Geoelectric Leak Location
Glenn Darilek and Daren Laine of Leak Location Services Inc. have authored a concise white paper on why and how geoelectrical leak location surveys are superior to water-balance tests. It's a wonderfully written account that breaks down the reasons by cost, time, accuracy, bias and environmental impact.
CSI and AIA-Ready Presentations
The CONSTRUCT2009 event from Hanley Wood seeks 60- and 90-minute generic presentations that comply with the accreditation requirements for AIA (American Institute of Architects) and Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) / CEN Guidelines. Deadline for proposals is 15 September 2008.
Learn more here.;
Call for Papers Update
The latest call for papers column is available. Reminders of 1 August 2008 deadlines stand for three events. Also note that the deadlines for Geosynthetics India '08 and 2009 Design-Build Water/Wastewater Conference are due in August too.
EPA Brownfields Grants
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of 16 Brownfields Sustainability Pilot grants aimed at greener projects, such as greenroofing. Read more about the program in the EPA's release.
Business as a Second Language
In an international business environment--such as the one engineering presents--communication is often conducted in English; but the idiomatic nature of first-language English is far different from what English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers learn. Some tips for working in an international environment are included in this business column from Chris Kelsey.
Part 3: Nonwovens Report
Textiles Intelligence has published "The World Nonwovens Industry: Part 3 - Ten Smaller Producers." This edition reveals that sales of nonwoven roll goods continued to show mid-single digit growth in 2006 and surpassed US$16 billion. Ten producers are profiled in this report, including an Australian arm of TenCate Geosynthetics.
Learn more here.;
Resin Update #1
Plastics Technology has updated its July 2008 resin prices. Feedstock hikes are contributing significantly to the movement in pricing upwards.
Learn more here.;
Resin Update #2
IDES - The Plastics Web has updated its resin prices as of 16 July 2008.
Learn more here.;
Resin Update #3
The London Metal Exchange (LME) has updated its plastics futures page as of 15 July 2008. This includes buyer/seller reports for August and September 2008.
Learn more here.;
ASTM Online Directories
ASTM International offers three online directories: Equipment Manufacturers; Testing Laboratories; and Scientific and Technical Consultants and Expert Witnesses. For more information about these directories and how to access them, see the release.
IECA News: McCullah Resigns
The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that John McCullah, CPESC has resigned from the IECA Board of Directors. The Board has appointed Sandy Mathews to serve the remainder of McCullah’s term which ends in February 2010. For more information, see the PDF release from IECA.
Learn more here.;
"Lifetime of Geosynthetics" in Dubai
Helmut Zanzinger and SKZ's renowned "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" events are taking to the road. Dr. Zanziger will chair a two-day session in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 22-23 October 2008. The second day will include a tour of an artificial lakes site. This will be the first offering of "Lifetime of Geosynthetics" in the Dubai and may lead to many more geosynthetics-oriented events there.
Learn more here.;
Nonwovens Production Statistics
Jacques Prigneaux of the Belgium-based nonwovens association EDANA writes on the association's release of 2007 production statistics for Europe. A worldwide outlook, prepared with the North American association INDA, will be released soon and forecast 2007 - 2012. Read more.
ASTM Online Dictionary
ASTM International has updated its online dictionary. For information on the most recent edition of the ASTM Dictionary of Engineering Science and Technology, read the release here.
Happy Fourth of July!
In honor of the annual Fourth of July holiday in the United States, geosynthetica will not have any new updates today. We wish everyone celebrating this day a happy and safe holiday.
The Electric Slide
The United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has reversed its moratorium on new solar power installations on federal lands. Public pressure helped reverse the BLM's stance. However, the BLM still has yet to approve any applications for solar installations, despite having received more than 100 in Nevada alone.
Learn more here.;
Thank You, Lara!
Our dear colleague Lara Costa is leaving geosynthetica.net today. We thank her for her years here and all the frenetic work it has involved: conference reporting, photo and web work, database management, industry meetings, and so much more. We wish her and her husband Ray all the best on the impending birth of their first child. Thank you, Lara, and congratulations!
Overflowing Lagoons
The heavy rains and flooding in the Midwestern United States have caused significant concern for animal waste management too. Numerous concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) now have waste lagoons that are overflowing. In Missouri, they are anxiously watching the integrity of lagoon walls. The state has approximately 120 farms with larger than 1-acre waste lagoons.
Learn more here.;
EC Takes 9 States to Court
The European Commission has decided to refer nine Member States to the European Court of Justice for failing to transpose the EU directive on liability for damage to the environment into their domestic law. The deadline was 30 April 2007. The nine states are Austria, Belgium (concerning the Brussels region only), Greece, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. Read more.
BuRec's David Paul at D35
An update from the ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics meeting taking place in Denver, Colorado: David Paul from the US Bureau of Reclamation (BuRec) will speak today, Wednesday, June 25, from 5:30 - 7:00 pm in Room Mineral C.
Learn more here.;
GeoAfrica 2009 Abstracts
GeoAfrica 2009 marks the first African regional conference on geosynthetics. Held under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) and hosted by the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), the September 2009 Cape Town conference seeks abstracts and proposals. Geosynthetica encourages its readers to get involved with this historic event.
Learn more here.;
Committee Week Reminders
ASTM's June Committee Week occurs 22-27 June 2008 at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. Expected attendees are reminded that they must pre-register by June 18. Also, attendees are encouraged to print out their schedules before arrival (from your committee page) because a limited number of committee schedules will be available on site. For more information and to register, visit ASTM's website.
Learn more here.;
Contech CEO Elected
Contech Construction Products Inc. announced today that Ronald C. Keating has been elected as the company's President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 1 July 2008. Keating has been with the company since August 2007 when he was named President and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Learn more here.;
ECTC's Newest CADD Files
The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) has updated the quick-reference section on its website for the Installation of Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECPs). The section, which was created in May 2007 and titled “RECP Installation for Slope and Channel PDF and DWG AutoCADD Drawings,” has been expanded to include Shoreline CAD drawings in both PDF and DWG format. Read more.
Letter from Tensar President
The spike in global oil and natural gas prices has had a tremendous impact on manufacturing around the globe. In geosynthetics, it's rapidly increased the price of the resins that give the products their sought-after properties. Tensar's president Robert Vevoda has posted a letter announcing a temporary 5% surcharge on biaxial geogrids from the company to offset some of the more than 25% resin price increase they (and other manufacturers) are dealing with.
Learn more here.;
