Transportation

Innovative technologies from DuPont, one of the leading market driven science companies, are being eyed to sustain Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's [KSA] vibrant construction sector which is set to grow at an annual average of 4% to become a $23bn market by 2015. Today, DuPont construction solutions provide enhanced building systems performance; reduce operating costs and energy consumption to establish safe and eco-friendly environments.

Realignment of the popular A7 trunk road was required to improve the safety, comfort and reliability of journey times on the A7. This involved eliminating several dangerous bends at Auchenrivock, Dumfries and Galloway. Adoption of Tensar International's low impact Tensartech slope and wall systems avoided potential possible environmental problems with the River Esk.

In May 2010, TenCate Geosynthetics North America introduced TenCate Mirafi® RS580i, a highly engineered, high strength, geosynthetic product for base reinforcement and subgrade stabilization. Today, TenCate Geosynthetics introduces TenCate Mirafi® RS380i, a lighter RS-Series product that will enable designers to continue to provide more economical solutions for roadway reinforcement applications.

From TRB's Research-in-Progress Library: Richard Coffman is investigating if geosynthetic separators have prevented plastic "clayey" fines from migrating into the base layer from a prepared subsoil. The in-situ fines content at the site will also be compared with the preplaced quarry obtained fines content to determine if additional fines are created during transportation, placement, and use of the roadway base. Base course drainage, strength, and modulus are important parameters that must be considered in the design of a roadway system. Pavement service life is maintained if the base course is permeable, strong, and rigid. Two recent Mack Blackwell Transportation Center (MBTC) projects have focused primarily on the rigidity of pavement systems. MBTC Project 2027 focused on the strength, permeability, and rigidity of quarry obtained, preplaced, Class 7 base course using laboratory tests; while MBTC Project 3013 is investigating the effects of geosynthetic separators, geosynthetic reinforcement, and base course thickness on pavement system rigidity. Learn more here.;

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has approved revision to standard D4533, "Standard Test Method for Trapezoid Tearing Strength of Geotextiles." Most geotextile fabrics can be tested by D4533-11's test method. The trapezoid tearing strength method is useful for estimating the relative tear resistance of different fabrics or different directions in the same fabric. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced the addition of one (1) free webinar credit to IECA's membership benefit offerings. Each new and renewing member of IECA will be vested annually with a free credit that can be used toward any live webinar IECA offers throughout the year.

Royal Ten Cate has released its financial results for the first half of 2011. Overall, the company is performing well, despite rising raw material costs--posting a 69% increase in profit over the same period last year. The company foresees growth for the geosynthetics division in Asia and South America currently and going forward. Read select highlights, comments and a review of the Geosynthetics and Grass Division performance here.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) has extended the early registration rate for the International Public Works Congress and Exposition conference to August 8. The event will be held in Denver, Colorado 18-21 September 2011 and offer more than 125 education sessions, hundreds of exhibitors in nearly 90,000 square feet of exhibit space, and much more. Learn more here.;

A testament to the company's track record for quality insulation, geotechnical, packaging and lost foam products, How 2 Media has selected ACH Foam Technologies to be featured on the television series "World's Greatest!" The show is a 30-minute show produced by How 2 Media and dedicated to featuring industry leading companies, products, places and people. Companies are selected through a rigorous interview process. "ACH Foam Technologies' was selected to represent the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam manufacturing industry for their state-of-the-art lost foam foundry pattern technology and pattern assembly process, for providing EPS Geofoam to the nation's largest and most complicated engineering projects, and for their utilization of the industry's first 60% or more recycled content foam packaging," stated Robert Baccarie, Senior Producer.

Geofabrics Australasia has been providing geosynthetic solutions to engineering problems for more than 30 years. The company's core products are manufactured in Australia and include geosynthetics for landfill liners and covers, coastal protection, reinforcement, steep slopes, secondary containment, cellular confinement, and much more. Download the latest Product Overview and stay current on Geofabrics' offerings.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is calling for nominations for the IECA Board of Directors for terms beginning in February 2012. The IECA Board of Directors is made up of nine members, each serving a three-year term. The election for the three available positions will be held this fall. Learn more.

The Mercer Lecture selection committee, chaired by Professor Fumio Tatsuoka, has announced that Dr.-Ing. Michael Heibaum has been appointed as the next lecturer for the 2012 - 2013 Mercer Lecture Series. He will be delivering his presentation on the subject of 'Geosynthetics for Waterways and Flood Protection Structures - Controlling the Interaction of Water and Soil'.

