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ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has published D7702, "Standard Guide for Considerations When Evaluating Direct Shear Results Involving Geosynthetics." This new guide is now available as D7702-11. It is intended to assist designers and users of geosynthetics. It is NOT a standard; it is a guide. And it is not intended to replace education or experience and should only be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Learn more here.;

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item WK32900, "Standard Practice for Tests to Evaluate the Chemical Resistance of Geotextiles to Liquids." This is a work item revision to existing standard D6389-99(2005). Learn more here.;

AMI's 5th international conference on Waterproof Membranes will be held from 15-17 November 2011 at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany. A welcome reception will be held and registrations managed on the first evening followed by a 2-day programme of speakers from the waterproofing industry and its suppliers. Read more about the event and submit your presentation idea.

American Environmental Group, LTD. (AEGL), a renowned national leader in the fields of geosynthetic materials installation and fabrication, comprehensive installer of landfill gas (LFG) collection and control systems, and provider of LFG system operation and maintenance services has acquired the geosynthetic liner operations of Union City, TN-based Mid America Lining Company. Mid America's extensive experience performing geosynthetic installations on a national scale is a natural addition to AEGL's 400+ United States-based workforce.

The Executive Board of Royal Ten Cate (TenCate) has appointed ir. Guido Vliegen (44) as Global Group Director TenCate Grass, effective 1 April 2011. Since 1998, Mr Vliegen has held several management positions at TenCate Protective Fabrics EMEA (Nijverdal, the Netherlands) and North America (Atlanta, US). In January 2009 Mr Vliegen was appointed as Managing Director of TenCate Grass North America based in Dayton (Tennesee, US). Since October 2009 Mr Vliegen was responsible for the marketing and sales of synthetic turf as Global Commercial Director TenCate Grass. In his new position Mr Vliegen will be responsible for all TenCate Grass activities worldwide and will be a member of the TenCate Strategic Platform.

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has revised standard D6455, "Standard Guide for the Selection of Test Methods for Prefabricated Bituminous Geomembranes (PBGM)" as D6455-11. This guide provides recommendations for the selection of appropriate test methods for prefabricated bituminous sheet used in geomembrane applications to provide consistency in data reporting. Field-related evaluation of PBGM, including but not limited to seam testing, is beyond the scope of this guide. Learn more here.;

ASTM International Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has revised standard D6767, "Standard Test Method for Pore Size Characteristics of Geotextiles by Capillary Flow Test" as D6767-11. The pore size distribution test is significant not only for indicating pore sizes, but may also indicate a damaged, contaminated, or clogged geotextile. Learn more here.;

Carlisle Energy Services Inc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with New Jersey Meadowlands Commission which will be used to research the feasibility of CES unique exposed geomembrane solar cover technology for Meadowlands Erie Landfill. The Carlisle system will also include an integrated solar PV array with a capacity of about 1 mw. The Spectro PowerCap is a patent pending and a flexible solar photovoltaic system that will be used as a landfill cover. Learn more here.;

A new officer has joined the Board of Directors for the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI). American Environmental Group Ltd's (AEGL) Chris Eichelberger has been selected to serve as an at-large member of the Board of Directors. Chris was elected to serve a two-year seat. "We welcome Chris Eichelberger to the Board and look forward to working with him," commented IAGI President Brian McKeown. IAGI strives to provide a forum for geosynthetics installers to advance installation and construction techniques, and to strengthen the knowledge, image and communication within the industry. For more information about IAGI, contact Laurie Honnigford at +1-651-554-1895, e-mail iagi@iagi.org or visit www.iagi.org.

In a February 2011 memo, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Infrastructure Research and Development (HRDI) officially announced the availability of the Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS) Synthesis Report (FHWA-HRT-11-027). The GRS-IBS Synthesis Report is the companion document to the GRS-IBS Interim Implementation Guide (FHWA-HRT-11-026), which was disseminated to our field offices by memorandum dated January 21, 2011, in support of the FHWA’s Every Day Counts initiative, which is aimed at accelerating implementation of proven, market-ready technologies. The research behind the proposed design method in the report, which was adopted in the Interim Implementation Guide, is presented along with case histories to show the performance of in-service GRS-IBSs and GRS abutments. Download the Synthesis Report via the Alaska-Fairbanks office website. Learn more here.;

Security is a top priority in the shipping industry. So when plans for DHL's new 290,000 square foot distribution facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania called for 3,450 linear feet of retaining wall along the perimeter of the site, the chain link fencing above the walls quickly became a topic of concern. While the segmental retaining walls and geosynthetic reinforcement are capable of holding back steep slopes and handle heavy loads, the top of the block wall can overturn when a point load, such as a fence post, is applied to the block.

