It�s Tuesday and attendees and exhibitors are arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah for the biennial Geosynthetics conference. Geosynthetics 2009, managed by the Roseville, Minnesota-based Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), is being held under the theme �Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering,� two subjects key to Western states like Utah.
Geosynthetica is a cooperating organization for this year�s event. We�re proud to be part of this seminal gathering for North America�s geosynthetics practice. Reports from the conference will be published daily (Wednesday � Friday, February 25-27) and a wrap-up will be published next week.
THINGS TO WATCH FOR
Wednesday
Wednesday�s activities bring right into the thick of things with a keynote lecture from the Bureau of Reclamation�s (BuRec) David Paul, various technical sessions, and meetings such as a gathering of the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI) membership. Wednesday will also feature the always popular (and highly needed) short course on �Basics of Geosynthetics for Non-Engineers� and �Geosynthetics in Hydraulic Applications: Dams, Canals, Reservoirs.� The former is being taught by Dr. David J. Elton (Auburn University, and president of the North American Geosynthetics Society [NAGS]). The latter is being taught by Dr. J.P. Giroud (JP Giroud Inc.)�the man who coined the term �geosynthetics� and who has contributed an incredible amount to our field.
In the evening, the exhibit hall opens with a reception.
Thursday
Thursday will open with the Terzaghi Lecture, this time being delivered by Dr. J.P. Giroud (�Criteria for Geotextile and Granular Filters�). Concurrent sessions throughout the rest of the day and exhibit hall networking make this a very full day indeed. Industry veteran Mark Marienfeld will lead a workshop on unpaved roads; BuRec and the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) will offer agency reports; technical sessions will be offered; and four short courses will be offered:
- Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil � Drs. Robert Holtz (University of Washington) and Jonathan Fannin (University of British Columbia)
- Design and Construction of Bottom-Liner Systems �Dr. Rick Thiel (Vector Engineering)
- Design and Construction of Cover Systems � Dr. Jorge Zornberg (University of Texas-Austin)
- Advanced Slope Stability and Geosynthetic Interface Testing � Drs. Timothy Stark (University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign) and Robert Swan (Consultant)
In addition, the exhibit hall will host an innovative products display during and immediately following lunch, and a number of societies and associations will hold meetings, including the newly formed Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI), the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) Geogrid Focus Group, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI), and GMA�s annual meeting.
Friday
On Friday, the conference activities open with a keynote lecture from John Volk of URS Inc. on the subject of �Geosynthetic and Geotechnical Design Challenges on the I-15 and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Mega Projects��two projects quite vital to Utah�s infrastructure. One short course follows: Geosynthetics in Roadway Systems (Dr. Steve Perkins, Montana State University).
The exhibit hall will be open through 12:30 on this day.
The majority of Friday�s activity will center on the 22nd GRI conference from the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI). GRI-22 is focusing on �details.� (For a glimpse at the subjects being addressed, see this article.) The annual GRI conferences are always provoking, and this year�s gathering is loaded with luminary presenters. The dialogue that their succinct subjects generate is not to be missed! More specifics and follow interviews with the participants are forthcoming.
Chris Kelsey is the editorial director for geosynthetica.net. He can be reached at chris@geosynthetica.net.
