Soil Reinforcement

In early August 2009, Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan. The storm was the deadliest typhoon ever to strike Taiwan. More than 450 people were killed, and initial estimates of the property, structure and infrastructure damage has been estimated at USD $3.3 billion. But one of the lessons learned in this typhoon is that geosynthetic reinforced structures can preserve infrastructure even against such a catastrophic event.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) 2010 conference and exhibition has extended its call for proposals to 9 October 2009. The event will be held 15-18 August 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. It will be co-located with the Solid Waste Association of North America's (SWANA) annual WASTECON event. Learn more about the topics sought by APWA online. Learn more here.;

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is accepting abstracts for its 2010 conference and exhibition through 16 October 2009. The event will be held 16-18 August 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. It will be co-located with the American Public Works Association's (APWA) annual event. Learn more about WASTECON in the Call for Presentations PDF. Learn more here.;

Santa Fe Gold Corporation has announced that the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer has issued a permit required to proceed with construction of the tailings dam impoundment at the Banner Mill located near Lordsburg, New Mexico. The company expects to complete construction of the tailings impoundment during the current quarter and to begin processing operations shortly thereafter. This includes the installation of geomembrane.

IFAI Expo Asia 2011 will be held 22-25 March 2011 at the new Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Exhibition Centre in Singapore, and is being organized to serve the rapidly growing specialty fabrics marketplace in the Asia-Pacific region. There is a tremendous output and consumption of specialty fabrics in the Asia-Pacific region. The current trade shows in India and China focus almost exclusively on the disposable nonwoven industry. IFAI Expo Asia 2011 will now become the first major event in the region that specifically targets as visitors the end-product fabricators who use all types of materials--woven, nonwoven, knit and composite textiles.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has regulatory authority over more than 31,000 facilities across the state, all of which may now be readily identified on an interactive Web-based map. ADEQ launched its easy-to-use interactive map viewer, known as "EnviroView," earlier this month. The feature is available to the public and is accessible from the department's Web site, www.adeq.state.ar.us.

KARL MAYER will appear at this year's Techtextil India with its subsidiary KARL MAYER Malimo and will thus focus on machines for the production of composites. The nonwovens from KARL MAYER multiaxial machines are currently being used in particular as glass reinforcements in the wind power sector and boat construction, where the demand is high. However, geotextiles from RS 3 MSUS-V weft-insertion raschel machines and textile materials from the RS 2 (3) MSUS machine which are used as advertising media have become best sellers on the market.

There is a new global cooperation section of the ASTM International Web site. The updated site has a new look and features more information about ASTM activities with MOU partners and other international standards development organizations. The page links to technical assistance, training opportunities, events, and much more. Learn more here.;

After only three days on the job, the Tennessee Valley Authority's new point man for the Kingston ash spill cleanup predicted Thursday the project would be complete within three years.Officials say about one-third of the 3 million cubic yards of ash in the river has been removed so far. TVA is shipping the ash, which is wrapped in a "burrito liner" (so called because the material is wrapped inside a tarp folded like a burrito), via train to a landfill in Alabama. Learn more here.;

At Cemagref in Antony, research on qualifying the performance of geosynthetics used for landfills is carried out with many partners, both public and private. Nathalie Touze-Foltz, a researcher at Cemagref, has plans to set up a partnership with the Fraunhofer institutes (the equivalent of the Carnot institutes) in Germany or with universities. The goal of a project with Germany would be to encourage the development of partnership research on the most suitable level. Read more.

On 29 January 2010, ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics and the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) will host a workshop in San Antonio, Texas on "Geosynthetic Material Durability: Field and Laboratory Experiences." David Suits, executive director of the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), reports that GRI's Bob and George Koerner are still open for receiving abstracts for the event. This one-day sympomsium will not require a full paper; only an extended abstract. For more information, please contact George Koerner at gkoerner@dca.net or Sam Allen at SAllen@tri-env.com. Learn more here.;

A ceremonial launch of a new unit for flat geogrid production under the trade mark Apropat took place at Plastik plant, a subsidiary enterprise of SIBUR. The design capacity of the unit is 3 kta. According to current forecasts of the market conditions, when the design capacity of flat geogrid production is attained, the annual earnings of the enterprise will increase by 550 million RUR. A similar geogrid production unit with 3 kta capacity was commissioned in August 2009 at Orton, another enterprise of SIBUR in the Kemerovo Region.

