Soil Reinforcement

With a rapidly growing global sales and manufacturing presence, Strata Systems, Inc. has developed more regionally targeted portals in support of its clients and Strata’s soil reinforcement products. In...

In the 1990s*, geosynthetic material development, polymeric research, and wide-scale manufacturing advances helped the field mature quickly. Regulatory support, such as the RCRA Subtitle D rule from the US...

ATLANTA – Tensar Corporation, the global leader in geosynthetic site development technology, announced today that it has been acquired by Castle Harlan, Inc., a New York-based middlemarket private equity firm. "By...

PHOENIX, 15 October 2013 — The newly paved, shorter US 89 detour (bypass) route in northern Arizona is now fully open with no restrictions after the Arizona Department of...

How does one mitigate the catastrophic effects earthquakes can have on pipelines? Geofoam is being utilized around the world to provide beneficial, dependable pipeline security in seismic zones. Story...

In October 2009, a rock slide along Interstate 40 in Haywood County, North Carolina, was so severe that it closed this major stretch of road for more than...

In the opening column to the International Geosynthetics Society's IGS News (Volume 29, Issue 2), IGS President Jorge Zornberg notes, "The conferences of the IGS have played a remarkable...

The International Symposium on Sustainable Geosynthetics and Green Technology for Climate Change (SGCC) was held in Bangkok, Thailand 20-21 June 2012 and honored Prof. Dennis T. Bergado, a geosynthetics veteran who is retiring. Prof. Bergado has held numerous leadership positions in the industry, such as serving as President of the International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) Thailand Chapter, Director of Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics (ACSIG), and Secretary General of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS). The event welcomed attendees and speakers from more than 20 countries as critical issues of environmental change were explored in the context of the roles geosynthetics play and can play in mitigating climate change impact.

Maccaferri was awarded "International Project of the Year" on Friday, May 4th at the Ground Engineering Awards, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. The awards, hosted by actor and presenter Robert Llewellyn, were presented at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on London's Park Lane. The award recognized the reinforcement work utilized on the construction of a new airport at Pakyong in the Himalayan state of Sikkim in North East India. Design of the slope used BS8006 for static design and FHWA (AASHTO) methodologies for the seismic design. Maccaferri's reinforcement technologies were used for this extraordinary design, which involves wall heights up to 74m and along 1480m. Read more.

rom 20-22 April 1977 the International Conference on the Use of Fabrics in Geotechnics was held in Paris, France. This watershed event included a paper from engineer Dr. J.P. Giroud in which he coined two terms that have become central to the field of geosynthetics: "geotextile" and "geomembrane." The Paris gathering introduced many new users to the fast-developing field of geosynthetics and, perhaps even more importantly, connected many companies, universities, and individual engineers who had already been furthering understanding of the materials—current and needed characteristics, manufacturing potential, applications for adoption, design methodologies, etc.

Chaido Doulala-Rigby (Yuli), Chief Engineer Tensar International, and Mike Dobie, Tensar Regional Manager Asia Pacific, have both recently been admitted as Fellows of the Institution of Civil Engineers, the world's oldest professional engineering society and a pre-eminent international organisation for civil engineers of all disciplines. Congratulations, Mike and Yuli!

In a 1 December 2011 release, the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) announced that it is postponing its IFAI Expo Asia 2012 event, originally scheduled to be held in late June 2012 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. However, construction on the Suntec Center may not in fact be completed by June to ensure the full success of the event and the association cites the softness of the global economy as another primary reason for the event's postponement. Two geosynthetics sessions were to be held at the event.

On his recent trip to Abu Dhabi, where he attended (and spoke at) the 4th Geosynthetics Middle East conference, Ian Peggs learned not only that a Canadian passport will not get you a visa to the UAE but that the constraints and barriers to geosynthetics continue to drop and understanding continues to grow. It's all part of an international dialogue. Read his latest contribution from the field.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, nonpartisan entity, is tasked with investigating how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. Among its central work is auditing agency operations for or advising agencies on more efficient and effective spending considerations. It stands as no small matter, then, that two Congressional figures have submitted a letter to the GAO requesting the performance of a study "to investigate the life cycle costs and benefits of incorporating innovative materials in pavements." Geosynthetics can play a welcomed role here. Read more.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) will once again feature two geosynthetics sessions during its IFAI Expo 2012, to be held 26-28 June 2012 in Singapore. The 2011 edition included two courses taught by TRI/Environmental's Sam Allen, while the 2012 edition has now announced that Dr. A. Malek Bouazza will lead two symposiums: "Geosynthetics for Waste and Water Containment" and "Geosynthetics for Roads and Bridges." Learn more at the event website. Learn more here.;

When SKZ's Geosynthetics Middle East (GSME) event convenes 25-26 October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, it will mark the fourth annual chapter in this conference, which has grown out of a successful series SKZ previously conducted in Germany. SKZ has organized the GSME event with BMC Gulf, and this year it will once again be held under the patronage of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi. The program for GSME 2011 has been announced. Read about it.

LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) today announced that Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel has been named senior vice president, Olefins & Polyolefins-Europe, Asia and International (EAI), with additional responsibilities for licensing and catalyst sales, effective immediately. Patel will succeed Anton de Vries who has departed from the company. Read more.

The Technical Textiles & Nonwoven Association is proud to announce the release of its latest learning resource on Geosynthetics: a series of informational geosynthetics lectures posted openly on YouTube. The videos address applications for geosyntehtic use and core product functions. Read more.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International's (IFAI) Expo Asia 2011 will include two technical sessions on geosynthetics. The event will be held 22-25 March 2011 at the new Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Exhibition Centre in Singapore. Session one is titled "Geosynthetic Applications for Infrastructure" and session two will be "Geosynthetic Materials for Environmental Applications." Learn more.

Seats are booking fast for the 3rd International Geosynthetics Middle East 2010. Looking at the current bookings so far, this event will be the largest conference on Geosynthetics in the Middle East organised by SKZ Germany. Under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Municipality, the event is taking place from 9-10 November 2010 in Abu Dhabi, UAE and will provide a highly attractive platform for international geotechnical and environmental specialists to exchange their knowledge and experience on geosynthetic related topics.

When the Germany-based organization SKZ first brought its renowned "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" seminar to the United Arab Emirates in 2008, it may have been tough to envision it becoming more than just a seminar filling a void in the region's professional development opportunities. This year, the event--3rd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East--marks its gathering with strong international and domestic support, including the patronage of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. The impressive program has been announced. Read more.

A national infrastructure bank would serve to make federal infrastructure investment a question of national economics rather than local politics, according to a Wall Street Journal editorial. The bank would also help pair private capital with public funds. With the cost of bringing the country's infrastructure up to date now exceeding $2 trillion, according to American Society of Civil Engineers, the bank could raise billions through bonds and self-financing mechanisms to help bridge the gap. Learn more here.;

CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) have announced a high-level business forum, to take place next year alongside the ITMA 2011 show, in Barcelona, Spain. Read more.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) today awarded over $2 million in grants to four University Transportation Centers (UTC) located throughout the United States to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation. UTCs conduct research that directly support USDOT priorities and are a critical part of our national transportation strategy.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson shares her memo to the agency regarding her first year at the helm and the now-expanded list of priorities for going forward.