Special Series

geosynthetica and some of its Underwriters will attend and offer exhibit hall presentations at the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Show in Baltimore, June 22-25. Ace, Fiberweb, Maccaferri, and Propex will be giving 15 to 20-minute talks with attendees on specifying geosynthetics. geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey and Elizabeth Peggs will also present on geosindex.com, which in the past two weeks alone has managed more than 500 geomembrane product searches and 450 searches each for geotextiles and geogrids. Click the link below to visit geosIndex. Learn more here.;

The Government of Western Australia's Department of Agriculture has updated its Farmnote issue with dam repair and liner information. Originally published in 2003 and reviewed again in 2006, the issue includes notes on polypropylene and high-density polyethylene geomembrane liners for dams. Australia is currently suffering from a major drought. Conservation technologies are welcomed. Learn more here.;

In the European Union, CEN Technical Committee 189 (CEN/TC 189) addresses geosynthetics. The committee met three weeks ago in Prague and in conjunction with the corresponding ISO group, Technical Committee 221 (ISO/TC 221). Fred Foubert reports on the meeting's news and looks towards the business ahead.

The Orangeville Citizen (Ontario) reports that Melancthon Township has come to an agreement with the power firm Canadian Hydro Developers to proceed on plans for a wind farm. As is becoming common at many wind farm sites, access roads are being built on geotextile for long-term stability against erosion and rutting.

The Isle of Arran, Scotland, is receiving its first geogrid-reinforced road...but crews have encountered some problems in their first foray with the materials. They've speculated that the geogrid may have been damaged by heat and traffic during installation, though the Arran Banner article does not make clear whether the traffic was local vehicle traffic, construction traffic, pedestrian, or another source. (It seems to be the journalist's first exposure to the materials too.) Learn more here.;

Following the successful seminars on life prediction of geosynthetics organized by ERA, in Leatherhead, England and the first seminar on “Lifetime of Geosynthetics” organized by SKZ, in Würzburg, Germany (a German language seminar), the second “Lifetime of Geosynthetics” seminar was given in the English language. To read the review, please click the link below.

Submit a nomination for the IECA Board of Directors (self-nominations are welcome). Three positions are available for the 2008 IECA Board of Directors. Applications now being accepted for terms beginning February 2008. Nomination deadline is August 1, 2007. Learn more here.;

The Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts seeks nominations of farmers who are doing exemplary jobs of controlling sediment and pesticide runoff. If you are aware of erosion control work on Indiana farms that has helped improve waterways--perhaps involving materials you've delivered, installed or inspected--please consider nominating the farm owners as River Friendly Farmers. For more information, read Tom Bechman's article. Learn more here.;

The magazine Grit has published a piece on natural swimming pools. The relatively inexpensive constructions use plants and simple pumps to filter/clean water and function very similar to decorative pond constructions--right down to the recommendation of EPDM liners. For more information on EPDM, check out the information provided by Firestone. Learn more here.;

As in other nations, Turkey's textile industry is feeling significant pressures on growth. Chinese production has captured a great deal of the market. In Turkey, higher tech production is seen as a safer zone. This includes renewed focus on geotextile research, development and manufacture. Learn more here.;

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is now accepting applications for companies interested in a special business fact-finding mission to China. The trip is scheduled for 5-15 November 2007, and is limited to 10 people in order to maximize the networking experience. Learn more here.;

NineSigma RFP# 50492-1, "Biodegradable, Compostable & Sustainable Materials for Use in Non-wovens." NineSigma's client, a Fortune 500 Company, invites proposals describing substrate materials that are produced from biodegradable / compostable materials produced in a sustainable way for use in non-woven applications. The submission date for Proposal Abstracts is July 12, 2007. If you are interested in submitting a proposal or would like more information, please contact Charles Roe, Program Manager, directly at roe@ninesigma.com. Learn more here.;