The latest issue of NAUE News has been released. This issue features articles on the opening of a new Bentofix GCL plant in Malaysia to serve regional markets, scour protection for offshore wind farms, the new IQ series of GCL engineering information, construction of Berlin's new international airport (on geosynthetics), and much more. Read the issue here (PDF).

India's Ministry of Textiles has established four Centres of Excellence targeted at key industrial textile sectors. They are designated as Nonwovens, Sportetch, Indutech and Composites. Geotextiles are among the materials the country hopes to significantly increase its production and utilization of. The Ministry spoke of the Centres at the inaugural Conference on Technical Textiles, which focused on the health and infrastructure sectors. The event was organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Coimbatore. Learn more here.;

Gravel roads that turn into mud in springtime are part of Vermont's lore, but a federal road expert is hoping to change that. Federal Emergency Management Agency Mitigation Engineer Richard Downer is offering workshops throughout Vermont to teach state and local road crews how to use high-tech products to rebuild roads that will be less susceptible to future rains and flooding.

ACH Foam Technologies' Foam-Control® EPS Geofoam solved lateral pressure challenge on a parking garage for the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. The use of EPS Geofoam helped engineers provide a cost-effective solution that met the project's aggressive schedule and saved the university money. A total of 4,000 cubic yards of EPS Geofoam was installed below-grade as backfill and retaining wall stabilization fill against the parking garage's below-grade walls. Read about the project here.

Tensar International Corporation, the leader in geosynthetic soil reinforcement and stabilization, today announced it appointed Bryan Gee as Roadway Systems Product Manager. In his new role, Gee will be responsible for managing Tensar's portfolio of roadway products and systems, including Tensar® TriAx® Geogrid, the GlasGrid® Pavement Reinforcement System and GlasPave™ Waterproofing Paving Mat, Spectra® System and Dimension® System.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) was created two years ago to represent the wide variety of specialty geomembranes that are provided by fabricators. "The association started strong with 23 original members in March 2009," stated Dr. Tim Stark, "and that membership has more than doubled to 48 companies in all membership categories. This growth is due in part to the research being conducted by the FGI as well as the educational courses FGI regularly offers to the industry." The association has accomplished much since its inception and more projects are in the works, such as exposed solar covers and air channel testing of field seams. Anyone involved in the fabricated geomembrane industry, whether manufacturer, fabricator, designer or others allied with the industry, is invited to join.

The International Erosion Control Association's (IECA) Environmental Connection 2012 (EC12) event will be at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, 26-29 February 2012. The conference organizers have just set up online exhibitor information and registration information and report that more than 50% of the exhibit space has already sold. Secure your spot today. Learn more here.;

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) and the Mexican Society of Soil Mechanics (SMIG) will present an International Symposium on Deep Foundations, 3-4 November 2011 in Mexico City, Mexico. Sessions will focus on current advancements and innovative applications within the following technologies: Micropiles, Slurry Walls, Driven Piles and Drilled Shafts. A keynote lecture on each plus additional case histories will be presented in each half-day session. An exhibition hall will be included for the showcasing of products, equipment and services. The official languages ​​of the symposium will be Spanish and English. Simultaneous translation will be available.

Tensar International Corporation, a leader in geosynthetic soil reinforcement and stabilization, has announced the opening of a new sales office in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas. The office will support regional customers, distributors and a team of Tensar sales staff throughout the central United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. To coincide with formation of the Dallas office, Steve Archer, P.E. was named Central Area Manager for Tensar. Archer has relocated to Dallas to head the office.

Russ Adsit, the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Executive Director, has posted an invitation on YouTube to EC12, which will take place 26-29 February 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Learn more here.;

Low & Bonar PLC ("Low & Bonar" or "the Group"), the international performance materials group, today announces its half year results for the six months ended 31 May 2011.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) has released its 2010 annual report titled "Sustainable Communities, Healthy Watersheds." The report contains information about EPA's work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the development of new draft guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act (also known as the Waters of the U.S. Draft Guidance), progress in better protection of water quality in Appalachia from the harmful effects of surface coal mining operations, and advancement in the work of the National Ocean Council. The report also includes information about OWOW's response to the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill, polluted runoff, Chesapeake Bay watershed rules, and much more.

Saving money by spending it may sound like the punch line of a joke, Bristol, Virginia city leaders are dead serious that $1 million worth of improvements to the city landfill has already created substantial savings. A new, wider access road down into the large, city-owned waste facility was made by city workers using waste from the old landfill. The new road allows large trucks to drive down into the site to dump refuse, rather than have city crews transfer the trash into smaller trucks for dumping. The design change should save almost $500,000 per year while increasing waste acceptance traffic. Learn more here.;