Transportation

The winter meeting for ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics will include a couple special events. The first of which is a Geosynthetic Research Institute (GRI) / D35 joint workshop on durability. The second of which is an exploratory meeting on geocell standardization. This is a fascinating opportunity. Geocell products have been used successfully for a variety of applications for decades. However, many regulators, specifiers and users have found significant market variability with regard to product characterization, market specifications and product quality. The range of geocellular system products is expanding every year. In this important inaugural meeting, all interested individuals will be invited to attend and contribute to the discussion of potential D35 standardization efforts.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) held its first short course ("Constructing with Fabricated Geomembranes") on 23 October in Denver, Colorado. Tim Stark reports that 66 attendees took part and numerous industry experts presented on topics from secondary containment to EIA geomembranes to welding and much more. Course participants were eligible for up to 6 PDHs. Read a write-up from Dr. Stark.

The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) organize, in partnership with the Nonwovens Institute of North Carolina State University, a technical workshop dedicated to Italian technology for the nonwovens and technical textile industries. The event will occurr in Raleigh (11 and 12 November 2009) at North Carolina State University.

Canada's Transport Minister John Baird and the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) have announced the winners of the 2009 Canadian Transportation Awards, recognizing leadership, excellence and achievement in the transportation sector. Dr. Abd El Halim, of Ottawa, chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and professor at Carleton University was one of the honorees. Previously, Dr. El Halim headed up the Centre for Geosynthetics Research Information and Development.

After 35 years, Land and Water is now available in a digital format. To see a few of the articles in the newest issue, please follow the link below. Learn more here.;

Also from the October 24 issue of The Economist, an article on biofuel production, and how methods of production just may make these once-revered fuel solutions more environmentally destructive than traditional sources. Of note, the increased need for environmentally damaging fertilizer may cause more harm than good. Also, the need to strip soils for harvesting certain biofuel varieties, such as palm oil grow on peat, can be disastrous when measured against the benefits of biofuels. But careful, smart production can be an advantage. It takes much greater consideration, however, than just doing what off-hand sounds environmentally friendly. Learn more here.;

"Geosynthetics Evolved" is the credo of the newest manufacturer to enter the geosynthetics industry. SYNTEC, based in Baltimore, MD, is a newly formed company with many familiar faces. In a recent transaction, SYNTEC acquired the environmental division of TENAX Corporation. Read more about this new venture.

The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) in Folsom, Pennsylvania is involved in many critical aspects of the geosynthetics industry, such as research, accreditation, specification development, and much more. It consists of 71 member organizations (both public and private), nearly half of which are international. And now…the Institute's website has been given a new look. Check it out. Learn more here.;

Solmax International Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of polyethylene geomembrane, announces that the lengths of some of its standard textured products have been optimized. This initiative, which began in 2008 for products shipped by container, is now also in effect for our intermodal and truck deliveries. This not only enhances our land shipment loading, but also means that the inherent transportation costs of your projects will be reduced.

New Civil Engineer (NCE) Insight is a magazine targetted to students, parents, advisors, and others on potential careers in civil engineering. The Autumn 2009 issue is available online. Read it today. Learn more here.;

Amid a privatization campaign in Iran in past years, companies linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard have won tens of billions in no-bid government contracts under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, himself an alumnus. This includes the deeply entrenched Khatam al-Anbia, an engineering firm working in mining, construction, oil and gas, and other lucrative sectors. International sanctions on Iran might further strengthen the Guard by removing the little international competition it and its companies face. Learn more here.;

The town of Ayer, Massachusetts is in contentious talks with Pan Am Railway over the company's construction of a railway area. The company was hesitant to provide samples of the crushed concrete in a rail car standing area, and the town was upset that a containment liner was not installed beneath the standing zone. Learn more here.;

Waterproof Membranes 2009 is almost here! The event takes place in Duesseldorf, Germany from 19-21 October. Companies from all over the world will gather to discuss the latest in geotechnical and architectural waterproofing technologies. Greenroofs, HDPE geomembranes, thin-film solar laminates atop exposed TPO membrane caps on landfills, and much more. Will you be there? Presentations and attendees include companies such as Colbond, Dow, GSE Lining Technology GmbH, Agru, Sotrafa, SENSOR, and many others. Geosynthetica's Chris Kelsey will be there presenting and covering the event. If your company will have a representative there, please let Chris know so he can be sure to include your firm in the conference coverage.

