Soil Reinforcement

In 1999, ACF Environmental was involved in a project that saw the installation of Propex's Pyramat turf reinforcement mat (TRM) in lieu of traditional riprap for roadside work. Now, through its e-newsletter, ACF Environmental begins a series of articles and photographic essays to look back on the work as it happened and as it stands now. The photographs from Delaware provide excellent proof of the power of the right erosion control and geosynthetic mix to secure vegetation and promote long-term, successful growth. Learn more here.;

Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) are pleased to invite you to the 1st GSI-Asia geosynthetics conference. The conference will be held in Taichung, Taiwan 16-18 November 2010. The conference theme is "Geosynthetics in Infrastructure." In conjunction with the event, the Journal of GeoEngineering plans a special issue. Papers for that issue are still being accepted. Download the paper template in PDF.

The £80 million A1073 replacement link between Spalding and Peterborough is being constructed over highly variable ground conditions in the Fens, helped by the mechanical stabilisation performance of Tensar International's TriAx™ geogrids. Use of 130,000 sq.m. Tensar TriAx™ to mechanically stabilise the sub-base resulted in minimal soil excavation and reduced plant requirements. The inclusion of locally won sand and gravel capping also reduced the environmental impact and lowered imported material costs.

The National Science Foundation-sponsored Geo-engineering Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Team is traveling to Christchurch, New Zealand to document the effects of the Magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred on 4 September 2010. The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center is also co-sponsoring this effort. GEER teams focus on documenting geotechnical effects of extreme events as part of the U.S. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). The Team will be working in the field until September 16. Learn more about their mission.

TenCate Geosynthetics North America introduces internet-based MiraSpec Design Solutions Software, an easy-to-use software program that will assist engineers in flexible pavement design while demonstrating the many benefits of using TenCate Mirafi® RS580i woven reinforcement & stabilization geotextile in roadway structures.

Du Toit Viljoen has retired from his years of work at South Africa-based Engineered Linings. Contacts for Engineered Linings are Marketing and Technical Director Peter Hardie (peterh@englining.co.za) and new Managing Director Dave Roy (droy@englining.co.za). Colleagues wishing to contact Du Toit privately may reach him through his new e-mail address, dutvil@gmail.com. We congratulate him on his retirement and trust we'll see him soon enough in his travels or perhaps at an IGS event. Learn more here.;

Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) are pleased to invite you to the 1st GSI-Asia geosynthetics conference. The conference will be held in Taichung, Taiwan 16-18 November 2010. The conference theme is "Geosynthetics in Infrastructure." Primary topics include Mechanical Stabilized Earth Structures, Coastal and Hydraulic Engineering, Erosion Control and Sustainable Engineering, and Transportation and Pavement Engineering. The program includes a keynote lecture, special lectures, and discussion sessions. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Registration by September 30 for an advanced registration rate. Learn more here.;

Writing for the UK-based Rail Engineer, Douglas Ayres recalls his time in the Western Region’s New Works Laboratory. His history includes many notes on firsts in the use of geosynthetics in track construction: geotextile, geomembranes and geogrids. Learn more here.;

Thanks to President Obama’s recently announced National Export Initiative, now may be a good time to expand your business globally. The program aims to increase financing and other support to small businesses and, ultimately, double the amount of exports over the next five years. Anne Field's article at Open Forum provides a number of resource ideas. Learn more here.;

Kevin Hancock of Geosand (Terram Geosynthetics and WTB Geotechnics) writes in the July 2010 issue of Rail Engineer about geosynthetics in rail construction. Learn more here.;

In addition to the launch of a new website, Terram has released a series of new technical design guides covering the core products of geotextiles, geocomposites and geocells as well as an introduction to Terram. These documents provide specifiers with information on which applications the products can be used along with useful design details. Learn more at the new Terram website. Learn more here.;

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) invites you to present a paper at its inaugural EUROTEC technical conference in Barcelona, Spain. The three-day event, SPE-EUROTEC 2011, will be held 14-15 November 2011. SPE invites speakers to present papers on: Failure Analysis and Prevention; Bioplastics; Product and Engineering Design; Color and Additives; General Business; Engineering Properties; Structure; and more. Learn more here.;

As hearings continued through September 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks comments regarding the regulation of coal ash containment sites. The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) was among the first in line to address the issue Aug. 30 at the initial hearing in Arlington, Va. Read more, including remarks from GMA Members. Learn more here.;

The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) is a bienniel, global gathering of specialists from within and industries intersecting with waste management. Take advantage of this international networking opportunity. Learn from industry leaders. Listen to an exciting keynote address, tour the United States’ first landfill solar energy cover system, and learn about cutting-edge technologies in the exhibit hall. Register by September 10 to save on registration. Use code AA13 when registering to receive the discounted pricing. Learn more here.;

Penton Media's 2010 Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS), an international forum for the presentation of peer-reviewed applied and fundamental research and case studies on waste management, announces a new special session: "Applicability of USEPA Greenhouse Gas Rules to Landfills," to be held October 4 from 12:00 - 2:00 pm at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Learn more.

