotextile fabric for erosion control, flood defense and levee repair. Poland responded, sending 15,000 sq. m. Learn more here.;

In response to a Nor'easter that hit the coast of Staten Island in March of 2010, a gabion retaining wall was installed along the oceanfront property to protect upland infrastructure from storm damage and wave action. The original wall design consisted of PVC coated galvanized steel gabions, spanning 100' parallel to the shore direction with a 9 ft. vertical height and two 30 ft. return walls at either end. During Super Storm Sandy in October 2012, the storm surge had pushed a large volume of sand and debris upland against the existing wall. While minimal damage was observed in confined places, the wall structure remained intact and fully functional.

As part of the process for restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the EPA has reaffirmed the federal-state commitment to establish the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)--or pollution diet--by the end of this year. Learn more here.;

The Lemons Landfill in Dexter, Missouri has been denied in its initial expansion permit. Operators estimate that the current site has up to eight years of space left, aided in part by recycling endeavors and waste restrictions. Lemons actually accepted less in 2007 than in 2006. Officials denied the permit due to concerns over the liner-quality soil. Lemons will next attempt to prove that the geosynthetic liner and the clay liner will be sufficient to meet permitting standards. Learn more here.;

While it's renowned for its geosynthetic solutions, TenCate also has a very successful synthetic turf division. In the 2012 / 2013 season, the Dutch premier league club Heracles Almelo will be playing on a TenCate turf innovation that increases the durability of the turf system for consistent, long-term performance and increased site sustainability. The construction patented by the company for the Heracles Almelo project is now planned for entry into the general marketplace through TenCate's GreenFields® system.

Geosynthetics magazine, published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International, has launched a new website. The revamped design includes a cleaner presentation and more interactive content, such as a blog from editor Ron Bygness. Learn more here.;

IECA UPDATE: The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has upped the value of membership. The Association is now offering four (4) PDH credits per year for members who complete...

Officials in South Palm Beach, Florida are considering a geotextile reef for beach erosion. The 5/8-mile stretch of beach in need of support will probably receive some off-shore erosion protection feature. Geotextile reefs are increasingly sought due to them being installed out of sight of beach users, the way they provide an underwater habitat, and how they can create extra surf waves for recreation. Learn more here.;

TenCate Geosynthetics announced that the TenCate Miragrid® XT geogrid product line has completed the first ever evaluation by the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP) which incorporated an onsite audit of the manufacturing facility. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in conjunction with NTPEP have developed a process for the evaluation of production data and field performance data for reinforcement geosynthetics. Learn more.

Aalborg, Denmark-based nonwovens manufacturer sets up business in South Africa. This is a strategic initiative aimed at giving Fibertex easy access to markets which hold plans for huge future investments in, among other things, infrastructure. From the turn of the year, Fibertex will set up business with a factory in South Africa with a view to manufacturing and marketing needlepunch products -- primarily geotextiles for road works, but also products for the growing South African automotive industry.

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK34369, "Standard Practice for Sampling of Geosynthetics for Testing." This is a work item revision to existing standard D4354-99(2009). In the rationale the committee indicates that Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs) often contain significant geosynthetic components but have not yet been included in this standard. Learn more here.;

The latest issue of Tensar's GEOTALK newsletter is now available. This issue includes case studies on the Port Mann/Highway 1 (PMH1) Improvement Project (British Colombia, Canada), a $500,000 cost reduction on a Michigan road rehab project, and a lake's restoration in Belleville, Wisconsin. Other articles focus on seasonal flood protection, the approval of key grade separation solutions, and Alabama Power's Hydromulch trials. Learn more here.;

The Borneo Bulletin reports that on August 21 the Brunei Institute of Technology (ITB) in Rimba will hold a half-day seminar on "Geotechnical Solutions in the 21st Century." The session will concentrate mostly on hydraulic and coastal engineering and on newer techniques and technologies. Special geosynthetics experience will be provided by the main speaker, Dr. Michael Heibaum of Germany's Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute. Learn more here.;

Research and Markets has announced the addition of Textiles Intelligence's new report "Global Technical Textiles Business Update, 1st Quarter 2009" to their offering. The report includes a summary of market conditions, acquisitions, business news, and much more. Geosynthetic demand is expected to reach 905 million square yards by 2012.

A proposed copper mine in the Yukon is meeting with stiff environmental opposition. The many-years spike in copper prices has made the $150 million, 8-year-life mine attractive to the company seeking to build. But environmental groups are asking for examples of how heap leaching and liners react overtime in cold climates. Manfacturers and engineers with experience should consider adding your knowledge to the discussion. Learn more here.;

What's clear in Clearwater, Florida is that geotextile tube T-groin structures have preserved the beach. A renourishment project in 2005 brought the tubes into use on Upham Beach. Surfers are angry about the diminished wave activity, but those strong waves were the very things previously destroying the beach. The T-groins are scheduled to be renewed in 2013. Learn more here.;

Conwed Plastics has announced that it is returning to its historical headquarters at 2810 Weeks Ave SE, Minneapolis MN 55414. Renovations of the old facility are underway, and as...

When the 3rd Pan-American Regional Conference on Geosynthetics convenes in Miami in April 2016, it will do so with a truly unique sponsorship program for an engineering conference. Geosynthetics...

Hawaii's sensitive ecosystem has been part of some angry disputes over erosion control measures on construction sites. Help is on the way. Jeremy Michelson and Jay Stone have become the first CPESC professionals on the island of Oahu, as noted in January 25's "Business Briefs" section of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Learn more here.;

American Excelsior Company announces a new erosion control blanket targeted for those projects where performance is needed, but the project operating budget allows only for the use of lower-end type ECBs such as straw matting. Read the release on Curlex CL, a notable edition to the popular Curlex line.