Transportation

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK33835, "Standard Test Method for Determining Tensile Properties of Geogrids by the Single or Multi-Rib Tensile Method." This is a work item revision to existing standard D6637-10. Learn more here.;

Terram, a Fiberweb plc company, is pleased to announce the next phase of their development strategy with an order being placed for a brand new, state-of-the-art Needlepunch geotextile line. The investment of over six million euros, follows the acquisition of Boddingtons and Tubex by Fiberweb and the formation of a specialist Geosynthetics Division which includes the Terram business, and represents the largest single investment in new technology for the Geosynthetics business.

This paper looks at the use of fabricated geomembranes and the numerous cost advantages of these materials. The reduction of installation time and testing is particularly important in harsh environments and fabricated geomembranes can be used to extend the “field installation season.” Further the reduced installation cost is derived from the use of large factory fabricated panels that reduces the amount of field seaming and field personnel time that is required. Additional savings can be found in the reduction of third party Construction Quality Control costs. The paper describes how Construction Quality Control standards are maintained by conducting CQC prior to the geomembrane being shipped to the jobsite. Learn more here.;

The City of Spokane will receive the prestigious PISCES Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for successfully demonstrating innovative stormwater control strategies on West Broadway Avenue in Spokane, Washington. Polluted stormwater now is considered the leading cause of urban water pollution and the largest source of pollution in the Spokane River. Read about Spokane's innovative responses.

The worlds foremost experts on storm and surface-water quality will get together in Anaheim, California August 21 - 25 to explore the newest water pollution prevention and mitigation technologies, share their recent experiences and discuss which strategies are most effective in minimizing surface water pollution. With NPDES compliance in mind, StormCon 2011 brings together municipal and government officials, builders and contractors, site inspectors, civil engineers, designers, regulators, enforcement officials, planners, consultants, researchers, educators, EPA officials, property executives and other water quality professionals under one roof to focus on this critically important topic.

Following the successful launch of the International Tunnelling Awards in 2010, New Civil Engineer in partnership with sister title, Ground Engineering, is now calling for entries for the 2011 awards which will this year take the exciting global programme to Hong Kong (30 November 2011). The closing date for entries is the 5 August 2011. Learn more. Learn more here.;

The deadline to submit abstracts to GeoAmericas 2012 is closing quickly (June 30). Building upon the success of GeoAmericas 2008, this event will provide significant networking and knowledge exchange opportunities for the major roles geosynthetics are playing in the expanding Latin American infrastructure. This Second Pan-American Geosynthetics Conference and Exhibition will be held 1-4 May 2012 in Lima, Peru. The official languages of the conference are English and Spanish.

Chattanooga-based Propex Operating Company, LLC announced today that Craig Martin has been appointed Vice President and Business Unit Leader for Geotextile Systems by Propex. Craig will report to Ralph Bruno, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. "This is an exciting time of growth for the company and the Geotextile Systems Group specifically," says Bruno.

Writing for "For Construction Pros," Lisa Cleaver notes, "Paving fabrics have been long recognized as a way to help pavements last longer." In her article, she outlines causes of pavement failures and how paving fabrics succeed. She also identifies greener paving fabrics, including material from TenCate. Learn more here.;

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) has announced that Barry Fagan, PE/PLS, CPESC, is being recognized with the 2011 Presenter of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding presenter that demonstrates excellence in presentation skills, educational delivery and content preparation. The winner is determined through the review of presenter evaluations received at IECA's annual conference and expo.

Education at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE 2011) will feature new "industry keynote" presentations, new workshop and certification programs and expanded input from leading industry associations. New this year, the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) will be conducting some sessions at the event. ICUEE will be held 4-6 October 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Two years ago, Geofabrics® engaged a leading consulting firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia (PBA), to test a range of geotextiles sold by various companies in Australia and to report independently on whether those geotextiles met with the published specifications about them. The independent testing samples involved at least six grades of geotextiles per supplier. The variations in the data are intriguing.

