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GSI agriculture/aquaculture webinar on March 16, 2022, will focus on geosynthetics in farming and fish farming operations.
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Geosynthetics in Agriculture and Aquaculture,” on March 16, 2022, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) member companies and their employees receive discounted rates on all GSI webinar and short course registrations.
This webinar will illustrate the many and varied applications of geosynthetics that can (and have been) used in agriculture and aquaculture. Geosynthetics users for these applications are usually either focused on improved productivity or lower cost of operations. A brief explanation of geosynthetics will begin the webinar followed by specific operations. In the agriculture area, these are various farming applications, concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), anaerobic digesters and emerging concepts. In the aquaculture area, these are lined ponds, factory-controlled systems, and offshore fish pens and cages.
Exposed geomembrane lifetimes will be offered from the perspective of laboratory predictions as well as a benefit/cost method for geomembrane solution. Conclusions in both areas will also be offered.
GSI agriculture/aquaculture webinar learning objectives
Webinar participants will gain an overview of geosynthetics vis-à-vis various containment concepts. In the agriculture sector, specific issues of animal waste concerns (e.g., CAFOs) will be described as well as anaerobic digesters. In the aquaculture section, the focus is on fish farming both on land and in water, including lakes and oceans.
The webinar will emphasize emerging concepts in agriculture, such as enhancement of farming practices, geotextile capillary barriers, odor control floating covers and odor-permeable geomembranes. In aquaculture, the use of geogrid enclosures will be emphasized. Exposed geomembrane lifetimes via laboratory simulation methods will be presented as will the benefit/cost methodology for selecting the optimal type of geomembrane.
The webinar will emphasize emerging concepts in agriculture, such as enhancement of farming practices, geotextile capillary barriers, odor control floating covers and odor-permeable geomembranes.
Webinar benefits
- Learn about geosynthetics and their functions
- Learn select aspects of farming and animal waste containment
- Learn specific aspects of CAFOs, anaerobic digesters and emerging concepts insofar as geosynthetic applications are concerned
- Learn about the three categories of fish farming insofar as fish growth and harvesting
- Learn about exposed geomembrane lifetime predictions based on current technology
- Learn how to select geomembranes based on a benefit/cost ratio analysis
Intended audiences
The Geosynthetic Institute agriculture/aquaculture webinar will be useful for agricultural engineers and developers dealing with all aspects of farming; aquaculture specialists in the various categories of implementation; geosynthetic manufacturers and representatives; design consultants and the testing organizations that serve them; academic and research groups; government agencies dealing with the agriculture and aquaculture industries; and others desiring technical related information insofar as these geosynthetic applications are concerned.
Specific topics covered
- Geosynthetic materials overview
- Farming operations and containment concepts
- Concentrated animal feeding operations and anaerobic digesters
- Emerging concepts and applications
- Aquaculture, a.k.a. “fish farms”
- Exposed geomembrane lifetimes
- Geomembrane lifetimes and selection process
- Conclusions
Webinar instructor
George R. Koerner, Ph.D., P.E., and CQQ, is the director of the Geosynthetic Institute. He oversees laboratory accreditation, field certification and continuing education at the institute. He also manages several research projects and has published more than 350 technical papers in his 35-year association with polymers used in below-ground construction. Koerner’s Ph.D. is from Drexel University in geotechnical engineering. He is a registered professional engineer and a certified quality auditor. Koerner has received many awards over the years. The most notable being IFAI’s Environmental Technologies Award of Excellence 1995, ASCE’s DVGI Geotechnical Engineer of the year in 2004, the title of ASTM Fellow in 2013 and GMA’s first Robert M. Koerner Lecture and Award in 2017.
Webinars cost $200.00 for GSI and GMA members, and $250.00 for nonmembers. Successful completion of a multiple-choice test after the webinar carries 1.5 professional development hours (PDH).
For more information or to register, visit the GSI webinar webpage.