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Most geosynthetics deal with water in some shape or form. Geosynthetics are an extraordinary handler of water, whether the project involves erosion control, water storage, wastewater, stormwater, seawater or mining.
This issue of Geosynthetics looks at water applications in several forms. Drainage, leak detection layers, potable water storage, a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall at a marina, a temporary cofferdam and shoreline protection all call upon geosynthetics for problem solving.
The issue starts out with the Update section of “A Guide for Specifying Drainage Geocomposites” by Lisa L. Damiano and Eric S. Steinhauser. Damiano and Steinhauser assert, “Designing with innovative products can decrease the required transmissivity and increase the factor of safety of the drainage layer.” Abigail Gilson-Beck and Larry Shilling tackle “Construction Water Flow Dynamics of the Leak Detection Layer.” “A Geosynthetic Strip MSE Wall at Point Defiance Marina” by Paul C. Frankenberger and Robert Lozano looks at shoreline protection using an MSE wall. Brian Fraser, Steven Roades, Mike Neal and Alex Gersch address “CSPE Performance and History in Long-Term Potable Water Storage Applications.”
Several of our International Achievement Awards winners in this issue focus on water management, including “Druid Hill Reservoir: Temporary Lined Stone Cofferdam,” “Kanai Resort Shoreline Protection and Beach Creation,” “Application of Geogrid-Reinforced Structure for Abutment Protection in Taichung City, Taiwan,” and “Davao City Coastal Road Project.” These projects illustrate the use of geocomposites, geonets, geotextiles, geomembranes, geosynthetic strips, geotextile tubes and geogrids.
There are other ways to handle potable water and seawater, but cost, effectiveness and unique characteristics led these project owners to employ geosynthetics for their water applications. Geosynthetics rose to the occasion on multiple fronts.