Soil Reinforcement

Heavy construction has started on the Utah Transit Authority's $300 million, six-mile light-rail track that will finally connect downtown Salt Lake City and the city's international airport. Crews will soon install separation geotextiles to improve the subgrade's performanc. Reclaimed concrete aggregate will be installed over the geotextile layer. Atop that: thousands of truckloads of soil and ballast. Learn more here.;

TenCate™ Geosynthetics base reinforcement geogrids excel in Montana DOT study. In the independent Montana DOT study, TenCate Mirafi® BXG - the woven geogrid of TenCate Geosynthetics North America - outperformed all tested biaxial geogrids including the traditional extruded biaxial geogrids. The research, performed for the Montana Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration by the Western Transportation Institute, evaluated the use of reinforcement geosynthetics in unsurfaced roads built on soft subgrades (Report No. FHWA/MT-09-003/8193). In this study, eight geogrids were evaluated against two control sections. The results of the study clearly demonstrate the unique benefits provided by TenCate Mirafi® BXG geogrids.

Mark C. Arnold has been announced as president, CEO and director of Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. (GSE), a global geosynthetics manufacturer. Arnold's follows the sudden death of long-time GSE leader Samir Badawi. Like Badawi, Arnold brings considerable international business acumen to GSE. Prior to joining GSE, he served as vice president and general manager at Lubrizol Corporation, where he focused on growth along the Pacific Rim and in India, South America and the Middle East. Additionally, he spent 15 years with polyethylene pipe giant Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. Read more in the release.

Unless issues are sorted out by the 30 September 2009 expiration of the SAFETEA-LU program, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has notified state DOTs that $8.7 billion in budget authority will be rescinded from their unobligated federal-aid highway balances by that expiration date. While for some states this would not have a direct effect, in many states this order would result in an actual cut in funding for highway construction projects. Each state would lose budget authority in a proportion that matches its percent of the total highway funds that were provided over the six-year life of SAFETEA-LU. Learn more here.;

A direct link to the Geotechnical Services File from New Civil Engineer (NCE). This survey ranks UK geotechnical material manufacturers, contractors and other construction professionals. Tensar International has moved into the top spot for manufacturers, having just edged out Terram. NAUE Geosynthetics places a close third. In "Suppliers", Maccaferri places in the top five. Download the file in PDF. Learn more here.;

UK-based New Civil Engineering (NCE) has published its Geotechnical Services File, a top 20 ranking survey of the UK's geotechnical industry. Material manufacturers, contractors, and other geotechnical professionals are ranked by annual turnover, and the survey also gauges future prospects. Geosynthetics expert Tensar International ranks number one for manufacturers in the current survey, after just edging out Terram. NAUE Geosynthetics places a close third. Read the NCE article here. Learn more here.;

The North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS), the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Geo-Institute (GI) have signed an agreement to co-organize Geo-Frontiers 2011. The last Geo-Frontiers was held in 2005 in Austin, Texas. The 2011 edition will be held at the Sheraton-Dallas Hotel 13-16 March 2011. A call for topics and sessions will be issued from IFAI in the near future. Learn more here.;

The Netherlands-based Royal Ten Cate has released its latest profit information. Sales are down from 2008, due to the global economic situation; and the Geosynthetics and Grass Division has been hit hard. But the US-based geosynthetics operation has adjusted costs and market position since 2007 (when the market began to erode quickly in the US) and is poised for the next upward swing. The synthetic turf operations, which are dealing in a market that has yet to mature, have been more exposed to riskier credit partners so are now adjusting to work in more secure projects. All in all, for a difficult time, Ten Cate's global business is doing well and shows strong potential for when economic conditions improve. Learn more here.;

South Africa-based Cape Business News has published an article about the success of PSV Holdings acquisition of Engineered Linings. PSV, which specialises in pumps, valves and spares, paid R40 million to buy out various shareholders in Engineered Linings. Led by Du Toit Viljoen, Engineered Linings supplies and installs geosynthetic liners. The early 2009 numbers from the business have been very satisfying. Learn more here.;

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) has taken possession of the Lord and Buck Fields four months earlier than originally planned. Part of the work that must happen at the site involves the installation of reinforcement geogrids. VANOC took over the site earlier than expected in part to carry out the extensive geotechnical work before the end of September. Following the Winter Games, the fields will be remediated and returned in better shape with enhanced drainage, irrigation and performance. Learn more here.;

The organizers of GeoHalifax 2009 (20 - 24 September 2009) have released the conference's latest e-newsletter. (Interested readers can subscribe to the feed via the conference website.) Some of the highlights: registration will continue through the conference; the exhibit hall is sold out; and more than 400 abstracts were submitted. Presenters can use the online submission system for PowerPoint files. GeoHalifax 2009 is hosted by the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS) and the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). Learn more here.;

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) today announced former Vice President Al Gore as the opening keynote speaker for USGBC's annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo being held 11-13 November 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2007, Gore was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for his environmental activism. Read more in the release.

