Special Series

SPE will be hosting a roster of 27 technical seminars at ANTEC 07—SPE’s Annual Technical Conference. Browse the seminar list at the link below. Register soon as the courses fill up quickly! Learn more here.;

An update from Solmax International: The Feb/March 2007 issue of Geosynthetics magazine, page 26, included an erroneous measurement. The surface area of the massive evaporation ponds was not 16 million square feet as published. The sentence should have read, "The Salar de Atacama in Chile is the site of the largest PVC Geomembrane installation in the world - more than 16 million square meters have been utilized in mining operations since 1996." The full article can be read here through Solmax's Web site. Learn more here.;

Shortly after Bangkok, Thailand opened its newest airport in October 2006, rutting and cracking were observed in the taxilanes (though runways remained in good shape). Trapped water in sand beanth the taxiways seems to be the cause. Prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) with a geotextile wrap will now be used to repair the site. The Bangkok Post offers a nice explanation for its non-engineer readers. Learn more here.;

The annual International Achievement Awards (IAA) from IFAI include a geosynthetics category. Geosynthetics often factor into the winning industrial entries too. Future announcements regarding how/when to enter will be posted on geosynthetica.net. Please contact Chris Kelsey if you'd like a reminder when the contest opens.

National Public Works Week (NPWW) is a celebration of the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works. Instituted by the American Public Works Association (APWA) in 1960, NPWW calls attention to the importance of public works in community life. The 2007 NPWW theme is "Public Works: Moving Life Forward." more Learn more here.;

The Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) developed an innovative approach toward evaluating long-term care needs at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. The approach emphasizes the operation of MSW landfills in a manner that reduces the long-term threat to human health and the environment, as well as a proactive collection of data on the state of the landfill during post-closure care. Read the Winter 2007 Research Bulletin.

Has your product been reviewed by the Highway Innovation Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC)? geosindex.com is adding HITEC review to its geotextile and geogrid specification-ready data tables. Product data is being accepted. For more information, visit the site or contact Elizabeth Peggs. Learn more here.;

TenCate Geosynthetics North America is pleased to announce an exclusive partnership with Owens Corning to sell, market, and distribute TruPave® Engineered Paving Mat throughout North America as part of TenCate Geosynthetics’ asphalt interlayer program. “The partnership combines TenCate Geosynthetics’ wealth of experience and technical support in Pavement Restoration with Owens Corning’s unique technology and expertise in the manufacturing of glass/polymer based pavement reinforcement fabrics,” said Paul Wei, Owens Corning Nonwoven Technologies Market Manager. Under the new agreement, TenCate Geosynthetics assumes the exclusive responsibility to sell and distribute TruPave® Engineered Paving Mat in North America. In 2006, TruPave sales grew by more than 40 percent globally. “We are very excited to add TruPave to our North American distribution line,” said John Miner, TenCate Geosynthetics Paving Market Manager. “We look forward to continuing to grow and market TruPave.” TruPave provides solutions to pavement applications by extending the life of pavement, delaying reflective cracking and dramatically lowering repair and maintenance costs. TruPave is a fiberglass/polyester composite recyclable fabric stable up to 495 degrees F (260 degrees C).

North American Green offers two erosion control specialization training tracks: Specialist I - Erosion Solutions Specialist Training (ESST) and Specialist II - Advanced ESST. Training includes local, state and federal NPDES Phase II familiarity and product selection and design software expertise. For more, visit the information page at NA Green's Web site. Learn more here.;

Ian D. Peggs, I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, authored an article in Canadian Environmental Protection magazine's Jan/Feb issue titled: Polypropylene geomembranes: To use or not to use? Read the article here. Learn more here.;

Just two weeks to go to the symposium "How to Enter Technical Textiles Markets" in Porto, Portugal. Already more than 120 senior staff from textile manufacturing companies, suppliers, end users, consultants, & research organizations have registered to participate in two days of presentations and discussion covering the current state of technical textiles markets worldwide, and the future opportunities they present. Register now! Space is limited. Learn more here.;