Around the world, polymeric materials such as geosynthetics have become crucial to safe and successful long-term infrastructure performance. In the Middle East and Gulf region, geosynthetic use is on the rise not only to support major construction projects but because the region's polymeric materials industry is maturing rapidly. It will soon be a major production center. One of the most important geosynthetics used in today's infrastructure is high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane. On 12 November 2009, Dr. Ian D. Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc., will present a full-day workshop titled "HDPE Geomembrane Liner Performance: the Reality." Learn more.

The 5th Asian Regional Conference on Geosynthetics--Geosynthetics Asia 2012--will be held 10-14 December 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. IGS Thailand will host and the event will be held under the auspices of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The deadline for submission of abstract to GA2012 is 31 May 2011. Download an information sheet in PDF. Learn more here.;

Though it will not be held until 2012, a website has already been launched for EuroGeo 5--the Fifth European Regional Conference on Geosynthetics. The host chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will be IGS Spain. Valencia will serve as the conference location. As of now, the dates for the event will be 16-19 September 2012. Learn more about IGS Spain at the event website. Learn more here.;

From Kolkata, India: In a bid to encourage jute production, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Wednesday pushed for hiking the minimum support price paid for the golden fibre by Rs.300 per quintal, nearly 22 percent over the present Rs.1,375 paid to farmers. Among the many uses for jute, the ministry wants to see jute geotextiles (such as for erosion control) grow as a segment. Learn more here.;

A National Fibre Policy will be in place in India by December to provide a level playing field to the industry, Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran has said. Learn more here.;

On 12 November 2009, Dr. Ian D. Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL, Inc., will present a full day workshop during which three of the primary topics of SKZ's 2nd International Conference on Geosynthetics Middle East will be discussed in greater detail. This in-depth event, "HDPE Geomembrane Liner Performance: the Reality," will address liner leakage, allowable leakage, liner integrity surveys and methods, understanding failure, predicting failure and end of useful service life, and more. Please share the PDF registration form for this important session with your colleagues in Dubai and nearby in the Gulf region. Register by October 14 to secure your seats!

The European Union partially funds POLYTECT (Polyfunctional Technical Textiles against Natural Hazards) to find technical textiles made with carbon and glass fibers to stabilize structures damaged by earthquakes, landslides or other natural disasters. The POLYTECT researchers are integrating fiber optic cables into geotextiles and 3D rope-like textiles, giving engineers the potential to detect temperature changes, humidity, stiffness or chemicals in building structures, as well as pass light and information back along the sensors to find out whether soil is moving. Learn more here.;

Coastal roads and harbours are traditionally protected from sea erosion by giant blocks of rock or geosynthetic bags filled with material, all locally sourced where possible. In the Arctic and other cold northern regions, where good quality material is often scarce, the prohibitive economic and environmental cost of importing suitable matter has led to a demand for solutions that make use of whatever low quality soil or other material is available.

TRI/Environmental, Inc. (TRI) has achieved independent, third party accreditation for its large scale erosion control testing and research laboratory by the Geosynthetic Accreditation Institute (GAI), which is part of the Folsom, Pennsylvania-based Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). This TRI facility, in upstate South Carolina at the Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF), compliments TRI's industry-leading index and bench-scale erosion and sediment control testing capabilities. With over 1.2 sq. km of working area, this research farm employs various sloping terrain and water from four ponds. Additionally, DDRF has numerous structures housing covered research and testing, and material and equipment storage. Read more about this industry first.

Pierre Pomerleau, Eng., MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pomerleau Inc., will speak on promising applications for textiles at Expo Hightex on Wednesday, 7 October 2009, at the Bonsecours Market in Montréal. Since he became president of Pomerleau and Beaubois, respectively major construction and architectural carpentry firms, the group's growth has been reflected in an increase in sales, from CDN $200 million to nearly CDN $800 million. This business leader sees Canadian textiles playing increasingly important role in construction projects.

The deadline for sending an offer of a paper at Middle East Plastic Pipes 2010 is fast approaching. Please send a short summary and speaker name to me before 15th November 2009 at sh@amiplastics.com. Middle East Plastic Pipes 2010 will be held from 17-19 May 2010 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Jack-Gregor Tcherniavsky, the managing director of Tencate Geosynthetics Africa region, has been quoted in an article about the coming oil industry in Uganda. Geosynthetics will play a role in the country's infrastructure growth andin the oil sector's development. As the former may be reliant on the latter's success, geosynthetics perhaps stand to be of special interest. For example, "there will be a need to build more roads and more infrastructure," Mr, Tcherniavsky said. Learn more here.;