Soil Reinforcement

Roughly 120 visitors came to the renowned Bauhaus University Weimar recently for a Department of Civil Engineering event titled "Energy. Experiment. Experience." One of the event's highlights included the first public testing of geogrid-reinforced stone columns--using a 2.2-ton vehicle. NAUE GmbH & Co. KG, an international manufacturer of geosynthetics, worked with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Josef Witt and Dipl.-Ing. Mary Noack from the Bauhaus University Weimar, to create the geogrid-reinforced stone columns on which the car was supported. The geogrid used in the experiment was NAUE's Secugrid®. Read about the experiment and link to a video demonstration.

This year's StocExpo was the biggest yet, with nearly 70 different countries represented. The three-day conference and exhibition, now in its sixth year, was held in Antwerp, Belgium. A strong mix of attendees from all aspects of port operations, construction and clients were represented. See statistics from StocExpo 2010, and learn the newly released details on StocExpo 2011.

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 the technical program for the event 3-6 October 2010 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The GWMS will feature 105 educational oral and poster presentations. "The technical program for the 2010 GWMS contains a diverse array of topics that reflect the broad efforts being made to increase sustainable waste management initiatives across the globe," notes Dr. Bryan Staley, co-chair of the GWMS technical committee.

Technical Textiles Internatinoal is offering up to five months free of the Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology news service. Visitors to the Smart Textiles website can download the March 2010 issue free in PDF, then log in to view successive issues, including receiving three issues in print. After five issues, you can choose to remain subscribed (an automatic charge will take place) or cancel. Learn more here.;

Penton Media's Waste Expo seeks presentations for its 2011 conference, which will be held in May 2011 in Dallas, Texas. Organizers are asking for 250-word abstracts for presentations on innovative systems, dynamic new processes, new business management and development approaches, revolutionary uses of technology, technological improvements in the field, recycling, waste minimization, environmental stewardship, employment, community relations, and much more. The deadline for abstract submission is 20 August 2010. Learn more. Learn more here.;

We concluded our time at the American Public Works Association's (APWA) Sustainability in Public Works Conference today with a day of focused sessions and capped off with closing remarks from the organizers. The sessions I attended pertained to green infrastructure and biomass-to-energy, while other sessions addressed facility energy use, pervious concrete, success indicators, urban ecosystem management, the "people" side of sustainability measures and work, and recycled materials in road construction.

Day 2 of APWA's Sustainability in Public Works Conference has come and gone, and it provided significant fodder for discussion on infrastructure upgrades and the need for new designs to accommodate the potentially devastating impact of climate change--which, regardless of whether one supports the term "climate change" simply means that today public works departments must combat both increased risk for drought and flooding. The morning session featured introductory remarks and agenda setting. Later on, smaller sessions gathered. Geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey attended sessions on impacts of climate change on public works and the utilization of BMPs in low-impact development (LID). Read more in his day two report.

A joint project with Cell-Tek Geosynthetics (Crofton), Life Time Pavers (Gambrills), Maisel Brothers (Glen Burnie), and an anonymous local donor is in the process of completion at the intersection of the WB & A Trail and Strawberry Lake Way in Odenton. The project, named Angels' Garden, began last year through The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails and their "Lasting Gifts" Program. The completion of this joint effort demonstrates the importance of local contributors working together to beautify and improve a community so that all those who use the area may benefit. Read more.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has spent the last few years with hands firmly on the reins of sustainability issues in the public works profession. Two key outreach efforts have come about as of this work between APWA's membership and leadership committees: the launch of the APWA Center for Sustainability and the APWA Sustainability in Public Works conference series. The opening eve of the conference, which is being held at the Hilton Minneapolis, gave us an excellent opportunity to say hello to one another. A registration and welcome reception was held in the exhibit hall.

Each year, Geosynthetica participates in a number of conferences. Participation may include exhibiting, presentations (or paper co-authorship), session coordination and attendance. Also, Geosynthetica serves as a media partner or cooperating organization to many of these events. Some of these forthcoming events are briefly noted in this roundup article.

When erosion control requirements in an Atlanta neighborhood necessitated the construction of a retaining wall, no one expected that it would precipitate a sinkhole. Learn more here.;

During the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG), which was held in May 2010 in Brazil, the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) announced results of its most recent election cycle. The IGS Council met so that the expiring council could conclude business and hand over control to the new council, which welcomed both new and returning council members. This includes both those elected and those co-opted.