Reduction in sewage violations have been attributed to geotextile bags used in the Sabina, Ohio wastewater treatment plant collection system. Learn more here.;

The 36-year-old, low-level nuclear garbage landfill is slated for closure in one year's time. Rep. W.D. “Bill” Witherspoon, R-Horry, Chair of the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee, along with Energy Solutions, Inc. are trying to extend the life of the landfill. Learn more here.;

Orange County, California's ambitious plan to transform a former military facility into an urban park is moving forth despite an enormous ($1 billion) price tag. The site hopes to include man-made lakes and streams, hills, athletic fields, and much more. The initial grading plan will take two years to execute. Many geosynthetics, such as pond liners, could be used to make the project more efficient and viable in the long-term. Learn more here.;

As part of your geosynthetic project design and product selection process, visit geosindex.com. The site allows users to compare material data in key fields. For example, see the geomembranes page with ASTM-ready information. EPDM, HDPE, LLDPE, and PP geomembrane data has been provided by Agru, Firestone, GSE and BTL. Learn more here.;

GIGSA's first newsletter of 2007 is now available on-line. Catch up with the South African Chapter of the IGS.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky is the latest city to establish far more stringent erosion and sediment control codes and monitoring systems. While cities welcome new development opportunities, the environmental ill many developments cause and repeated education efforts by the erosion control industry are helping positively transform the way cities grow. Learn more here.;

Mat Su Valley, Alaska, is constructing a new "pay as you throw" cell. The site includes old unlined and lined cells. Water quality interests prompted the design of another new lined cell, this one using a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) system. The area's economic and engineering concerns and how they are resolving them sustainably makes for a good read. Go to the following URL for a follow up article which involves geotextiles on the project: https://www.geosynthetica.net/news.asp?search_key2=n1628 Learn more here.;

Inteletex reports that a Middle Eastern nonwovens show, which would include exploration of nonwoven geotextile use, will be a viable event in the Middle East. An international nonwovens industry body, EDANA, held an event in Dubai in February and interest from that may lead to more events. Nonwoven products, particularly in construction, are seen as finally gaining acceptance and wide-spread application in the region. Learn more here.;

Solid Waste Magazine has published its review of Geosynthetics 2007, which was held in January in Washington DC. Solid Waste's review is a positive one that hits the highlights. Learn more here.;

Carl Cash, an influential member of ASTM International's Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing, has passed away. Cash gave time to D08 for 32 years and served as its chairman from 1996 - 2002. geosynthetica's staff would like to extend its condolences to Cash's family and friends. Contributions may be sent to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, c/o The Dana Building 1220, Dr. Jennifer A. Chan, G.I. Cancer Fund, 44 Binne Street, Boston, MA 02115. Read a brief interview with Carl Cash in the March 2005 issue of Professional Roofing. Learn more here.;

geosynthetica keeps a free database for publication updates. If your geosynthetic projects, research, company or personnel are being published, please let us know. We would welcome entering your information into our database. Information we need: abstract (100 - 200 words), publication (e.g., Land & Water, Geosynthetics International), Issue (e.g., month), Year, and Page Numbers. Contact us at the link below.

Geomembranes come in many forms: polypropylene, high-density polythylene, polyvinyl chloride, reinforced, non-reinforced, and many other forms. Canada-based Axter Coletanche specializes in bituminous geomembranes, a class that is gaining ever-greater use in environmental, infrastruture and hydraulic applications. Learn more about this geomembrane class at Axter Coletanche's website. Learn more here.;

A radioactive waste landfill in South Carolina is under scrutiny. While the dump is vital to the small town's economy, the absence of a geosynthetic lining system and various capping and security measures may present too big a risk for continued operation. Learn more here.;

The International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) has announced that three more companies have achieved the status of Approved Installation Contractor (AIC). They are: American Environmental Group Ltd., Atlantic Poly Liners Inc., and Layfield Environmental Systems Ltd. The AIC Program's requirements involve not just proven field experience but independent, third-party auditing of the business.