Many levees in California are in need of repair, according to experts. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged $500 million to upgrade the state's levee system, but the Army Corps of Engineers -- which is busy in Afghanistan -- is needed to fix most of the levees, an official said. Without repairs, a levee failure in the Sacramento area could hamper the ability of 25 million Californians to secure fresh water, experts noted. Learn more here.;

The latest newsletter from Australia-based Global Synthetics includes a number of interesting articles, such as the debut of Propex's ArmorMax turf reinforcement mats in the Australian market, managing stormwater at the country's largest airport, the use of ACEGrid geogrids for strong earth reinforcement and storm protection in New Zealand, and much more. Download a copy of the newsletter here (PDF).

A county in northwestern Ohio is using geotextile-reinforced aggregate to build abutments and wingwalls for bridges and culverts, in an adaptation of an old, old, idea. And it works. Warren Schlatter, the county engineer in Defiance, Ohio, says there have been no failures or problems with the bridges. "They do what I want them to do," he says. Read more. Learn more here.;

The expansive Smokey Hill Air National Guard Range near Salina, Kansas provides 34,000 acres for realistic environment training for both active and reserve military organizations. This unique facility includes a 156-acre zone for crisis response training. For the construction of a collapsed structure simulation, site coordinators sought a subgrade reinforcement material that would not require the addition of a separate nonwoven weed barrier. The Kansas Department of Transportation suggested Combigrid® GRK 5 2020, a material with which KDOT has previous experience.

IGS-Thailand, the Asian Center for Soil Improvement and Geosynthetics (ACSIG), and the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS), under the auspices of International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), are jointly organizing the International Symposium on Geotechnical and Geosynthetics Engineering: Challenges and Opportunities on Climate Change to be held 7-8 December 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. This event is co-organized by the Thailand Geotechnical Society (TGS) and Suranaree University of Technology (SUT). The symposium will gather academics, practitioners, partners, and stakeholders to discuss emergency and urgent issues related to climate change as well as the innovative mitigation measures in the context of geotechnical and geosynthetics engineering.

TenCate has released its full statement on first half 2010 performance. The company has announced that it has doubled its net profit in the period, in part bouyed by significant improvement in the Geosynthetics and Grass Division. Read more.

Royal Ten Cate (multinational producer of functional materials) is to install an International Advisory Board as a strategic and advisory body to the Executive Board. The International Advisory Board of TenCate will comprise Prof. J.G. de Hoop Scheffer, General (retd.) D.L. Berlijn, and K. Blekxtoon. Read more.

The Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) seeks presentations for its 23rd Annual Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Conference and Trade Show, to be held 3-4 March 2011 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Plymouth, Minnesota. Two types of presentations are being solicited: Local projects completed for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control; New, innovative products for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control. Project presentations will be 15-30 minutes long. Product presentations will be 10-15 minutes. Submit your presentation title and 200-word abstract, project location, names and the contact information for the presenter(s) by 27 September 2010 to MECA at carolyn@fortinconsulting.com. For more information call the MECA office, +1 763 478 3267. Learn more here.;

The High Sheldon Wind Farm produces wind energy for the Town of Sheldon in Wyoming County, New York. The project has a maximum electric generating capacity of 129 MW and produces enough clean, renewable energy to power 60,000 homes every year. The major challenge facing the contractor was the potential rutting caused by the extremely high live loads on the turbine access roads. In order to support loading from equipment of up to 5000 psf, Fornit® 30 geogrids were installed to enhance the subgrade of the access roads on the site. This type of geogrid is designed reinforcement with confinement of finer aggregate. It was an ideal choice for the site. Read more.

A recent reconstruction of a lot on Texas A&M University's campus has not only provided needed parking and renovations, but saved a number of trees. Somewhat new for the campus is the use of geogrids instead of traditional lime for stabilization. Lime can damage tree roots. For this project, the university used Tensar's Triax Geogrid. Learn more here.;