Transportation

The South Africa Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) seeks speakers on erosion and sediment control topics for an upcoming conference. Speakers need to be confirmed by July 2010. More details about the conference will be posted on IECA's website as soon as they are available. For more details, please contact Louise Mare at email: louise@naturalbridge.co.za. Learn more here.;

Brock Peters and J.B. Dixon will teach you that compliance doesn't have to break the bank. With a change in mindset, many of the everyday problems on construction sites could be eliminated. Attendees will learn that stormwater management is part of all construction projects and they do not have to view compliance with disgust, anger, dread or resignation. Learn more here.;

This session was presented by the US EPA's Jesse Pritts at IECA's Environmental Connection Conference in February, 2010. EPA has finalized effluent guidelines for stormwater discharges from construction activities. This session presents details of the new requirements and information on compliance strategies. Learn how to determine what sites are covered by the new regulations and how to minimize compliance burden. Please note: PDHs are not available with this free webinar. Learn more here.;

The recent failures of major -- and relatively new -- public works in Massachusetts to hold up has raised questions about quality versus cost in the construction bidding process. Structural problems in Boston's Big Dig tunnel and the recent breaking of a massive water main have brought the issue to the forefront. "I'm just saying, can't we do anything right anymore?" said Jerome Connor, a civil engineering professor at MIT. Learn more here.;

The future is bright for India’s nonwovens and technical textiles sector on rising middle income population. This will be one of the drivers for growth for the nonwovens and technical textiles (NWTT) industry in India, according to Seshadri Ramkumar, Associate Professor of Non-wovens and technical textiles at Texas Tech University. Geotextiles are among the material classes to benefit. Learn more here.;

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the IGS Secretariat role. The Secretariat will perform duties and provide deliverables as specified by the IGS Secretary and IGS Officers as required. Proposals should be prepared by interested parties and submitted to the undersigned by 20 June 2010. A decision is expected to be made by 30 June 2010. For information regarding the details, please see the RFP here (in PDF). Learn more here.;

Jute in the form of Jute Geotextiles (JGT) are used in road construction. JGT is not being used for modern lifestyle products. The specific areas of its application are: Road construction, especially medium and low volume roads; River bank erosion control; Stabilisation of flood and road embankments; Hill slope erosion control; Soft soil consolidation; and Watershed management.

The Indian Government has granted approvals for 32 highway construction projects during the 2009-2010 financial year, for a total length of 3,600km. For the 2010-2011 financial year, the plan is to build highways totalling in excess of 15,000km. Also, various investment groups are arranging more than $15 billion in contracts and plans for roadway expansion and highway construction. Learn more here.;

The 4th international conference on Waterproof Membranes will be held at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany 30 November - 2 December 2010. A welcome reception will be held on the first evening and will be followed by the two-day technical program. Applied Market Information (AMI), the event organizers, welcome your presentation proposals. Read more about some of the topics sought.

When Tony Allen, P.E., was at work on his civil engineering master's thesis at Oregon State University in the early 1980s, he certainly couldn't have foreseen the impact it would have during the next 30 years on geotextiles and geogrids in reinforcement applications. Of great importance, the work he pursued then (and since) has led to real understanding of the durability of geosynthetic reinforcements. This year, Allen's work may culminate with the publication of a long-needed geosynthetic reinforcement standard from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics -- one that will have a strong impact on geosynthetic selection for critical reinforcement applications.

David Brooks, writing in the Nashua Telegraph, explores the use of recycled materials in construction and the desire of some townships to use recycled glass in road aggregate. Sealed with geotextile, he writes, crushed glass might provide a suitable base course layer that, when one considers the cost implications might make sense. Recycled, crushed glass would cost roughly the same as traditional aggregate; but without the cost of recycling glass AND acquiring aggregate. Reduced waste stream, lower costs. But can proper drainage and performance be assured? And would the public accept the reuse of glass in this manner? Learn more here.;

Royal Ten Cate has released an update regarding its first quarter 2010 performance. Of particular interest is the notes on the American geosynthetics market's "substantial recovery"; an upturn in the infrastructure market; and "strong developments in TenCate Geotube® applications." Read more in the release.

Bernard Myles' funeral will take place at 2 pm on 14 May at Redstone Cemetery, Philanthropic Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4DG, UK. Afterwards there will be a reception at Bletchingley Golf Club, Church Lane, Bletchingley, Surrey, RH1 4LP. Redstone Cemetery is 6 miles from London Gatwick Airport and 1 mile from Redhill station. Note that seating in the cemetery chapel is limited and that some guests may have to stand. For catering purposes Jeanne (Jan) would like to know approximately how many people will come to the reception. If you plan to come, or if you have any other questions, please e-mail or telephone John and Caroline Greenwood, (jandcgreenwood@hotmail.com; 01483 277558). No flowers please. It is planned that donations in Bernard's memory should go towards a bursary for a student of geosynthetics. Further details will be provided.

