Special Series

Nonwovens Industry's 37th Annual Guide lists suppliers and producers of nonwovens around the globe in one comprehensive listing. Learn more here.;

The Hindu reports multiple Indian government ministries will contribute to a panel aimed at studying technical textiles, such as geosynthetics. The panel will include members of defence, environment and forests, shipping road transport and highways, and more. The results may produce new regulations in the country for both practice and promotion of geosynthetics in India. Learn more here.;

A 100-foot stretch of Hawaii's Round Top Drive was buried beneath six feet of mud following heavy rains and a landslide in March. The soil is almost clear, now. Erosion control nets will be installed on the hill to provide protection while new vegetation takes root. From the Honolulu Advertiser. Learn more here.;

gsa note: Free registration is requred to view these pages if you are not already a member of this site. Another article from Railroad Industry International describes the use of geotextile-encased columns for stabilzing railroad soils in the Netherlands. Huesker's columns were used in the project. Cutting and pasting this URL will take you to the article after you register, if neccessary: http://www.engineerlive.com/rail-international/structural-engineering/1364/geotexile-encased-columns-stabilise-high-speed-railway-embankment.thtml Learn more here.;

gsa note: Free registration is requred to view these pages if you are not already a member of this site. RII's geosynthetic coverage continues with articles on reinforced work platforms and improving ballast stability through the use of geotextiles and geogrids. Learn more here.;

gsa note: Free registration is requred to view these pages if you are not already a member of this site. RII's geosynthetic coverage continues with articles on reinforced work platforms and improving ballast stability through the use of geotextiles and geogrids. Cutting and pasting this URL will take you to the article after you register, if neccessary: http://www.engineerlive.com/rail-international/structural-engineering/1360/stoneblowing-provides-improved-track-levelling-and-alignment.thtml Learn more here.;

Rubber sidewalk tiles, made from recycled tires, are finding a market. The tiles do not suffer from frost heave or crumble from exposure to standard lawn pesticide and rock salt. Further, tree roots do not split them. Potentially, these tiles could be installed with weed-controlling geotextile separation fabric underlays. Read about the new sidewalk materials in USA Today. Learn more here.;

Pollution to coastal water from a development near Honolulu have led to the state's Supreme Court ruling that cities and counties in the state have a duty to protect the coastal waters from threats such as sediment runoff. Read more in the Honolulu Advertiser. Learn more here.;

The latest issue of Canadian Environmental Protection contains an article on the need for environmental profressionals to broaden the ways they address their clients and the field. Specialists must be prepared to address not only regulatory agencies and issue technical reports but other project participants right down to the labor level. In geosynthetics, this might be simple explanations about geogrids vs. rebar rather than only relying on detailed technical documents. Learn more here.;

After significant delays and site complications, the Buena Vista Landfill is finally going to be capped. The county oversite board is foregoing standard procedure and entertaining an "informally received bid" to finish the work before winter. Among the work yet to be performed, tears in the bottom liner must be fixed and a geosynthetic capping system must be installed. Learn more here.;

The business section of the Sunday Times (London) recently included a short article on Michael Flynn of the Waterford, Ireland-based company FLI Environmental. The article notes the growth of his business in geosynthetics and environmental services. Learn more here.;

Road repairs (especially for dirt roads), bank stabilization and revegetation solutions may become cheaper for property owners in California's Napa Valley. Aided by grants and spurred by impending regulations, the San Francisco Water Board aims to significantly reduce the total maximum daily load of sediment entering the Napa River. In part, this change is being brought about by concerns with the health of steelhead and salmon populations in the river. Learn more here.;

In Maine's Lakes Region, it's estimated that 85 percent of sediment runoff into the waterways stems from driveways, roads, and landscaping decisions. The Lakes Environmental Association (LEA) is appealing to residents to better understand the ways sediment migrates and the tools used to halt erosion, such as the installation of silt fence in problem zones and at construction sites. Learn more here.;

An even greater reason for homeowners, contractors, and developers to heed stormwater codes is the formation of stormwater management oversight departments on the county and city level. This is exactly what is happening around Evansville, Indiana. Learn more here.;

