Ground Improvement

Durante los días 5 y 6 de Noviembre de 2013, Sevilla será la sede del Congreso Geosintec Iberia1, organizado por el Capítulo Español de la International Geosynthetics Society (IGS)...

There are two ASTM International standards updates to report for 8 April 2013 from Committee D35 on Geosynthetics: * Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has published a new standard, D7853 -...

The March 2013 issue of Geofabrics Journal profiles separation geotextiles, erosion control, and revegetation during Victoria's (Australia) key Peninsula Link project. Also of importance in the issue are articles...

27 March 2013 - TYPAR Geosynthetics, one of the world's largest and leading suppliers of high-performance geotextiles, is proud to announce the latest addition to 40 years of innovation...

25 March 2013 – The North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS) is proud to announce the launch of its new website: www.igs-na.org. Featuring new graphics and navigation, cleaner display, and deeper content,...

FINDLAY, Ohio – Congressman Robert E. Latta (R–OH) toured the Findlay manufacturing plant of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS), located in his 5th Congressional District of Ohio to gain a...

ASTM Committee D35 on Geosynthetics has announced work item, WK41425 - Standard Test Method for Strength of Sewn or Thermally Bonded Seams of Geotextiles. This work item is a...

GeoAfrica 2013 will be held 18-20 November 2013 in Accra, Ghana (NY Times' #4 place to visit in 2013). This event will be the Second IGS Regional Conference on Geosynthetics in Africa. Attendees interested in transportation, mining, water and waste management are all certain to be on site for this event. Abstracts in English not exceeding 400 words should be submitted by email to Technical@GeoAfrica2013.com not later than 31 March 2013.

TenCate launched its MiraSpec Design Solutions Software in September 2010 to provide flexible pavement design assistance and demonstrate the benefits woven reinforcement and stabilization geotextiles in roadway structures. Now, the company has unveiled a flexible pavement design app for the iPad.

The 10th International Conference on Geosynthetics (10 ICG) will be held 21-24 September 2014 in Berlin, Germany. This quadrennial conference from the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) will be hosted by the IGS Germany chapter and co-located with the German Geotechnical Society 2014 conference. Abstracts are invited through 15 May 2013. Learn more and upload your abstract via the online submission system.

The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Southeast Chapter has announced two scholarships of $1,500 are available for the 2013-2014 school year. Recipients must be undergraduates with a declared major at an accredited four-year college or university located in the Southeast Region, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida. Applicants must be studying in a field related to erosion and sediment control. Learn more about the award and application requirements. Learn more here.;

This instructional webinar will provide attendees with knowledge on the use of geotextile containers and polymeric marine mattresses for island breakwater creation. On-site project experience from the City of Ft. Pierce Marina in Florida will be shared. This project features a permanent wave barrier, configured as a carefully sculpted, but naturally appearing, artificial island breakwater. This solution was proposed to protect the marina from a 100-year storm event, as mandated by FEMA regulations. Learn more here.;

This instructional webinar will provide attendees with knowledge on the use of geotextile containers and polymeric marine mattresses for island breakwater creation. On-site project experience from the City of Ft. Pierce Marina in Florida will be shared. This project features a permanent wave barrier, configured as a carefully sculpted, but naturally appearing, artificial island breakwater. This solution was proposed to protect the marina from a 100-year storm event, as mandated by FEMA regulations.

In response to a Nor'easter that hit the coast of Staten Island in March of 2010, a gabion retaining wall was installed along the oceanfront property to protect upland infrastructure from storm damage and wave action. The original wall design consisted of PVC coated galvanized steel gabions, spanning 100' parallel to the shore direction with a 9 ft. vertical height and two 30 ft. return walls at either end. During Super Storm Sandy in October 2012, the storm surge had pushed a large volume of sand and debris upland against the existing wall. While minimal damage was observed in confined places, the wall structure remained intact and fully functional.

Maccaferri's coastal structures are designed, produced, and installed to stand against the forces of Mother Nature. This was apparent after Super Storm Sandy hit the Northeastern United States in October 2012. Maccaferri's existing coastal structures protected homes and natural shorelines from storm surge damage and erosion. Links are provided here to fuller stories on each project, one of which involves revisiting how a 2010 installation held up to Sandy.

