Geosynthetics are uniquely suited

October 1, 2019  |  Editorial

Geosynthetics are found in the strangest of places. But that just speaks to how versatile and useful they are for a wide variety of applications. Dewatering, energy-site closure, erosion control, reinforcement and stabilization are just a few applications that geosynthetics address in this issue. In…
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Reinforcing dunes and bluffs with geosynthetics

October 1, 2019  |  Case Studies, Features

By Brian Maggi, Christopher D. P. Baxter, Aaron Bradshaw, Annette Grilli and Naser Al Naser The devastating effects of recent hurricanes and nor’easters highlight the need to improve the resilience of coastal communities. There is a trend toward implementing “soft” engineering solutions such a…
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Stabilization and reinforcement of wind farm access roads with geosynthetics

October 1, 2019  |  Final Inspection

This project is the construction of the first commercial-scale wind farm in North Carolina. It was for a renewable power generation facility providing clean energy. Constructing the wind farm required subgrade stabilization and reinforcement for more than 60 miles (97 km) of access roads that needed…
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Geosynthetics Conference watch: Full schedule now available

October 1, 2019  |  Events

Registration for the Geosynthetics Conference 2020: CASE STUDIES is now open, and the full schedule is available online. The time has come to start booking your travel, making plans to attend those sessions that have caught your eye and mapping out which booths you will visit. Visit www.Geosynthetic…
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Repairing an oil well platform with a geogrid reinforced soil slope

October 1, 2019  |  Case Studies, Features

By Jeff A. Segar  The Mormon Butte site is in the Little Missouri National Grassland in the Badlands region of western North Dakota (Figure 1). Constructed in 1985 and leased through the U.S. Forest Service, the pad elevation was created by cutting into the side of the butte and depositing the …
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Nature area drainage control with GCCM

October 1, 2019  |  Case Studies, Features

By Joe Royer, Kurt Chirbas and Ziad Mazboudi The City of Laguna Niguel in Orange County, Calif., has its origins in the Rancho Niguel Mexican land grant, acquired in 1959 by the Laguna Niguel Corp. to develop one of California’s first master-planned communities, which has become predominantly a be…
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Lessons learned in alternative coal ash pond closure design and construction

October 1, 2019  |  Case Studies, Features

By Anna M. Saindon Coal ash pond closures often face unique challenges due to location, available borrow soils and construction constraints. These challenges can lead to alternative methods of closure to comply with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D and coal combustion residua…
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GMA is advancing the industry through advocacy and education

October 1, 2019  |  GMA News

By Jonathan Curry Advocacy and education are key to the mission of the Geosynthetic Materials Association. GMA, through its state and local advocacy program, met with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 2015 and, as a result, developed a strategic relationship that created…
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Recovery of rare earth elements from acid mine drainage using geotextile tubes

October 1, 2019  |  News

By Tom Stephens Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been occurring in the Appalachian region since coal mining began in the early 18th century. Over time, many mines reached the end of their useful life and production ceased or companies went out of business, resulting in AMD discharging from these abandon…
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A forty-year anniversary for the first hardbound book on geosynthetics

October 1, 2019  |  GSI News

By Robert M. Koerner In the late 1970s, I regularly invited speakers to make presentations to my geotechnical engineering classes at Drexel University. Two of them were very memorable: Bill Ragen of Mirafi and Bill Witherow of Carlisle. Their respective topics were “filter fabrics” and “pond l…
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