On Sept. 24, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia announced 174 infrastructure projects across the province valued at just under $719 million. This funding announcement represents two programs: the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, and a fund under Building Canada called the Communities Component. See a list of the benefitting sectors and Canadian dollar amounts allocated here. Learn more here.;

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009. View the flyer in PDF.

You can still save up to 50% on your conference costs for the 9th International Conference on Geosynthetics (9ICG). The conference is offering its very early-bird rates through 10 October 2009. Add to it the early booking discount for hotel, and those who take advantage of registering now will save more than $700. The 9ICG will be held 23-27 May 2010 in Guaruja, São Paulo, Brazil, under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). Please register as soon as possible. Learn more here.;

The city of Minot, North Dakota is dealing with doubled land values and the need to greatly improve its road infrastructure to support its growth…and to deal with the significant road break-up the city experienced in 2009. More expensive upgrades today, including filter fabric and more gravel, might greatly reduce future costs. But with the city struggling, like most cities, it may need to do less today and plan on significant repairs in 8 to 10 years instead. Learn more here.;

TenCate™ Geosynthetics North America introduces TenCate Miramesh® SG, an open mesh biaxial geosynthetic, designed specifically to be a face wrap material for steepened slope applications. The integrated synthetic grass creates a finished face. TenCate Miramesh® SG combines the TenCate Miramesh® GR biaxial geosynthetic with synthetic grass green fibers to produce a finished grass face for steepened slope applications, without the need for natural vegetation. By eliminating the need for topsoil infill it immediately creates a finished vegetated face. Synthetic grass fibres provide an extra layer of UV-protection doubling the long term resistance, therefore increasing stability.

Tensar International Corporation's (TIC) solutions for roadway improvement and pavement reinforcement have moved upward--literally. With its acquisition of the assets and business of Endurablend Systems, TIC adds a composite micro overlay system to its innovative product offering. The newly acquired business will relocate its headquarters to Atlanta and operate as a business unit under TIC's direction.

Burlington, Iowa officials are combing through a few proposals to replace the out-dated Cascade Bridge. Three plans have been submitted: a longer bridge with segmental retaining walls at the ends; a shorter bridge with mechanically stabilized earth walls; and a steel bridge (which would also require MSE wall support). Learn more here.;

Homeowners and commercial developers will undoubtedly face many challenges in their recovery efforts following last week's devastating flood in Metro Atlanta. A major concern for Atlanta area residents and businesses has centered on the failure of retaining walls and slopes, or, if a failure has not yet occurred, the integrity of their walls and slopes in the wake of the flood. According to Jon Ridgway, Director of Grade Separation Systems for Tensar International, saturated soils found behind retaining walls, beneath roads and parking lots and surrounding detention ponds can affect the stability of the overall structure.

A call for industry and universities to drive forward key opportunities for research into polymer geogrid applications has been made following a successful symposium to mark 25 years of technological advancement in the field. More than 150 people attended the Jubilee Symposium on Polymer Geogrid Reinforcement in London which identified important new directions for further development in geogrid reinforcement technology and innovation to achieve more cost-effective and environmentally responsible soil structures and road engineering. Read more.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez proposed on Sunday that South American and African nations unite to create a cross-continental mining corporation to keep control of their resources. "Africa and South America are rich lands, yet their peoples are poor, because they have been exploited," Chavez told a summit attended by 28 African and South American leaders. Learn more here.;

Roads & Bridges magazine hosts a regular "Roads & Bridges Live" series on relevant transportation topics. The one- or two-day events offer attendees PDHs. On 4-5 November 2009, the magazine will host a live session on "Bridge Infrastructure." Up to 11 PDHs will be awarded to participants. Learn more and register at the event website. Learn more here.;

An eco-friendly drainage system will be used when it comes time to pave the streets in the new golf course development in Hot Springs, South Dakota, set to begin next year. Although the main portion of the road will still be poured concrete, it's the edges that will make a difference. There, a geocellular grid from CellTek will be installed. Learn more here.;

SKZ, with scientific committee support from Cemagref and the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), announces the 3rd International Symposium on Geosynthetic Clay Liners, to be held at the Fortress Marienberg in Würzburg, Germany 15-16 September 2010. Abstract and papers for oral or poster presentations are invited on the following topics: Application / case studies (Landfills, Canals, Reservoirs / Dams, Transportation Infrastructure) • Durability / Lifetime • Laboratory testing • Performance (Cation exchange, Desiccation, Experience from excavation • Regulations / Approvals. Abstracts must be submitted via e-mail to: gbr-c2k10@skz.de no later than 30 September 2009. View the flyer in PDF.