PVC geomembrane specifications for South American lithium mining
June 1st, 2022
FIGURE 1 A covered pond with a PVC geomembrane (left) that complies with Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) specifications. A second pond (right) is already filled with lithium brine. Lithium, one of the raw materials in various batteries, is the element powering the technological revolution over the past 30 years that has led to people having […]
Multi-linear drainage geocomposites for railways
June 1st, 2022
FIGURE 1 Multi-linear drainage geocomposite under railway embankment In civil engineering, drainage systems are traditionally made with granular material layers and perforated collector pipes. The use of drainage geocomposites became more common 30 years ago with the development of products that met the specific requirements of each application. Moreover, the geocomposite is cheaper than the […]
Aboveground storage tank liners for energy applications
June 1st, 2022
FIGURE 1 Wooden oil tank near Odessa, Texas. Photograph courtesy of the author Over the past 20 years, hydraulic fracking rules and regulations have become increasingly stringent, and oil and gas (O&G) producers have become progressively more concerned with environmental stewardship. Quality, factory-fabricated geomembrane liners for the aboveground storage tank (AST) market have become a […]
Geosynthetics Conference 2023 workshop lineup announced
June 1st, 2022
The Geosynthetics Conference 2023 Organizing Committee is pleased to announce the workshop and panel discussion program for the conference, Feb. 5–8, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Workshops are two hours long and feature in-depth instruction without a full-day commitment. Panel discussions are 90 minutes long and promote lively discussion with audience interaction. Workshops and panel […]
GMA is busy this spring and summer
June 1st, 2022
Government affairs, infrastructure spending and planning have been the watchwords for the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) this spring. In April GMA hosted three morning geosynthetics sessions as part of the annual Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) Outlook Conference, the premier leadership event for industries represented by IFAI’s 13 divisions. This year’s conference was held at […]
New GSI test method for resistance of conductive geosynthetics
June 1st, 2022
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has a new test method for resistance measured across positions on conductive geosynthetics. Conductive geosynthetics contain an electrically charged backing (usually a thin layer of polyolefin with letdowns containing 20%–30% carbon black) that allows leaks to be detected in lined systems without the need for a conductive subgrade beneath the liner […]
‘Living breakwaters’ protect Staten Island’s shoreline
June 1st, 2022
The Triton marine mattresses’ limestone filling provides the substrate for growing oysters, helping repopulate the oyster reef systems surrounding Staten Island, N.Y. Photograph courtesy of Tensar International Corp. Coastal erosion in the United States costs roughly $500 million in property damage annually. Proposed solutions focused on building higher, thicker, wider protective structures—such as seawalls—are expensive […]