Home again, home again
Elizabeth Peggs and Chris Kelsey would like to extend warm thank yous to the organizers and participants of EuroGeo 4 (Edinburgh, Scotland) and the Global Waste Management Symposium (Copper Mountain, Colorado), events they attended for geosynthetica last week. Reports from the events will appear shortly: about Copper Mountain this week (Wednesday, September 17) and about Edinburgh next week. Pictures, presentation notes, and much more are on the way! They were fantastic events.
Week in Review: 17-23 August 2008
Though the threat of a hurricane at our Florida office this week caused us to prepare for shutting down our servers, we (and our industry's companies) managed to accomplish quite a bit. Newsletters were launched, conferences were furthered, second quarter statements were issued, and so much more. Catch up on the week's action in our review column. 8/22/08
Feature Box: GSE's GeoVision Newsletter
The latest issue of GSE's GeoVision newsletter includes items on product availability and affiliated support services that can help ease the rising costs of constrution, GSE's regional sales managers, how the HyperNet TRx® geonet and FabriNet TRx® geocomposite offer triaxial high-flow performance with a biaxial structure, and the increase in construction of leach pads to meet global gold-mining demands. View the issue in PDF from GSE's news page.
Solmax's Historic Deal
Solmax International has worked closely with the mining industry in Chile for many years, but a deal reached last week with one firm is historic even for the company's long record of work in the region. The deal with one mining firm has secured 7,000,000 sq. m of PVC geomembrane from Solmax. Read more about it.
Catching Up With…Han-Yong Jeon
The second installment in our "Catching Up With..." series visits with Professor Han-Yong Jeon of INHA Unversity GeoSynthetics Research Lab (GSRL). Korea is a growing market for geosynthetics use in construction and for exports. The topics being pursued at GSRL reflect the interests of the overall Korean industry.
GSI Fellowships: CORRECTION
An amended release on the 2008-2009 GSI Fellowships awards is now posted. One of the research topics was incorrectly listed in the original release.
Bergado in Sun Star
The Sun Star of Cebu, Philippines, has published an article about Dr. Dennes Bergado's presentation “Sustainabl Infrastructure and Mitigation of Hazards due to Climate Change and Global Warming.” Bergado is the president of the Thai Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Read the Sun Star's article about geotechnical engineering and geosynthetics.
Learn more here.;
2008-2009 GSI Fellowship Awardees
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced the winners of the 2008-2009 GSI Fellowship Awards. Each fellowship carries a $10,000, renewable stipend. A list of the students and topics--and contact information for the next fellowship call--is available here.
GENIVAR Acquires Solmers
The income fund GENIVAR has acquired Quebec-based Solmers Inc., an environmental engineering services firm. The move significantly helps the fund's interaction with key areas of construction and engineering in Canada, such as municipal solid waste and industrial waste processing and disposal. Solmers' resume includes many millions of square meters of materials designed and installed.
Learn more here.;
C-TPAT Certification: Solmax
Solmax International announced last August that it had earned Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification. In an audit last month, the company's rating was affirmed and renewed--and Solmax's application has been recommended for the border security program's important Tier 2.
CETCO Introduces 200R GCL
CETCO announces the introduction of a new geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) product: Bentomat® 200R. This new GCL combines the benefits of CETCO’s needle-punched GCLs with the economical pricing of the Claymax® GCLs. Read more in the release.
EuroGeo 4 Update
The organizers of EuroGeo 4--the 4th European Conference on Geosynthetics--would like to remind readers of the early registration deadline (31 July 2008) and of the three technical courses that will be held in conjunction with the event. The technical course subjects are geosynthetics in reinforcement, waste containment and hydraulic applications. Read more.
Googling Geosynthetics
geosynthetica is proud to announce that it has cleared the application process to begin supplying original content to Google News. This platform will help extend the reach of geosynthetic engineering information to users, potential users, journalists, and many others. For information on how your work could be part of a story, contact Chris Kelsey.
First AIC Designation in Mexico
The International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) has announced that Mexico-based Soluciones Ambientales Integrales SA DE CV has achieved the designation of Approved Installation Contractor (AIC). The company is the first in Mexico to reach this mark. Read Jilien Harvey's story.
Calls for Papers Update
Our bi-weekly update on calls for papers, abstracts and proposals is posted. This issue includes Cooperation for Waste Issues, a Kharkiv, Ukraine event for which geosynthetica is a media partner. Events are listed in ordered of closest deadlines.
Landfill Mining in Escambia
Landfilling in Escambia County, Florida is difficult for both space and cost reasons. Plans are now in place to begin "mining" a 20 to 25-year-old landfill and reuse the space created for more waste disposal. Roughly 77% of the old space is soil, they estimate. That soil will be tested and reused in future covers.
Learn more here.;
Effect of Resin Prices
Resin prices have increased dramatically this year, and since resins provide the vital characteristics of geosynthetics, the cost of geosynthetic products have risen--though not nearly by as much as resins have. But there is only so much manufactures can do before some of their increased costs must transfer into the product lines. Tensar International has released a letter about this.
Learn more here.;
Keep Current on Deadlines
We've seen a great many Calls for Papers, Abstracts and Proposals come out recently. It can be difficult to track all this during your busy work season. Keep up-to-date on the calls with our update column that may identify particular sessions of interest, such as the Geotechnical Risk portion of the 2009 DBIA Water/Wastewater event. Read more about these forthcoming deadlines.
9ICG Call for Papers
The 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG) will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil. A Call for Papers has been issued…as has a conference mascot. Deadline for submission of abstract is 30 October 2008. Key interests for the conference include drainage, mining, durability and long-term performance, transportation, hydraulic applications, new products and much more.
Learn more here.;
JPS Completes Sale
JPS has completed its sale of Stevens Roofing and Geomembrane to Dow Chemical Co.'s Dow Building Solutions group. The transaction does not involve JPS's other operating units, JPS Composite Materials and Stevens Urethane.
Learn more here.;
America's Infrastructure
The sagging state of the American infrastructure is well known. The recent collapse of more than 20 levees during the flooding in the Midwest is more than telling. But the Economist has now weighed in with a rather stark, short essay on the funding and application needs. Transportation and water management are of major concern. Read more.
Learn more here.;
Demolition Geotextiles
While the primary uses of geotextiles include separation, cushioning, drainage control and filtration, another major use has grown in recent years: demolition control. The durability of geotextiles and finer apperatures have seen demolition crews go increasingly for them over more traditional site demolition wraps like chain link. The materials are used for blast, dust and debris containment.
Learn more here.;
GeoEdmonton '08 Early Registration
The deadline for the “early-bird” conference registration fee for GeoEdmonton’08 in 20 July 2008. Act soon to save $100 on registration. For non-members of the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS), your registration includes membership. The online registration system can also be used to register for the short courses and technical tours. GeoEdmonton '08 will be held 21-24 September 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Learn more here.;
New PE Pipe
Dow, a leading global plastics company, has launched DOWLEX PE-RT at the Middle East Plastics Pipe conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The polyethylene product has been developed for the elevated temperature and construction needs of the Middle East. Dow Building Solutions, a division of Dow Chemical Company, recently announced its intention to purchase Stevens, a leading geosynthetics company.
Learn more here.;
Reminder: Geosynthetics 2009
Geosynthetics 2009 will be held 25-27 February 2009 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The deadline for submission of abstracts and proposals is June 30. The conference theme is "Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering." See the abstract submission page for more information.
Learn more here.;