Technical textiles conferences, including discussions of geosynthetics, are on the rise in India. Significant effort is being made to increase awareness not only among users and potential users but among manufacturers, regulators, and many others. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Ministry of Textiles are playing key roles. Learn more here.;

The Ministry of Textiles in India has launched TechnoTex (www.technotex.gov.in) to better promote the Indian technical textiles industry and to facilitate education in this ever expanding area of manufacturing. The website is divided into various zones, such as GeoTech (which includes the geosynthetic sector), BuildTech (for architectural uses) and AgroTech (for agriculture). Learn more here.;

Cell-Tek Geosynthetics, manufacturer of geo-cellular confinement systems, announces the launch of their new bonded aggregate system, Gravel-Lok. This innovative product is the ultimate solution to bond together a wide variety of aggregates including washed stone and pea gravel creating a permeable decorative pavement system without sacrificing the strength.

Geosynthetics magazine editor Ron Bygness reports that the new magazine website will incorporate archives going back to 1998. This is excellent news. Thanks, Ron! Learn more here.;

JSC Gazprom Neft and SIBUR conducted a regular meeting of the working group on joint participation in promotion of polymer bitumen binders (PBB) substantially improving automobile roads' quality and lifespan. The participants of the meeting, involving representatives of JSC Soyuzdornii, discussed the issues of PBC production units launching and operating in the cities of Ufa (the Republic of Bashkiria), Bogoroditsk (the Tula Region) and Ivanteevka (the Moscow Region) in 2H2009. Production of PBB will be performed at the said units using DST-30-01 thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) produced by a SIBUR's subsidiary JSC Voronezhsintezkauchuk.

This week, word has come out that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), owners of the Kingston, Tennessee coal ash plant that failed in December 2008, will phase out wet coal ash storage at its many operations to further minimize risk of future environmental disasters. When the unlined, wet ash storage facility in Kingston broke, it released 5.4 million cubic yards of contaminated ash across 275 acres. The estimated cleanup cost, as announced in mid-February, was $525-$825 million. Today, the prevalent estimation is north of $1 billion. Read more.

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has published its latest edition of IGS News. The semi-annual publication contains reports from some of the IGS' 30+ international chapters, event recaps from around the world, short course announcements, and much more. This issue is particularly interesting for its IGS Chapter-centered pieces. John Cowland gives a review of IGS Asia, Jorge Zornberg discusses Chapter growth and communication, and Joanna Borkowska announces IGS Poland. Read more about this issue and link to its PDF version on line.

Applied Market Information (AMI) is offering a seminar titled "The World Plastics Industry" in Brussels, Belgium on 15 September 2009. The seminar will address global prospects, production rates, market conditions and more. AMI research director Andrew Reynolds writes on the event here.

Geosynthetics magazine, published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International, has launched a new website. The revamped design includes a cleaner presentation and more interactive content, such as a blog from editor Ron Bygness. Learn more here.;

In July, India-based FICCI helped organize a conference in Mumbai titled "Geo-synthetics : Opportunities and Challenges." The conference discussions pointed out needs in the Indian market, such as material testing facilities throughout the country, greater standardization, increased specification awareness, and much more. Read about it here.

The SIBUR's subsidiary OJSC Orton has conducted a ceremonial launch of new flat geogrid (geonet) manufacture facility under the Aprolat trademark. Operation of this new plant will secure for the SIBUR 13% share in this market segment. The design capacity of the plant is 3 thousand tons per year. Despite of economic difficulties, SIBUR has completed the investment project that will help it to reduce imports of construction materials and provide domestic consumers with competitive products. Read more.

Marchmont News, a daily, bi-lingual publication (Russian and English), reports that SIBUR Holding is investing $48 million in new geonet production in Kemerova and Orton. It is unclear from either SIBUR's official release or Marchmont's article whether geonets--for drainage--or geogrids--for reinforcement--are actually to be produced. Company comments in their official release would indicate higher-end geogrids are being produced. 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.