Soil Reinforcement

Chattanooga-based Propex Operating Company, LLC, today announced that its Board of Managers has appointed Board Member John Byrne as the interim chief executive officer, effective today. Byrne replaces Stan Brant, whose resignation as Propex's president and chief executive officer was accepted by the Board of Managers on October 13. Among many products, Propex produces geosynthetics for earth retaining structures, subsurface drainage, separation and stabilization.

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 Crestmoor Canyon area near San Francisco is recovering from the early September natural gas blast the killed 8 people and burned almost 40 homes. The homes that survived the fire are now threatened by steep slope erosion. Engineers are racing the impending autumn rains to provide basic erosion control stability to the exposed slope, followed by plans to rebuild retaining walls and other reinforcement measures destroyed in the fire. Learn more here.;

The Allan Block Retaining Wall Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota has entered into a cooperative marketing agreement with Strata Systems, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia to market and promote the use of Strata's geogrid reinforcement as part of Allan Block's Small Grid Program. This agreement will facilitate distribution of the product through Allan Block's global network of licensed concrete producers.

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.

With the aid of MultiView, Inc., the Society of Plastics Engineers has launched a new iPhone app: SPE Mobile. The app is designed to help SPE keep its members connected to the association anytime, anywhere through one convenient portal. App functions include industry product and service searches, weekly news, SPE event information, SPE store and membership information, and easy access to the SPE website.

Utilizing online event technology, SPE will present its first-ever Young Professionals Career Forum on 2 February 2011. Students and young professionals seeking careers in the plastics industry are invited to participate in this online, full-day event. Webinars on practical skills, such as interviewing and the art of negotiation, will be presented. Companies are sought as sponsors and participants in the online job fair. SPE will follow up this forum with a series of activities for students and young professionals during ANTEC 2011 in Boston. Questions? Interested in attending as a participant or sponsor? Contact Elizabeth Reagan at ereagan@4spe.org. Learn more here.;

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.

LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (NYSE: LYB) common stock begins trading today on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol LYB for Class A ordinary shares and LYB.B for Class B ordinary shares. "Today LyondellBasell begins writing yet another chapter in our history--as a New York Stock Exchange-listed company," said LyondellBasell Chief Executive Officer Jim Gallogly. "The dedication and commitment of our employees worldwide has enabled us to create a new LyondellBasell, one of the world's premier chemical companies. Having our shares listed on the NYSE provides investors with a more liquid and transparent mechanism to own our stock."

The American Public Works Association (APWA) 2011 Sustainability Conference has extended abstract presentation proposals through 31 October 2010. General topics of interest include low impact development, sustainable best practices, success stories in sustainability, and much more. The event will be held 27-29 June 2011 in Portland, Oregon. Learn more and submit a proposal electronically. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has provided significant leadership in public discussions on the future of US coal ash facility construction rules. With current discussion regarding whether facilities might be governed under Subtitle C or D regulations, GMA has spoken at public gatherings and submitted formal comments and documents whenever the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for input. The latest comments regarding the storage of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs) were submitted 14 October 2010. We encourage readers to follow this developing story and the important work GMA is carrying out. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has opened registration for its annual conference and expo, Environmental Connection 2011 (EC11). Interested parties can visit IECA's website for details on full-day courses, shorter technical sessions, special events and the exhibit hall. EC11 will take place at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Orlando, Florida, 20-23 February 2011.

As the economy takes its toll in the number of approved civil engineering and infrastructure projects and with close scrutiny of those that do make it past the planning stage, Tensar International's Ian Fraser discusses the need to minimise the cost of raw materials, which increasingly favours more sustainable recycled solutions. Read his comments here and link to a document with further information from a company white paper.

Registration is now open for Environmental Connection 2011 (EC11), the next annual conference of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). Don't miss your chance to attend industry-leading education sessions, take advantage of the extensive networking opportunities, and see technologies and service providers in the largest expo of its kind. It's the world's largest soil and water event, and it's taking place 20-23 February 2011 in Orlando, Florida. Register by 10 December 2010 to receive the early-bird registration rate. Learn more here.;

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.