China invests 9% of its gross domestic product on infrastructure, Europe 5% and the U.S. 2%. Low U.S. infrastructure spending has led to deterioration of power-generation and water systems. It's estimated that repairs could cost $1 trillion. Learn more here.;

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced the awarding of $331,650 in non-repayable financial assistance to CTT Group.

In 2009, Geofabrics® engaged a leading firm of consulting engineers, Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia (PBA), to test a range of geotextiles sold by various companies in Australia and to independently report on whether those geotextiles met with the published specifications about them. Download the Geofabrics® April Journal to read an overview of the Parsons Brinckerhoff. Learn more here.;

We have pleasure in announcing that we have recently secured the GEOFABRICS® trade mark both in Australia and New Zealand. This means that not only can we confidently place the symbol ® at the end of our brand but we are also afforded protection against infringement and misuse. Learn more here.;

Mr Manfred Balzer, qualified engineer and Managing Director of HUESKER Synthetic GmbH in Gescher, Westphalia, proudly announces: "There are not many companies lucky enough to be able to celebrate their 150th anniversary". Thanks to the innovative orientation and potential of HUESKER's excellent staff, the company has become an international market leader since it was established 150 years ago. Read more in the company's celebratory release.

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK33656, "Test Method for Biaxial Tension Testing of Geosynthetics." The scope is to develop a standard test method to determine the in-plane stiffness of geosynthetics that are subjected to biaxial loading. The in-plane Poisson's ratio is an input parameter needed for mechanistic, finite-element based pavement response models. Learn more here.;

ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock has announced work item WK33689, "New Test Method for Exposure and Retrieval of Samples to Evaluate Installation Damage of Polymer Coated Steel Wire Mesh." This test method covers the standardization procedures for obtaining samples of steel wire mesh from a test section for use in assessment of the effects of damage immediately after installation in a soil reinforcement application. Learn more here.;

Riva Nortje, the vice president of the Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), reminds members that the biennial Gigsa awards are due by 30 June 2011. Categories include "Development in Technology" and "Construction." She notes that the GIGSA committee intends to issue these awards during the two-day short course to be presented by Professor R. Kerry Rowe at the Centurion Council Chambers on 6-7 September 2011. That course topic is "Geosynthetics in bottom liners and covers for use in lagoons, secondary containment, landfill and mining applications".

In his latest column, Textile World executive editor Jürg Rupp writes about the shift in high-end global manufacturing to developing countries, the needs and stresses placed upon the world as population swells, and opportunities this presents for technical textiles production. Geotextiles and geosynthetics, for example, will be necessary for the creation of more sustainable infrastructures. Learn more here.;

Land and Water Magazine's May/June 2011 issue includes an article from Arthur Cashin on the floods that this spring has delivered and some key technologies used to halt them. In Manitoba to Kentucky, Fiberweb's Defencell flood protection system was used to great system. Read more in the e-magazine version. Learn more here.;

The Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA) is planning its 2012 Annual Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Conference and Trade Show for 8-9 March 2012 in Nisswa, Minnesota. Abstracts are sought on local projects completed for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control, and new innovative products for stormwater management or erosion and sediment control. Deadline: 15 July 2011. Learn more here.;

During the Geo-Frontiers 2011 event in Dallas, the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) announced the winners of the association's installation awards of excellence. The highest vote getter in this year's competition and Award of Excellence winner was CETCO Contracting for its exemplary work on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PADOT) I-99 slope remediation construction. That project is summarized here.

Saint-Gobain Technical Fabrics is pleased to announce that they have changed their company name to Saint-Gobain ADFORS. The new Saint-Gobain ADFORS identity was revealed at the 2011 Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany and the SAMPE show in Long Beach, CA, USA. Recognizing the need for a strong brand name in the market, the company set out to develop a new name which would reinforce their strength and position in the industrial and construction markets.