Geoengineer.org announces a new service: The Geoengineer.org Press Center which currently includes: 1. Real Time Worldwide Geo-News Monitoring Center: searches more than 20,000 press agencies publishing magazines, journals, websites and other publications and provides direct links to articles related to Geotechnical Engineering and related fields. 2. Press Release Distribution Center: promotes the press releases of Organizations and Companies affiliated with Geoengineer.org. Your company is welcome to become a Press Affiliate (go to the link below to learn more). Learn more here.;

The following specifications contained a suggested warranty for 5-years duration: GRI-GM13 Specification for HDPE Geomembranes, GRI-GM17 Specification for LLDPE Geomembranes, GRI-GM18 Specification for fPP Geomembranes, GRI-GM21 Specification for EPDM Geomembranes. This White Paper attempts to explain why the warranties appeared in the specifications in the first place, as well as why they have been removed as of July 10, 2006. Learn more here.;

The Arizona Department of Transporation (ADOT) is embarking on a first-of-its-kind project in the state: constructing a mountain freeway over a pronounced, eroding fissure in the rock. Geogrids, geotextiles and steel rebar will make the project viable and safe. Read about it in the East Valley Tribune. Learn more here.;

ASDSO Will Submit Testimony Before a Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee On Wednesday, July 26, at 2:00 pm ET, the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings & Emergency Management, chaired by Rep. Bill Shuster, (R-PA), will hear testimony regarding reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program Act Association of State Dam Safety Officials President Kenneth E. Smith will testify in support of the Dam Safety Act of 2006 (HR 4981). Introduced in the House on March 16, 2006 by Reps. Randy Kuhl (R-NY), Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), HR 4981 would provide up to $12.7 million a year for four years to assist states in improving their dam safety programs. Representatives of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will also testify. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will broadcast a live feed of the hearing over the Internet at the link below. To view a draft copy of ASDSO's written testimony, as well as current dam safety statistics, please see “Recent Testimony” on ASDSO’s Legislative Advocacy page at www.damsafety.org. Learn more here.;

A very important note regarding GRI 20: the date has been moved back one day. The conference is now on Thursday, January 18, 2007 from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. A tentative schedule can be found at the link below.

Developed for installers by installers, the Approved Installation Contractor (AIC) program recognizes companies that meet a minimum level of professionalism, experience and business practices. Soon, AIC status will be an engineer's requirement in project specifications. Learn more about the AIC program on the IAGI Web site. Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has announced that its Product Certification Program will not be continued. It is now felt that appropriate measures are found in current manufacturing quality control (MQC), manufacturing quality assurance (MQA), construction quality control (CQC) and construction quality assurance (CQA). Also, the warranty requirement in the Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) geomembrane specifications has been dropped. At this time geomembrane life expectancy is decades if not centuries longer than any warranty period and therefore GSI has determined that warranty requirement has outlived its usefulness. More information can be found in GSI's most recent White Paper: "On the Topic of Geomembrane Warranties." Click the link below to access the white paper. Learn more here.;

A very important note regarding the GRI-20, 20th Anniversary Conference: the date has been moved back one day. The conference, held in conjunction with Geosynthetics 2007 in Washington D.C., is now on Thursday, January 18, 2007 from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. The tentative schedule is at the "continued" link below.

The town of Thorhild, Alberta, Canada, has 3100 residents. A new landfill for Edmonton's commercial waste could generate close to $1,000,000 in combined revenue and savings on disposal if it is sited near Thorhild. However, locals are concerned about the envioronmental impact. Some wisely note, however, that maybe what Thorhild needs as much as the revenue boost is the modernizing of the area's waste disposal facilities. Read about it in the Edmonton Journal. Learn more here.;

More than 9000 miles of tributaries feed into New York's Susquehanna River. Flood events in the tributaries has caused serious erosion to their banks and surrounding land and led to disastrous flooding with the Susquehanna. To control this, new flood prevention and mitigation strategies are being sought, including the building of new levees, retention ponds and stronger erosion control methods. Geosynthetics could play a significant role. Read about it online. Learn more here.;

While the residents on Madrid, New Mexico are becoming increasingly agitated by the filming of a new John Travolta - Tim Allen movie in their city, the filmmakers have done some interesting things to use the location. Notably, they've created removable roads with geotextiles and mulch overlays. Read about it in the Free New Mexican. Learn more here.;