GMA happenings
February 1st, 2020
Letter from the chair As I sat down to write this update of all the great things GMA has been doing, my computer screen interrupted me with an email, and now I type with a heavy heart as the email announced the passing of Robert M. Koerner. I had the privilege of knowing Bob for […]
Using geosynthetics in flexible airport pavements
June 1st, 2019
By Benjamin Mahaffay, Jeremy Robinson, Jeffrey Gagnon and Gregory Norwood FIGURE 1 Post-test excavated cross section In recent years, there has been an increasing interest to improve pavement structures through mechanical stabilization by incorporating geosynthetic products within the structure. The Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has identified eight categories of commercially available geosynthetics: geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, […]
AASHTO directors choose Tymon as executive director
September 24th, 2018
The board of directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) selected James J. Tymon as the sixth executive director of AASHTO during the association's annual board of directors meeting in Atlanta, Ga., Sep. 24. Tymon, who is AASHTO’s chief operating officer and director of policy and management, joined the association in […]
Panorama
August 1st, 2018
Tensar arranges Australian distribution for mining geosynthetics Tensar International announced June 15, 2018, that Chris Taylor of C&C Taylor Enterprises (CCTE) has agreed to become the exclusive distributor agent for Tensar Underground Mining Products in Australia. For more than 40 years, Taylor has worked in various mining industry roles, from the shop floor to director, […]
AASHTO committee on construction appoints new chair, vice chair
July 30th, 2018
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) appointed Dallas Hammit and Amy Tootle as the chair and vice chair, respectively, for the group’s committee on construction, which ensures that AASHTO’s guide to specifications for construction is kept up-to-date with the latest best practices gathered from its state department of transportation members. Hammit […]
TRB releases report on resilience after natural disasters in transportation infrastructure
June 12th, 2018
On June 11, 2018, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) released a prepublication, unedited version of “Synthesis 527: Resilience in Transportation Planning, Engineering, Management, Policy, and Administration” by Aimee Flannery, Maria A. Pena and Jessica Manns. The draft report documents resilience efforts and how they are organized, understood and implemented […]
AASHTO’s executive director to retire
May 28th, 2018
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced May 24, 2018, that Executive Director Frederick G. “Bud” Wright will retire at the end of 2018. "AASHTO is a wonderful place to work," Wright said in a prepared statement from AASHTO. "In my experience—and that experience working in transportation now spans more than […]
AASHTO announces passing of Kane
May 21st, 2018
On May 18, 2018, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) announced the death of Dr. Anthony R. “Tony” Kane, the former director of engineering and technical services of AASHTO. Kane died last week after battling a long illness. He was 72. Kane served in his role at AASHTO from 2001 to […]
FHWA and AASHTO open nominations for 2018 STIC Excellence Award
April 27th, 2018
Nominations for the 2018 State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Excellence Award are open now through July 1, 2018, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Center for Accelerating Innovation (CAI) announced. CAI partners with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Innovation Initiative on the award, which recognizes STICs that have achieved significant results […]
GMA focus groups
April 1st, 2018
GMA provides technical guidance to outside agencies and groups seeking more information about best practices for the use of geosynthetic products. Our geotextile, geogrid, environmental and erosion control focus groups review specifications and provide industry guidance. In 2017 GMA reviewed specifications for nine states and worked closely with the American Association of State Highway and […]