Soil Reinforcement

Applied Market Information (AMI) has released the brochure for Polyolefins Additives 2009, the 2nd international conference on Polyolefin Additives. The event will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany from 30 March - 1 April 2009. Adding value and enhancing performance are key functions of additives for polyolefins. The chemical industry is constantly aiming to produce better products and this conference brings together experts in plastics and additives to discuss the latest developments. Download your copy today.

We have a number of stories were following in the global press that may interest users of geosynthetics. A handful of them are highlighted on our Press Brief page along with news of events we've added to our database. More updates will be available as stories are produced and events announced throughout the day. Visit the Press Brief page.

We return to the story of Lake Delton, Wisconsin today, where water is about to begin refilling the lake. A June 2008 storm destroyed five homes and washed the lake down a channel and into the Wisconsin River. We reported on this village's flood response need in early August when Propex Inc. gifted the village $100,000 worth of erosion control products to help with some key projects. Propex's ArmorMax system was offered for use on steep slopes, having already proven itself in New Orleans' infrastructure repair. Congratulations are due to the residents of Lake Delton on getting their community back up and so quickly. Learn more here.;

Plastics Information Direct (PID)--part of Applied Market Information (AMI)--is having a book sale. The company hopes to make greater room on its shelves for 2009's new editions. This means it is getting rid of some special texts that will not be replaced. Visit the bookstore online. Learn more here.;

The UPC’s Institute of Textile Research and Industrial Cooperation of Terrassa (INTEXTER) leads the European research project MODSIMTEX (Textile Modeling and Simulation). The project will create new technology that can save textile manufacturers metric tons of raw material, time and energy. A consortium of twelve leading European companies and research laboratories will design an intelligent system that can reduce by 75% the time and the raw materials needed to set up the machinery in assembly lines for high value added products. The new system will be ready in just over three years. Read more at Innovations Report. Learn more here.;

While the term "best management practice" (or, BMP) may be misleading, especially since agencies from town to town may disagree on which BMPs are acceptable--that is, which are actually "best"--erosion control is clearly of need. You can see this on a very large scale around Las Vegas. The Review Journal looks back at 10 years of major erosion control and bank stabilization projects and how sediment loads have been reduced by 75%, 38,000 native plants have returned, more than 100 species have returned, and much more. Learn more here.;

SKZ's Irina Bender has written a short report on the recent "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The two-day event in late October marked the first time this conference took place outside of Germany. Dr. Helmut Zanzinger chaired the sessions and was joined by experts such as Dr. John Greenwood (ERA Technologies), Hartmut Schröder and Peter Trubiroha (BAM). Mrs. Bender's report indicates that attendees (from 13 countries) reponded favorably to the discussions and showed a particular interest in geosynthetic performance with ponds and in tunnel linings.

Firestone Specialty Products produces geomembranes that are the durable, dependable solution for nearly any application. Whether for decorative commercial water features or critical containment applications such as agriculture, aquaculture, mining and other water containment, Firestone’s geomembrane systems are easy to install and built to last. The company has retooled the design and layout of its website. We encourage readers to give the new site, with its clean look and organization, a spin. Learn more here.;

Advance registration ends 30 November 2008 for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 88th Annual Meeting. The event will takes place 11-15 January 2009 in Washington DC. More than 10,000 transportation policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions are expected to attend. Learn more here.;

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will offer a free informational webinar to detail its projected $2.6 billion, I-15 CORE (Corridor Expansion) in advance of the release of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the design-build project. The webinar will be a live broadcast from Salt Lake City on 2 December 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (MST). The RFQ will be released and posted on the UDOT website on December 3. UDOT's previous I-15 work involved a significant amount of geofoam. Learn more here.;

The rubber and polymer materials specialty publisher and conference organizer, Smithers Rapra, is offering a 10% discount on its top ten bestsellers: Characterisation of Polymers (Vol 1); Determination of Additives in Polymers and Rubbers; Introduction to Plastics Recycling (2nd Edition); Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers; Thermochromic Phenomena in Polymers; Polymer Reference Book; Plastics Rubber and Health; ARBURG Practical Guide to Injection Moulding; Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes; and European Plastics and Rubber Directory (2007/2008). Visit the bookstore for more information. Learn more here.;

In 1992, during the construction of the third runway of Sydney's airport (Australia), reinforced earth walls were designed into the runway's perimeter. Within four years, clear subsidence was observed. Litigation followed, and finally all of the case's issues seem to have been resolved. The ruling has found that either compaction was not to the proper density or not enough care was taken in placement of the necessary geotextile fabric over joints in the fabric. Read more at Mondaq. (Registration required.) Learn more here.;

