Geosynthetics need to be part of the infrastructure package

June 1, 2018  |  Editorial

In its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave U.S. infrastructure a grade of D+. Not good. The sector report card on American roads faired even worse, earning a D, while TRIP, a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C., says 32% o…
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Editorial: Geomembranes and water

April 1, 2018  |  Editorial

The World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that a clean water supply is “fundamental to global health.” WHO estimates that considerable exposure worldwide to contraction of many waterborne diseases and conditions (diarrhea, malaria, malnutrition, parasites, bacterial infections, etc.) could be …
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Geosynthetics and erosion control

February 1, 2018  |  Editorial

Terra firma often does not morph in ways that modern society appreciates. Erosion from stormwater, snowmelt, long-term water flow and unrelenting waves sweep away soil and rock from steep slopes, riverbanks, ditches, channels, shorelines, building foundations and much more. To understand the power o…
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Editorial: Geosynthetics for multiple applications

October 1, 2017  |  Editorial

If you are reading this publication, you obviously have an interest in geosynthetics, as this magazine is unlikely to appeal to people whose primary professional interests are taxidermy, snow-crystal study or calligraphy. We aim to please, and this issue touches on many types of geosynthetics, from …
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Editorial: The management of coal combustion residuals (CCR)

August 1, 2017  |  Editorial

The management of coal combustion residuals (CCR or “coal ash”) is a growth category for the geosynthetics industry. Multiple opportunities now exist using various types of geosynthetics due to the evolving federal and state regulations for handling CCR. In fact, geosynthetics have played a role…
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Are zero leaks with installed geomembranes possible?

June 1, 2017  |  Editorial

Abigail Gilson-Beck and Glen Toepfer step into a geosynthetics minefield in this issue of Geosynthetics with their article “Achieving zero leaks on a budget,” a goal that is controversial in the industry. Whether this goal should even be an objective is the question the debate hinges on. A spiri…
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Handing over the reins

April 1, 2017  |  Editorial

The stellar reputation of Geosynthetics magazine is due to its reporting on innovative solutions to complex problems, publishing well-researched articles written by experts in their fields, and consistently putting in print reliable and relevant information for engineers, project managers, and emplo…
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It has been a good run

February 1, 2017  |  Editorial, News

My October 2016 column in this space recounted my first week on the job in December 2005. But as you read this column today, we move full circle. This is my last column for Geosynthetics magazine. Yep, I am retiring. Well, let’s say semi-retiring. “Semi” means I will still be around a few days…
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How was your first week on the job?

October 1, 2016  |  Editorial

December 5, 2005—my first day on the job as editor of Geosynthetics (née GFR). Eight days later, I was in Las Vegas, Nevada, with 200 engineers and a horde of other geo-people! Thank goodness, I was accompanied by Andrew Aho (then, GMA director; now, VP/Operations at IFAI) and Barbara Connett (th…
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See you at Geotechnical Frontiers

August 1, 2016  |  Editorial, News

If you haven’t already planned to attend Geotechnical Frontiers 2017 in Orlando, do yourself a favor and register now. Is this is your first geosynthetics or geotechnical conference? Or have you attended geo events since the 1980s? Either way, this conference and trade show next March 12–15 in O…
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