Erosion control and reinforcement are two applications that geosynthetics are used for. Distantly related, the two applications form the backbone of this publication. But looming large over this issue is the passing of Robert M. “Bob” Koerner and Pauline “Paula” W. Koerner, a couple who had a huge influence over the founding and development of the geosynthetics world.
Bob wrote or co-wrote two columns for this issue before his passing, the GSI News column and The GMA Techline Answers All. The original of the latter was several pages long, but Bob graciously agreed to shorten it to a page and a half to fit the column space and to publish the original white paper online. The GMA Techline Answers All includes the top five questions in terms of difficulty from the past 15 years of the Techline.
Bob’s work on these columns and on numerous features have graced the pages of Geosynthetics for many years. He also was always a phone call away for advice, something I gratefully took advantage of.
There is an In Memoriam tribute to Bob Koerner where our Update column normally would be in this issue. This is also the show issue featuring the Premier Product Preview, a look at new products and services offered by geosynthetics manufacturers, distributors and service providers. The preview will be handy for the upcoming Geosynthetics Conference 2020: CASE STUDIES, which will run March 8–10, 2020, in North Charleston, S.C.
This issue is dedicated to the memory of Bob and Paula Koerner.