Ground Improvement

The International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories is a new, refereed online journal in the field of Geoengineering. The journal aims to become a focal point of geotechnical engineering practice worldwide by publishing case histories. The journal is refereed in accordance to the procedures of the most prestigious journals in our field and the Editorial Board of the journal consists of some of the best engineers of practice and Professors worldwide that guarantee the quality of the publication. Characteristics of the journal: The International Journal of Geoengineering Case Histories has characteristics that differentiate it from existing journals and will position it as a very useful tool for the engineer of practice. Such characteristics are listed on the website of the journal and include use of colored figures, compilation of a database of case histories, online searchable directory of papers. One of the most important characteristics of the journal is that it will be available at no cost on the Internet, allowing unlimited access to engineers worldwide. Printed copies of the journal will be available with subscription, but engineers will now be able to just visit the website and download the papers that are of interest to them. Because of the journal’s focus on case histories, its unique characteristics, the high quality of the publication and its unrestricted access to its content, it is expected that it will become very popular among engineers of practice but also among researchers that want to access the data. The journal intends to be a free, very useful, high quality and everyday tool for the work of practicing engineers. The journal was announced for the first time in the “Prakash Case Histories Conference” this April and the responses by the engineers of practice were enthusiastic. Learn more here.;

A photographic library is being developed at geosynthetica.net as a means to help engineers understand the nature and cause(s) of geosynthetic materials/product performance concerns. It will represent the performance of geosynthetics since the early 1980s so it should be noted that a number of the early materials problems have been resolved and occur only infrequently these days. In fact, the predominant cause of failures these days is not the quality of the geosynthetic product itself, rather, it is the design of geosynthetic containing systems applications to which the specified geosynthetics are not suited - a lack of knowledge by the design engineer of the performance characteristics of the different geosynthetic material products. We welcome additional examples from around the world (liners, caps, walls, slopes, berms/bunds, floating covers, erosion control, roads, dams, etc.). Please send a photograph and a very brief explanation of the cause of failure to lara@geosynthetica.net.

Conwed, a maker of netting for a variety of applications, has dropped “Plastics” from its corporate name. It now uses the positioning statement “Global Netting Solutions” to better reflect its expanding product line and distribution network. Among its many industry segments of operation, Conwed produces erosion control netting for environmental reclamation and restoration. It is a member of the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC) and the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI).

The Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC), an organization committed to the advancement of rolled erosion control materials, recently elected its officers for 2004-2005. Tim Lancaster, North American Green, Inc. was elected Chairman, Deron Austin, SI Geosolutions, was elected Vice Chairman, and Mark Myrowich, ErosionControlBlanket.com, was elected Treasurer. Tony Johnson, American Excelsior Co., and Kevin Spittle, Profile Products LLC, were named At-Large Board Members. Laurie Honnigford continues to serve as ECTC Executive Director. The Erosion Control Technology Council is a non-profit group committed to advancing the use of rolled erosion control materials by providing education and leadership in the industry. ECTC assists engineers, designers and other interested individuals or organizations in the proper application of products and establishes standards for testing and performance. For further information about the resources that ECTC can provide, contact Laurie Honnigford at 651-554-1895 or laurie@ectc.org.

The 2004 GFR Specifier's Guide is now available. The Spec Guide is an international industry resource that offers technical geosynthetic product data and links to expert installers, designers, consultants, test labs and manufacturers. Data on the following products is available: geotextiles, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners, drains and geonets, geogrids, geocells, rolled erosion control products and hard armor. The publication is available to GFR subscribers. A limited number of copies are available for purchase. For subscription information, contact Susan Smeed at subscriptions@ifai.com, or call +1 651/222-2508, fax +1 651/225-6966. To purchase a copy of the 2004 Specifier's Guide, contact Barbara Connett at bjconnett@ifai.com, +1 651/225-6913, fax +1 651/631-9334, Web site www.bookstore.ifai.com. GFR is published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International, 1801 County Rd. B W., Roseville, MN 55113-4061; Web site www.ifai.com. Learn more here.;

Having officially opened its Malaysian facility this November, Fibertex is one of seven companies in Malaysia producing nonwoven materials for filtration.

The name that many in Galveston county will no longer be using is geotube. To access this article, go to the "continued" link below and search Galveston's The Daily News for Carter Thompson's article titled: Shoreline Protectors Run Afoul of Trademark. Learn more here.;

2,000,000 lb (100 acres) of double-sided geotextile/geonet drainage composite. The material has been used on a prepared surface for 14 months but not buried. It is being replaced and is available to be reused - materials F.O.B. Detroit. Please contact Jeff Hanak at APS-LTD 330-505-0419 or Jeffh@pse-ltd.com for more information.

SI Geosolutions has developed a new fiber technology that enhances seedling emergence over traditional round or oval fibers used in conventional stitch-bonded turf reinforcement mats (TRMs).