The Anchor Institute (Textile Sector) in the Department of Textile Engineering of the Faculty of Technology & Engineering in the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda is organizing a "National level One-Week Up-gradation" program on Geosynthetics from 17-22 May 2010. The program will address various topics like; Geotextiles -- Government Perspective, Overview of Geosynthesis, Manufacturing process of woven geotextile materials, Woven vs nonwoven geotextiles, Function of Geotextiles, Geomembrane, Issue in design and construction of reinforced soil walls, Manufacturing process of nonwoven geotextile fabrics, "Polypropylene based Geosynthesis" -- Indian and global scenario, Applications of Jute Geotextile in infrastructure development, Testing of Geotextiles, Geosynthetics in civil engineering application and Geotextiles and their various types.

When Tony Allen, P.E., was at work on his civil engineering master’s thesis at Oregon State University in the early 1980s, he certainly couldn’t have foreseen the impact it would have during the next 30 years on geotextiles and geogrids in reinforcement applications. Of great importance, the work he pursued then (and since) has led to real understanding of the durability of geosynthetic reinforcements. Read more about the impact T925 has had on reinforcement design and specification in the United States and internationally. The article, from Geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey, appears in the May 2010 issue of CE News. Learn more here.;

With full White House support, America should be running high-speed railroads by the end of the decade, writes John Rosenthal. Such trains "consume less fuel, produce less carbon dioxide, and promote urban redevelopment, which has broader environmental benefits," said Kevin Brubaker, deputy director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago. However, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, reminds us: "This is a 40-year build-out, just like the Interstate Highway System was in the 1950s." Learn more here.;

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will hold the First International GSI-Asia Geosynthetics Conference at the Windsor Hotel Taichung in Taichung, Taiwan from 16-18 November 2010. The conference themes is "Geosynthetics in Infrastructure Applications." GSI's Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) annually holds an international event in North America. That event is nearing its 25th anniversary. The launch of an international forum serving the Asia region is exciting news. Read more.

A growing interest in oil and gas exploration and extraction in Pennsylvania has led to increased road erosion, sediment runoff and cloudy streams. Conservation districts and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cite the erosion to unpaved roads caused by heavy mining vehicles (in excess of the unpaved road design strength). Separation geotextile use is being planned for some future road constructions and repair to support the oil and gas traffic. Learn more here.;

It is with great sadness that we must share the news of Bernard Myles' passing after a difficult and courageous battle with cancer. (We thank John Greenwood and Russell Jones for passing along news from the IGS UK Chapter.) Bernard's contributions to the IGS span some 25 years. He was a member of the first IGS Council formed in November 1983 and remained on the Council until 1992. He was later re-elected on the Council in 2000 and remained until 2008. Our thoughts are with his family in this difficult time. Learn more here.;

With new products on the horizon for release and a skilled professional engineer with a new master's of business administration (MBA) degree under his belt, North American Green (NAG) has married innovation with expertise in the erosion control industry. Appointing Mr. Gabe Weaver to the new position of manager of engineering and business development will allow NAG to leverage Mr. Weaver's aptitude in civil engineering and utilize his recently earned and nationally ranked MBA education to his full potential. Read more.

The World Bank Group has announced that it has thrown open the doors to its statistical databases and is challenging the global community to use the data to create new applications and solutions to help poor people in the developing world. Recognizing that transparency and accountability are essential to development, the World Bank Group is now providing free, open, and easy access to its comprehensive set of data on living standards around the globe -- some 2,000 indicators, including hundreds that go back 50 years. The data will be available in Arabic, French and Spanish in addition to English.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that $48.8 billion in highway funds is now available to state departments of transportation for federal projects through the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act. The HIRE Act, which was signed into law last month, included a provision that extended funding authority for surface transportation programs through 31 December 2010. The law provides $40.1 billion from the Highway Trust Fund for highway programs for FY 2010.

Central Florida plans to shelve plans for $119 million in road improvements due to the economy, but rail plans are moving ahead for the region. The $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train will offer Orlando commuters an alternative to traffic congestion on I-4. Construction on the rail line could start next year, with the first section in operation in 2013. Learn more here.;

Sergey Sinigibsky was appointed the General Director of JSC Plastik. JSC Plastik is an enterprise of SIBUR, which comprises production operations for synthesis of polymer materials and processing with an in-house energy supply system. The enterprise is the exclusive ABS manufacturer in Russia and the largest player in the market. JSC Plastik produces styrene, phenolic, geosynthetics, automotive and machine components, and household goods.

Cliff Hall and David Cashman of Tensar International Ltd. have released a white paper, "Plotting the Road Map for Performance Specifications." Slowly but surely, specification by performance is becoming a more accepted method for construction by highways agencies both in the UK and internationally. The results promise much needed innovation and significant economic and environmental benefits. But how should contractors and suppliers be adapting to changing client demands? Tracing the route of changing specification practice tells us that reliance on laboratory-based testing of materials cannot show how materials perform under real life site conditions.