At the recent 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9th ICG) held in Guarujá Brazil the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) Council marked the beginning of a new Council term. At the General Assembly the officers and council members elected to serve for the 2010-2014 term were announced and officially took office.

Register today and join your colleagues in the variety of activities that the Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) offers: educational sessions, table top exhibits, landfill tour, receptions, networking functions, and the GWMS golf outing. This year's Keynote Presenter is Thomas Christensen. He'll provide an international perspective on waste disposal trends. New Technical Session topics this year include: Waste-based energy; Recycling and Waste Diversion; Solar Cell applications. Learn more about the October 2010 conference.

TenCate is internationally known for its successful geosynthetic technologies, as well as many other products beyond geosynthetics; but the company has now been included in discussions in Georgia about taxes and energy use. A gubernatorial candidate is proposing to end tax on energy use in manufacturing. He made his announcement outside of one of TenCate's facilities and cited how companies like it, which support significant job creation in the state, would further encourage growth. Learn more here.;

At the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG), held in Brazil in late May, Gary Ng was recognized as the winner of the International Geosynthetics Society's (IGS) first-ever photo competition. His shot of the NENT Landfill Expansion (Hong Kong) is certainly an impressive representation of the scale on which geosynthetics are being used today. See his work and other images submitted to the competition on the IGS website. Learn more here.;

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), will host the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GBR-C 2k10) 15-16 September 2010 at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany. Technical sessions will address shear and mechanical behaviour of GCLs, chemical resistance of GCLs, testing of GCLs under unsaturated conditions, behaviour of GCLs in landfill covers (case studies), regulations, new concepts and developments in the use of GCLs, and GCLs for hydraulic and construction applications. Visit the conference's website for the latest. Learn more here.;

NAUE GmbH and Co. KG, international manufacturers of high-quality geosynthetics such as Secugrid® geogrids and Bentofix® geosynthetic clay liners, invites engineers, contractors, regulators and other professionals involved with geosynthetics to take a break--and take on NAUE's Gridator. Introducing: GoalGrid. GoalGrid is a free game available online (www.naue.com), and it comes just in time for the world's biggest single sport event: the FIFA football World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Learn more and play.

SpectraPave Software is an interactive design/analysis tool that incorporates the state-of-practice design methodologies for both flexible pavements and unpaved roads. The program features both design and cost analysis tools for evaluating and quantifying the benefits of Tensar® TriAx (TX) Geogrid for unpaved applications such as haul roads and working surfaces. SpectraPave4 Software, released in February 2010, incorporates the unpaved haul road design methodology developed by Dr. J.P. Giroud and Dr. Jie Han and has been calibrated and validated for the new TriAx Geogrid product. Learn more and download a copy. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that nearly $80 million in grants have been delivered to states as part of President Obama's historic high-speed and intercity passenger rail program. These grants will go toward the development of a brand new Recovery Act funded high-speed rail system in Florida as well as critical upgrades to existing passenger rail service throughout the country.

The Essential Eurocodes Transition Guide is a user-friendly guide that brings together leading experts from the Eurocode community to share key insights into the use and application of the new codes, focussing on how users can make the transition as quickly and painlessly as possible. In addition to coverage of the underlying structure, and industry view of the Eurocodes, individual chapters address the technical aspects of each Eurocode and will be an invaluable aid to practising civil and structural engineers, as well as regulators, academics and students and all those involved with the structure and design of public sector dwellings at this time of change in industry. Learn more here.;

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups. In many cities, SSOs and basement backups occur because of blockages, broken pipes and excessive water flowing into the pipes. SSOs present environmental and health problems because they discharge untreated wastewater that contains bacteria, viruses, suspended solids, toxics, trash and other pollutants into waterways. These overflows may also contribute to beach closures, shellfish bed closures, contamination of drinking water supplies and other environmental and health concerns.

The Middle East will be a leading producer and exporter of plastic resins within the next five years, with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) capacity in the region slated to more than double by 2015. The Middle East plastics industry is expected to grow 30 percent a year. This phenomenal growth rate, and the consequent further investment and industrial development opportunities presented have prompted the organization of the First GPCA Plastics Summit, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Dubai on 14-16 June 2010.

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.;

J & S Franklin's DefenCell™ Profile 300 has recently successfully completed a number of vehicle crash tests to meet the PAS68 protection standards. It is made from strong geotextile materials, which when layered in construction can be used to build barriers, berms or bunds. PAS 68, (Publicly Available Specification), is a BSI classification for vehicle security barriers, and provides a comparative method of assessing the performance of any system designed to stop vehicles.