New York's Crown Point Reservation is a historic landmark. Geomembrane-lined coffer dams are being used to enable some critical bulkhead reinforcement work and a zebra mussel-removal scheme below water. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is also improving drainage works and stabilizing the shoreline. Learn more here.;

Over at Marketwatch.com, they've picked up the ReportLinker.com press release regarding the study, "Geosynthetics: Materials, Applications and Markets." This market study was original published in March 2008 and relies somewhat on 2007 statistics. But there is no indication that estimations on material needs have been amended based upon changes in the global credit market and government spending estimations. Read about the report directly at RL's website. Learn more here.;

Organizers for TechTextil North America have updated registration information for exhibitors and attendees at the conference website. The event will be held 21-23 April 2009 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the many sectors included in the show one will find geotechnical and building material suppliers. Learn more here.;

Environmental Connection is the annual conference from the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). We remind all of our readers that EC09 is just around the corner! The event will take place 9-12 February 2009 in Reno, Nevada. EC09 provides short courses, new technology exposure, networking, a large exhibitor hall, and much more. An early registration discount is available. Deadline for the "early bird" rate: 12 December 2008. Act now! Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) invites you to a fundraiser dinner on 9 February 2009 for Save Our International Land (SOIL). The charitable fund dinner will be held in conjunction with the EC09 conference. James Ridgway of Land and Water's Erosion and Sediment Control Network (ESCN.tv) will host. All proceeds go to SOIL. More information will be available soon. Learn more here.;

From the Department of Did You Know? comes news that the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has a Facebook page. Facebook and other social networking websites have increasingly transitioned from being teenage communities to more advanced forums, including the establishment of businesses on Facebook. IECA invites users of the service to become an IECA "fan," which is a mark of support and community among Facebook users. Learn more here.;

Tensar has released a short brochure on the performance of geogrids in cold climates--and how geogrids can be installed quickly without the curing time or cold weather issues related to the use of lime, cement and fly ash. Read more in the PDF brochure. Learn more here.;

Tensar offers roof and rib control matting for mining and tunnel installations. The geogrid is white and reflective for safety, and its polymeric formulation is corrosion and flame-resistant. Read the latest flyer from the company on this innovation alternative to welded wire. Learn more here.;

TenCate Geosynthetics has taken home the top prize in the Geosynthetic Projects category of the 2008 International Achievement Awards (IAA). The winning entries in the IAAs were announced in late October during the Industrial Fabrics Association International's (IFAI) annual conference, which was held this year in Charlotte, North Carolina. IFAI conducts the IAAs each year. TenCate's winning project comes from British Columbia, Canada, where an 85m stretch of road passed between two lakes over some rather swampy terrain. Over a 30-year period the road had settled nearly 2m. TenCate's geotextile reinforced soil (GRS) expertised helped stabilize the situation and preserve a fish passageway between the waters. Read more about the project at TenCate's IAA entry page. Learn more here.;

Synteen Technical Fabrics has announced that the company will expand its wide-width weaving capacity by 400% at the Lancaster, South Carolina plant. Synteen Technical Fabrics weaves high-strength polyester geosynthetics for soil reinforcement and stabilization applications, such as for segmental retaining walls, base course and subgrade stabilization for roadway construction, and slope stabilization and repair. Read more in the release.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced some short courses. The current offerings include: Geosynthetics in Waste Containment Liner and Cover Design. The course will be offered 8 December 2008 and 9 March 2009 ** Quality Control / Quality Assurance of Geosynthetics Installation. The course will be offered 9 December 2008 and 10 March 2009. ** Examinations for Inspector Certification. This certification exam will be offered 10 December 2008 and 11 March 2009. For more information, please download the short course brochure (PDF).

GZA GeoEnvironmental has appointment Dan Stapleton, P.E., a principal to the company's Nuclear Practice. Stapleton will work as a technical lead for the New England-centered company. Part of his background involves the study of geosynthetics at Drexel University. We congratulate Dan on his new position. Learn more here.;

David Frost, who serves as a professor of civil engineering at Georgia Tech's Savannah campus, is working hard to change the popular perception that Georiga Tech's Atlanta campus is the only one to know. Frost, who serves as the Savannah campus' director and as a Georgia Tech vice provost, has been investigating the interaction of soil behavior and geomembrane texture (or smoothness) for the past 12 years. Read more at Media Newswire. Learn more here.;