April 1, 2018
In presenting written technical information in academic papers and presentations, including in geosynthetic papers, as well as conference proceedings and presentations, it is established practice for the author to attribute references, data, charts, tables, graphs, photographs, illustrations and concepts back to the initial originator/developer, who under law is the copyright holder to the work simply …
February 1, 2018
There are 29 types of 501(c) nonprofit organizations in the United States and probably many more worldwide. The most common are 501(c)(3) organizations, which include organizations with religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes. Of the approximately 4 million in the United States alone, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) is one of them. These organizations are …
October 1, 2017
According to the United Nations (UN), 1.1 billion people in 34 countries have inadequate access to safe drinking water. Furthermore, pollution, global warming and population growth will have continuing negative impacts on the availability of safe drinking water. By the year 2040, the UN estimates that more than 2 billion people in 60 countries will …
September 6, 2017
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will offer a webinar on “Geosynthetics in Erosion Control,” on September 13, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. The estimated cost of landslides in the United States is $2 to 5 billion; worldwide, it may approach $10 billion. The many landslides triggered by surface erosion is a major contributor …
August 1, 2017
Commentary on geosynthetic specifications One can only suspect that the first specification on a given manufactured material came along with or very shortly after the first manufactured product became available. It follows then that some 200 years later, manufactured geosynthetic materials should do likewise. In fact, so-called standards organizations have evolved by publishing the following …
July 6, 2017
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will offer a webinar on “In-Situ Stabilization of Soil Slopes Using Nailed or Anchored Geosynthetics,” on July 6, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. The sliding of soil slopes in the form of localized landslides represents an annual loss of $2 to 5 billion in America, not to mention …
June 26, 2017
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will offer a webinar on “Geosynthetic Applications in the Private Sector,” on June 28, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. In the past, the geosynthetics industry has focused on the major application areas within transportation, environmental, and hydraulic engineering. Yet, many smaller application areas are also important and noteworthy. …
June 1, 2017
Robert M. Koerner on his namesake award and lecture series On March 14, 2017, at the Geotechnical Frontiers conference in Orlando, Fla., George Koerner graciously accepted the Robert M. Koerner Award and Lecture Series. The biennial award and lecture series were established by the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) Executive Council; Koerner was the first recipient. …
April 1, 2017
Since 2001, the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) has been accumulating data on failures of geosynthetic-reinforced mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls. We currently have 301 cases, with 191 (63%) caused in whole or part by water in, or adjacent to, the reinforced soil zone. We sincerely hope that our past writings and webinars are helping to …