Nonwovens Industry has published its 2003 Buyer's Guide in the July issue. Learn more here.;

Congratulations to Daniel S. Rohe as he replaces Fred P. Rohe who had previously held the position since 1985. Dan will continue to direct EPI's development of thermal welding techniques for field seaming PVC geomembranes.

NAGS News… During the CGS Annual Meeting (held in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 28 September - 1 October 2003) NAGS will hold a parallel technical session, hold a student competition, host a workshop on erosion control and hold a special afternoon session for women professionals attending the conference. Go to the IGS Newsletter for more. Learn more here.;

7IGC 22-27 September 2002 in Nice was a fantastic success! Over 1,200 attendees, all booths sold out(and a few extras), elections, four unique educational tracks (300+ papers), dining, dancing, footballand so much more.

GEOfabrics New Composite Line Comes on Stream - This significant investment provides GEOfabrics with the capacity to manufacture 6m wide combinations of geotextile filters/separators/protectors, impermeable membranes, drainage cores and grid enforcement. Learn more here.;

ECTC's web site helps facilitate erosion-control design - Rolled erosion-control products are typically used in slope or channel applications. The design elements needed for both applications are provided in detail at the ECTC's Web site, http://www.ectc.org. At the site, click to enter the section entitled "Product Selection and Design." Once there, you will have to choose between slope or channel design. The user chooses the desired application. Once you have made your selections, the site will then direct you to the products appropriate for your project design. Feel free to contact any of the members listed on the Web site for additional information or to answer any questions you may have. Learn more here.;

The amount of nonwoven roll goods exported from the U.S. increased last year by 6.8% compared to 2000. While this is good news, it needs to be tempered by the fact that U.S. imports increased by a whopping 13.5% last year too. Over a five year period, in fact, the gap between U.S. imports and exports of nonwoven roll goods has narrowed considerably.

Summary of Nuremberg 2002: The Nuremberg GCL conference sessions finished on 17 April with a summary of the sessions by the five session chairmen. It was clearly apparent that to get the optimum service from a GCL it is necessary to use a specifically designed product, as for example when a GCL is to be laid in a canal, underwater, then with ballast dropped on top of it (Heibaum). The lack of damage to such a GCL compares to the significant damage reported by Peggs when smaller stones, but still relatively large, were placed on top of a "standard" commodity GCL. Thus, as there are differences between and within geomembrane materials there are differences in GCLs.

ECTC Announces Election of New Directing Members to the Council: They are as follows: John Byun, Green & Bio Tech, Inc.; Mark Kimberline, Greenfix America; Lars Lueders, Tenax Corporation; and Mark Myrowich, ErosionControlBlanket.com. "ECTC has been active in developing standardized testing specific to rolled erosion control products and writing specifications ensuring that erosion products are used in the appropriate applications and conditions," commented ECTC Chariman Marc S. Theisen.

Geotechnical Fabrics Report Technical Advisory Boad met to discuss modifications to the 2003 Specifier's Guide. Emphasis was placed on the Erosion Control and Geonet tables. It was suggested that all submitted data be technically reviewed for correctness and consistency with other submitted data. It was also suggested that actual values rather than "greater than" values be requested and published.

Tenax expands facility- Texax Corp. has doubled its sole manufacturing plant with a plan to add new machinery by the end of Dec. The firm has added three extruders to its existing five, boosting annual extrusion capacity to 20 million pounds. It will invest nearly $2.7 million in machinery. Its 60,000 sq. ft. building grew to 150,000 sq. ft. with a $2.2 million investment. They will hire 20 people brining its work force to 100. Tenax is tapping the retail and consumer market with critter-control netting, which it plans to sell through do-it-yourself stores.

Cooley Group - Where Chemistry Makes the Difference -For career opportunities within the Cooley Group

GIGSA News Flash South Africa is having a very serious erosion control problem. If you would like to consider joining the South African Chapter of IECA or have any imput into solving the problem, this is a very useful association to belong to. For more information visist http://www.ieca.org or http://www.ieca.co.za

SAGEOS of Quebec, CA is looking for a Civil Engineer in charge of research and development. Must be fluent in english and french.

EPI lauches the Liner Letter designed to keep you informed of ongoing developments in PVC geomembranes and current activities at EPI.

International Erosion Control Association announce candidates for the IECA Board of Directors. They are as follows: Shirley Morrow, Senior Environmental Scientist/Landscape Designer for Burns & McDonnell, Michael Frankcombe - working with the Department of Main Roads in Far North Queensland in Austrailia, Ron Faucher - Source Protection Coordinator of Portland Water District's Water Resources Division, Thomas Carpenter - President of Carpenter Erosion Control, Daniel Waldman - founding publisher of IECA's magazine Erosion Control. and Jesus Cardozo - a civil engineer working with a wire gabion manufacturing company. Vote of 3 of these candidates by downloading the ballot form from www.ieca.org. Ballots due by October 20, 2001.