Tensar's North American Green has led the erosion control industry in offering the most complete line of high quality, performance-proven erosion control products since 1985. Today, a U.S.-manufactured addition to that line salutes a patriotic commitment and delivers quality and consistency currently unduplicated in foreign counterparts. North American Green coir logs are the only compressed coconut coir logs that are made in America.

A note from David Suits, Executive Director of the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS): "Not able to attend Geo-Frontiers 2011? I have a limited number of the conference proceedings on CD. The CD has more than 400 papers on it...The Conference had over 1900 attendees and 150 exhibitors." The CD costs $100. Interested members of NAGS should contact Dave at Nagsdirector@aol.com. Learn more here.;

Instructors Dov Leshchinsky and Jim Collin will present a 2.5-day course on "Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes: LRFD and ASD Design Approaches" from 1-3 June 2011 in Los Angeles. The course presents the latest national recommendations for design and construction practice for reinforced soil structures. It includes the latest on reinforced wall and slope design based on LRFD and ASD plus hands-on use of two powerful software packages licensed to the FHWA as well as State DOT's. Attendees may be eligible for up to 2.4 CEUs or 24 PDHs. Learn more. Learn more here.;

The Qatar National Convention Centre, one of the world's largest construction projects, is currently underway in Doha, Qatar. For this mega-project, about 135,000 square meters of 2mm PVC geomembrane (Sikaplan WP1100-20HL2) were laid as a single layer, a scale that posed a great challenge -- even for the waterproofing installation, company BMC Qatar -- especially as the work needed to be completed in the span of one year. For the laying work, the professionals at BMC Qatar relied as always on welding equipment from Leister.

Located throughout the U.S. and in 6 other regions of the world, the Chapters of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) are instrumental in providing the erosion and sediment control community with education and networking opportunities through regional conferences, workshops, field days, newsletters, websites and other services. Read the release.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) met during the Geo-Frontiers 2011 on March 15. During the FGI meeting, Tim Stark announced the new officers FGI members selected for 2011-2013. See the new officers list here.

Following the North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) meeting in Dallas, executive director David Suits announced the results of the NAGS election: The following persons were announced at Geo-Frontiers 2011 as the new Board of Directors for NAGS: President: Dean Sandri; President-elect: Bob Mackey; Treasurer: Corey Bobba; Vice Presidents: Marolo Alfaro, Jay McKelvey, Dhani Narejo, Richard Backman; Immediate Past President - David Elton. Learn more here.;

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has published a PDF format summary of the geosynthetics marketplace in the United States and Canada. With a primary focus on the American marketplace, this "snapshot" looks at market size, market growth, predominate materials/polymers and applications in which geosynthetics are being utilized, as well as trends, opportunities, threats, and a market outlook. Learn more here.;

Firestone Specialty Products (Booths 407 and 506) will debut new supported and unsupported membranes in new gauges and colors. Visit Firestone's booth for full details. Download the unsupported flexible polypropylene (fPP) geomembrane data sheet here.

Firestone Specialty Products (Booths 407 and 506) will debut new supported and unsupported membranes in new gauges and colors. Visit Firestone's booth for full details. Download the supported flexible polypropylene (fPP-R) geomembrane data sheet here.

Junichi Koseki of the Institute of Industrial Science (University of Tokyo) has been tapped to deliver the Mercer Lecture at Geo-Frontiers 2011. His topic: "Use of Geosynthetics to Improve Seismic Performance of Earth Structures." The Mercer Lecture is a biennial lecture with the endorsement of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) and the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The lecture is being sponsored by Thrace/LINQ Inc. LEARN MORE about the other plenary lectures at Geo-Frontiers.

Thrace-LINQ, a supplier of woven and nonwoven geosynthetic technical fabrics, announces the expansion of its Quality Assurance Department to include Process Improvement, ensuring the control of all manufacturing processes and the highest quality products for its customers. Leading the Process Improvement team is James H. Brown, quality assurance manager.

Granite Environmental now houses five more qualified and certified Florida Stormwater Management Inspectors making it a grand total seven certified inspectors! For two days the participants studied and tested to complete the Florida Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector Program, held in Palm Bay, FL on February 2-3.

Inland Tarp and Liner LLC, headquartered in Moses Lake, Wash., is to open a 192,00-square-foot facility in Fostoria, Ohio, which is to enable the company to service most of its customers in the Eastern U.S. in a timely manner. Ron MacKenzie, eastern operations manager, is to oversee production. Learn more here.;