The asphalt liner in California's Morro Reservoir is reaching the end of its design life. Cracks have formed and leakage has been detected. A new liner system is needed. Geomembrane linings can provide not just sealing on their own but can extend the service life of concrete or asphalt linings when combined with them. Learn more here.;

The Organizing Committee for GeoAmericas 2008 (Cancun, March 2008) has announced that online registration for the event will be available on July 15. Keynote lectures have also been announced: Dr. JP Giroud on the impact of geosynthetics and future possibilities; Dr. Robert Koerner on the world water crisis and geosynthetic technologies for water management; and a joint lecture on mining and geosynthetics from Mark Smith and Leandro de Moura Costa Filho. More information is available at the conference website. Learn more here.;

Understanding and Performing Liner Integrity Surveys (Electrical Resistivity Testing), June 13-14, 2007. Day 1 - Holiday Inn Express, 946 New Loudon Road (US 9), Latham, NY 12110, Day 2 - Town of Colonie Landfill US 9 On-Line. Last chance to register. There is still room available. Learn more here.;

Construction has begun on the first expansion zone for Defiance County, Ohio's landfill. Six-acre plots will be expanded into over many years until 78 acres have been added. A french drain has been installed to direct leachate and the 60-mil geomembrane liner will be installed shortly. Learn more here.;

Phillips, Wisconsin is moving forward on a plan to excavate a section of park, improve the base soils (with clean fill and geotextile), and construct a $300,000 pavilion for civic use. Most of the project's testing has been conducted and expenses approved. Reported in The Bee. Learn more here.;

The acidic rock fill along Pennsylvania's difficult I-99 road project will soon be covered permanently with a high-density polyethylene geomembrane capping system. The need to cover the site seems greater now that construction-related pollution has been confirmed in area wells, though levels are not critical. Learn more here.;

Storm Water Management and Permit Requirements, Thursday, June 21 2007 from 2:00 3:30 (EST). This AGC of America Audio Conference offers bottom-line information on complying with storm water requirements and the latest pollution control solutions. Register on-line or download a registration form at the link below. Learn more here.;

The deadline for abstract submission of Geosynthetics Asia 2008 is May 31, 2007. However, it seems there are many authors still wanting to submit abstracts. According to their request, organizers have decided to postpone the deadline of abstract submission to June 15th, 2007. 70 abstracts have already been received. Learn more here.;

The US Army Corps of Engineers is likely to close the landfill at Tonowanda, New York despite calls for an extended public comment and investigation period. Levels of radioactivity have been detected in the waste, and there's fear that the radioactive material may have migrated to nearby homes and a school. However, the level of radioactivity is within EPA guidelines. The Corp is expected to begin closure of the landfill soon. Learn more here.;

The Hickory Log Creek Dam in Canton, Georgia measures 180 feet (height) x 980 feet (length) x 147 feet (width at base). The $56 million project, situated on the edge of the city's reservoir, uses precast concrete stay-in-place panels with impervious geomembrane lining on the face. From Reed Construction Data. Learn more here.;

Freedonia Group has published a forecast titled "Construction Outlook in China." The forecast looks to 2011 and 2016 and is divided by construction sectors and geographic regions. Cost: $4900. For more information, download Freedonia's informational PDF on the report. Learn more here.;

New York's landfill lining codes often set the tone for the adoption of liner codes throughout the United States. In Somerset, New York, however, a power company's fly ash landfill has not met the double-liner system requirements. A new cell is being constructed and should meet the strictures of a joint agreement to use HDPE geomembranes, but a questions remain about the legitimacy of the old cell and of the rules as they pertain to the company's situation. Learn more here.;

At a textile conference in Belgium, delegates were warned that European Union countries can remain competitive in sectors such as geosynthetics only if more money was directed towards research, development and utilization of technology. High-strength materials (e.g., geosynthetics) are seen as a major growth sector. (Full article available by subscription only.) Learn more here.;