Tensar Corporation announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Phillip D. Egan has decided to retire from his positions. He will relinquish his duties effective immediately and will leave Tensar later this year. Don Meltzer will serve as interim President and CEO of Tensar Corporation while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted. Don has served as a Tensar Board member for the past year and has recently worked closely with the Tensar leadership team to prepare the company for growth and profitability expansion as the world recovers from the recent recession. Learn more.

AASHTO has released its "Technical Manual for Design and Construction of Road Tunnels - Civil Elements, First Edition." These guidelines provide recommendations for planning, design, construction, and structural rehabilitation and repair of the civil elements of road tunnels, including cut-and-cover tunnels, mined and bored tunnels, immersed tunnels, and jacked box tunnels. This 2010 publication is currently available only for pre-order. A delivery date estimate has not yet been announced. Learn more here.;

The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) is to very well attended. Sunday evening opened with an evening reception on the lawn of the host site, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort. Monday morning started bright and early with a 7:30 breakfast in the main exhibit room, which bustled with activity right up until Dr. Thomas Christensen's Keynote Lecture at 8:30. Read more.

The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) 2010 is taking place at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas through October 6. Geosynthetica's Elizabeth Peggs is there. The GWMS is an esteemed forum for the presentation of peer-reviewed applied and fundamental research and case studies on waste management. The bienniel event features significant international participation. This unique educational opportunity will not be around again until 2012. On-site registration is still available. Learn more here.;

The American Public Works Association (APWA) 2011 conference and exhibition has extended abstract presentation proposals through 8 October 2010. General topics of interest include operations improvements, emerging trends and technologies, public works leadership, and the business side of public works. The event will be held 18-21 September 2011 in Denver, Colorado. Learn more and submit a proposal electronically. Learn more here.;

Maccaferri will be attending the 42nd Annual Southeastern Transportation Geotechnical Engineering Conference (STGEC) at the Marriott in Charleston, West Virginia, 4-7 October 2010. Stop and visit with us at Booth 33. Maccaferri managers will be available to discuss and answer all your questions concerning erosion control, slope reinforcement and rockfall solutions. Read more.

In St. Lawrence County, New York, five bridges have been constructed in the past year with geosynthetic reinforced soil (GRS) bridge abutments. Now, the federal government is sending a film crew to the area to document the next GRS construction. The speed of construction and performance strength found in these designs is grabbing attention and may soon find much larger acceptance throughtout the country. The film will be shown at upcoming transportation design sessions in New York, Massachusetts, and Atlanta. Learn more here.;

Colbond has long been known for manufacturing high-performance materials for some of civil engineering's toughest applications, such as for new levee designs, as well as specialty markets such as green roofing. In support of the company's established product lines and markets, a new website has been launched. The new-look www.Colbond.us focuses on North American business and separates out markets concisely with product solutions targeted to each of them. Literature and media links under each product/application section provide detailed information, from case studies to product data, on prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs), erosion control materials, reinforcement geogrids, drainage geocomposites, and much more.

The fast and outstanding development and growth of the United Arab Emirates has shown not just significant recognition among top-tier international companies in the long-term strength of business in the United Arab Emirates but deep commitment and effort by the UAE government in ensuring and providing a competitive infrastructure to support and enable the overall vision of success for the United Arab Emirates. When SKZ convenes the 3rd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East, it will do so with the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City as a headline supporter. Geosynthetics Middle East 2010 will take place 9-10 November 2010 in Abu Dhabi under the theme of "Waterproofing Systems and Reinforced Structures." Learn more.

You can still register online for the Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) 2010. Registration will be available on-site too for the 3-6 October 2010 event at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The GWMS is an esteemed forum for the presentation of peer-reviewed applied and fundamental research and case studies on waste management. This unique educational opportunity will not be around again until 2012. Learn more.