Soil Reinforcement

From May 13 – May 22, Geofabrics Australasia is sponsoring an educational seminar series on “Retaining & Hydraulic Structures.” The event will be held in four cities and include...

The exhibition area, already extended, has sold out and the international group of expert speakers are ready. The fifth edition of Geosynthetics Middle East, organized by SKZ and being held again under the patronage of Abu Dhabi Municipality, will unfold 19–20 November 2012 at the Rocco Forte Hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This year's speakers hail from the UAE, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Malaysia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Italy, United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. They'll address the transportation infrastructure and environmental solutions theme through case studies, research, new materials and application approaches, and direct interaction with the attendees.

geosynthetica.net's 2008 Education Box project has received a mention in the March issue of CE News. See the piece online in the New & Noteworthy section and learn how we're working to improve undergraduate geosynthetic education. A version for practicing engineers may be developed too. Learn more here.;

geosynthetica is pleased to announce two new additions to our Underwriter family. Please go to https://www.geosynthetica.net/Underwriters/Aplix.asp to learn about hook and tape suppliers APLIX (headquartered in Charlotte, NC) and https://www.geosynthetica.net/Underwriters/rawell.asp to learn about bentonite based waterproofing materials manufacturers Rawell (headquartered in Merseyside, U.K.).

ASTM's Committee D35 on Geosynthetics will be meeting June 26 in Denver. "Geosynthetics in Roadways and Pavements" will be the focus of Subcommittee 01 on Mechanical Properties that day. Regular Task Group meetings on properties frequently used to characterize geogrids and geotextiles used in roads and pavements will be sandwiched around an hour long update by Steve Perkins on the encouraging developments and correlations of index, bench-scale, and full-scale separation/stabilization test methods. Learn more here.;

The world's largest manufacturer of fiber optic sensors for civil engineering applications and the world's leading provider of geosynthetics are collaborating in the development of a unique geotextile monitoring solution -- TenCate GeoDetect® -- that will provide unprecedented detail about the properties of embankments, slopes, walls, levees, roads, rails and other earth structures. Customers will benefit from the real-time monitoring of every square meter of land for ground movement, soil erosion, settlement and other changes. Read more.

Liner designers and regulators should note that it is NOT possible to perform a geoelectric integrity or leak location survey on a double geomembrane lining system when there is only a geocomposite in the leakage detection system (LDS) between the two geomembranes unless the LDS is backfilled with water. This can be costly, time-consuming, and even damaging to the liner if it is uplifted. Additional ballast on the liner may be required. And side slope liners cannot be tested. Plan ahead and use conductive geomembrane, or place a conductive geotextile or a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) directly under the primary geomembrane.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has established multiple technical committees to facilitate even stronger exchange of information between its global members. The IGS Technical Committee on Filtration has issued...

Geocells have grown in use around the world for slope stabilization, channel protection, load support, and retaining wall applications. The new website of EcoWeb Geocellular Synthetics Co. Ltd. explores ...

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.;

By Pietro Rimoldi, A.D. Gharpure, and R.R. Mahajan - Reinforced soil walls offer economic advantages over conventional mass gravity wall systems as the height of the wall increases. The cost...

The next Civil Applications and Design Seminar from Tensar is 21 August 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama. Topics may include geosynthetics in pavement design, reflective cracking reduction, waste containment applications, foundations, steep slope stability, design and construction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, and wastewater treatment. Participants can earn up to 8 PDH credits. Learn more here.;

The cover story for the June 2011 issue of Arab Construction World comes from Geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey. "Greener Infrastructures with Geosynthetics" looks at gas barrier improvements with EVOH layer incorporation and growth and opportunities in the region. Companies of note in the article include Leister Process Technologies, Kuraray, Raven Industries, I-CORP International, Sika, Mattex and BMC. Download the issue in PDF here.

The South African geosynthetics community continues to grow, in no small part due to relationships its participants have established with affiliated groups in construction and engineering. The latest...

With COVID-19 concerns impacting travel around the world, large and small events alike have rescheduled to protect their participants. Some events move on the calendar; others, like GeoAmericas 2020,...

Daniele Cazzuffi (CESI SpA – Milano, Italy and also IGS Past President) has been unanimously elected as Chairman of the European Committee for Standardization on Geosynthetics (CEN TC 189) for a period of three years, 2012–2014. The vote was held during January 2012 as postal ballot among all standardization bodies of the 27 countries belonging to CEN. The mandate of CEN TC 189 is to develop standardized test methods for the overall characterization of geosynthetics and mainly to elaborate the harmonized European standards for the various fields of geosynthetics applications. He is the first elected chair from outside of Belgium and the Netherlands.

GeoAfrica 2009 is the first African regional conference on geosynthetics. The event, to be held under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and hosted by the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), will take place 2 - 5 September 2009 in Cape Town. Organizers have just announced an extension of the early-bird registration rate to 30 June 2009. The conference is shaping up to be a grand one, with more than 100 papers over three days, a sold-out exhibit hall and plenty of networking opportunities.

Plastics Information Direct (PID)--part of Applied Market Information (AMI)--is having a book sale. The company hopes to make greater room on its shelves for 2009's new editions. This means it is getting rid of some special texts that will not be replaced. Visit the bookstore online. Learn more here.;

As a gateway for the region, Egypt's plastics industry boasts a rapid a growth rate which is fueled by industrial modernization initiatives spearheaded by the Egyptian government. According to 2005/06 figures, there are 1,276 factories in Egypt with total market volume of $4.03 billion and total investments reaching about $4 billion. Egypt consumed plastic materials and resins worth nearly $1.6 billion. Demand is expected to grow at 10 percent annually for the next three years, due to the increasing number of newly established factories. Additionally, Egypt exports plastics to the Gulf region. Learn more here.;

GeoAmericas 2020 will be the 4th Pan-American Regional Conference on Geosynthetics. The quadrennial event will be held 26 – 29 April 2020 in historic Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The...

The United Kingdom-based Contract Journal has published a piece on one of the most intriguing development schemes: the construction of an entirely new, tech-centric town. Ebbsfleet Valley in North Kent will be connected to London and Paris by high-speed rail and include its own "mini-Seine." The US $5 billion project will include some interesting engineering challenges to its water features, much of which will call upon geogrid reinforcement. Learn more here.;

In October, North Carolina-based HUESKER hosted a high-level, invitation-only geosynthetics technical networking event—GeoPass—in Charlotte, North Carolina at its new headquarters. The gathering of researchers, consultants, and other...

In 2003, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expressed concern over the structural security of its Kingston coal ash reservoir. But the company expressed even greater concern with the proposed redesign bills, including one that recommended up to $25 million of work (and which would have appropriated $5 million for a proper liner). The TVA chose a sub-$1 million plan. When the Kingston facility failed in December 2008, it released 5.4 million cubic yards of contaminating ash across 275 acres. The estimated cleanup cost is $525-$825 million. That's 21 times the highest redesign cost proposal from 2003 and 105 times the cost of the liner TVA balked at. One can reasonably expect liners to be mandated in the near future for these disposal and storage facilities. Learn more here.;

The much-maligned Union-Go Dairy in Indiana has finally received approval for its solution to whales in its lined manure lagoon. It's April Fool's Day, but this is no joke: they're going to pop the methane-filled geomembrane "bubbles" today. Attempts will be made to control the release. Learn more here.;

The American Public Works Association (APWA) 2011 conference and exhibition is accepting presentation proposals through 30 September 2010. The event will be held 18-21 September 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Learn more here.;