Here's a sign of dedication from one of Prospect Contractors' team members. His gabion expertise is not just a job, it's a way of life. And he's got the tattoo to prove it. Anyone else inked up in support of your geotechnical work? - chris@gesoynthetica.net Learn more here.;

The Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) is not just another waste and recycling event – it's the ONLY event that truly celebrates technology and scientific innovation within our industry on a global scale. Here are 5 pretty fabulous reasons to attend GWMS 2012 (and register now at the Early Bird rate). Read more.

Adelaide-based Prospect Contractors has been involved in many construction and mining projects, but their work for Anglo Coal in Queensland provided a chance to set some new company records for gabion construction work. They've shared with us some details from this 900m-long work zone, including the large mix of gabion cubes and reno mattresses needed and to build the mining company's dam structure, spillways and weirs.

Utilizing performance-guaranteed North American Green erosion and sediment control products can help you earn credits toward your LEED Green Building Rating System project certification goals for new construction and existing buildings. Tensar North American Green can help. Learn more here.;

SKZ's Geosynthetics Middle East conference series continues with this year's event scheduled to take place in 19–20 November 2012 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi has been announced as the venue, and once again the conference will be held under the patronage of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City. The international speakers, forward-looking issues, and strong UAE support have helped establish this event quickly as the leading event on geosynthetics in the Middle East. The call for papers has now been issued. Abstracts are invited through 20 August 2012. Read about the THEMES here.

In a new book, stormwater compliance expert Jennifer Hildebrand shares her experience from the field and offers advice on how to evaluate design issues, avoid mistakes, determine best management practices, and anticipate and respond to challenges in stormwater management. Here, she tells us a bit more about the new book, "Straight Talk: Strategies for Environmental Compliance."

The Geosynthetics Interest Group of South Africa (GIGSA), a chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), has released its July 2012 e-newsletter. GIGSA's newsletters are always full of useful content for and from the field, and this newsletter is no exception. In it, we learn of Gundle Geosynthetics' expansion in the marketplace, a note on the new GIGSA website, geotextile growth in China, three short course offerings on filtration and drainage in November, a case study on the N6 rehab, and much more. Read it today in PDF.

Coffey Geotechnics' Richard Kelly and Thevaragavan Muttuvel have shared project details from the construction of the Ballina Bypass, a route which traverses a floodplain in which the soils comprise soft clays up to 25m depth. Stabilizing embankment and construction platforms over such highly compressible, low strength clays and ensuring proper erosion and sediment control in this sensitive floodplain required an extensive utilization of geosynthetics. Read about the project here.

The July 2012 issue of Infusion, the corporate magazine from Australia-based engineering firm Coffey, includes a number of interesting perspectives and details on new transportation projects and mining issues. The Ballina Bypass's impressive design and construction is profiled, Ron D'Ercole looks at new Australian mine planning and closure rules, Western Australia's first contaminate site audit is conducted on a mine closure, and much more. Read the issue here in PDF.

In the latest project story from Tensar International, the company details how extensive underground mining in south Poland posed a significant challenge to construction of the A1 motorway which forms part of the connection between the Czech border, Piekary Slaskie and on to northern Poland. To accommodate potential differential settlement on the approach embankments to bridge structures, the engineering consultant consortium designed TensarTech™ soil retaining walls to support the approach embankments to a series of viaduct and bridge structures along the 16km Piekary Slaskie to Pyrzowice (Katowice Airport) section. This approach ensured that any problems caused by previous land use were mitigated and the planned opening date of June 2012 was met.