During a Nor'easter in March of 2010, heavy surf and high winds devastated the dune system protecting beach front homes, near the Hampton's, on the twin forks of Long Island, New York. With the dunes gone, there was nothing left to protect the beachfront properties from future storms. Instead of doing a "sand push" along the beach, or trucking in sand to rebuild the dunes, Maccaferri was approached to offer an alternative long term solution. The steel sheeting shown in the top right image was a temporary solution after an earlier storm; however, the US Army Corp of Engineers mandated that it was to be removed. The MacTubes® were installed as the only means of defense against future storms.

Duke University’s Center on Globalization, Governance, & Competitiveness (CGGC) published a 44-page report in 2012 on coastal restoration projects and how geosynthetic technologies were playing a greater role. Funded...

Maccaferri will sponsor a February 27 (2:00 pm EST) webinar on "Geosynthetics: An Introduction to Flexible Pavement Design." An instructional webinar, this free session will focus on: The AASHTO Method for Unreinforced Roads and Geogrid Reinforced Roads; and, Roadway design support. An overview of roadway construction materials will also be included. Learn more and register.

The University of Minnesota held its 61st Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference on Friday, February 22 at the conference center on the St. Paul campus. Sponsored by the U of M Department of Civil Engineering, the Minnesota Geotechnical Society (MGS), and the Geo-Institute of ASCE, this annual gathering continues to impress. In a report on his visit to the conference, Geosynthetica Editor Chris Kelsey writes that "This year's event focused on instrumentation, data interpretation, and the impacts of geotechnical activities on the environment and structures (such as building overlying tunneling zones). These guiding ideas helped provide significant perspective on the changing practice of engineering. Chaired by Steve Gale (Gale-Tec), the event included many presentations in which geosynthetics played a key role in the geotechnical solution."

GSE Holding, Inc. (NYSE:GSE) a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered geosynthetic containment solutions for environmental protection and confinement applications, is excited to participate as the leading company in their industry on Manufacturing Marvels narrated by John Criswell. "Being spotlighted on Manufacturing Marvels is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our employees to provide products and solutions that protect our water and keep our communities safe. We are proud of the work we do," said Peter McCourt, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.

Tensar has launched a new website with easy-to-navigate access to geogrid products and systems, project case studies, industry white papers, product literature and more. Search by application, system or market sector to learn how Tensar's wide range of geogrid products, systems and applications can benefit your next project. Registered users can take advantage of SP4 PRO, Dimension Solution and other valuable Tensar software too. Register by February 28 and be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 5 iPads.

When both a navigation channel and a deep water fisheries habitat in the Lower Peoria Lake needed to be secured, project engineers found a solution to satisfy both goals. A 21-acre island was created using Maccaferri's MacTube geocontainers for shaping the island and dredged river soils for establishing the land. The result has been a flourishing vegetation spot, improved navigation depth, and safer fishing grounds. The design of this on-going project (schedule for April 2013 completion) has a 4800-foot island perimeter and uses three rows of tubes on the bottom and topped with a fourth row, each filled to a six foot fill height. Read about it.

California city’s efforts to stabilize creeks with plants are part of a larger paradigm shift in public works initiatives Learn more here.;

During Environmental Connection 2013 in San Diego (February 10–13), stop by Booth #535 in the exhibit hall and visit with the Minerva team—publishers of Geosynthetica.net and Geosindex.com. Sign up for Geosynthetica's bi-weekly e-newsletter in the exhibit hall and be registered for a chance to win 1 of 3 $50 Visa Gift Cards that will be given away during the conference.

The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) will hold charitable auctions, one silent and one energetic and live, during Waste Expo 2013 in New Orleands (May 20 - 23). Silent auction bidding is open May 6 - 17 online and again May 21 - 22 in the exhibition hall. The live auction will be held May 22 following a reception in the early evening. EREF's mission is to fund and direct scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices. To date, the annual auction has raised more than $13 million to fund the foundation's initiatives. Learn more here.;