In Memoriam of Robert and Paula Koerner
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute and its members would like to express our condolences on the passing of Dr. Robert M. Koerner and his wife Paula W. Koerner. Together, Bob and Paula founded the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) in 1986 and maintained it at the forefront of the industry. In addition, Bob was the “Father of Geosynthetics” and brought geosynthetics into main stream civil engineering. Bob´s academic contributions to the industry include over 750 papers on geosynthetics and the pioneering textbook, “Designing with Geosynthetics” which is now in its sixth edition. The FGI is grateful for all of Bob’s and Paula’s contributions to the geosynthetics industry and encourage our members and others to visit the Koerner Family Foundation website at www.kffoundation.org.
FGI Fall 2019 Newsletter - Now Available
Check out the FGI's Fall 2019 Newsletter with information on Safety, Coal Combustion Residuals Short Course, Upcoming Webinar on Fabrication, Installation & Testing of Geomembranes, Update to the FGI's PVC Geomembrane Specification, Women in Geosynthetics, FGI's New Installer Membership, and more....
FGI Welcomes Peak GeoSolutions
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest associate member, Peak GeoSolutions (Peak). Peak was founded in 1993 with the idea of elevating the role of on-site personnel by placing strong technicians in the field and empowering them to supplement their basic CQA duties with a leadership role in managing the project. Peak prides itself on training and encouraging their employees to be leaders, as well as to actively search for and identify efficiencies or technical improvements to the project. Peak has over 225 clients in the landfill space, while also providing services to the energy and oil and gas sectors. In addition to CQA and construction management, Peak is a provider of liner system leak location services and is the US distributor for the SENSOR arc-testing device. Peak is based in Wyoming and has clients in every western state. Their FGI liaison is William Hensley, Principal and Senior Project Manager, who can be reached at bhensley@peakgeo.com. Please help us welcome Peak GeoSolutions to the FGI!!!!
FGI Updates PVC Geomembrane Specification
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) updated its Material Specification for New PVC Geomembranes, previously referred to as PGI 1104 and FGI 1117. The new specification, FGI 9119, addresses camber or layflat, film gloss, shore hardness, and color deviation within a manufactured lot. The new specification introduces the FGI Circumference Test which measures the roll circumference at the ends and several points along the roll to maintain roll straightness or decrease camber. FGI 9119 also includes requirements for film gloss to reduce blocking or sticking of the geomembrane upon unrolling. A Shore Hardness requirement was also added to improve handling and welding of the geomembrane.
The new specification can be downloaded for free by clicking here.
About the FGI:
The FGI is dedicated to advancing the use of fabricatedgeomembranes through education, research, and technology transfer. The FGI is a non-profit consortium of manufacturers,fabricators/installers, designers, regulators, and material suppliers offabricated geomembranes.
FGI Summer 2019 Newsletter - Now Available
Check out the FGI's Summer Newsletter with information on Safety, the new Online PDH Program, Upcoming Webinar on Temporary Landfill Covers, Coal Combustion Residuals Short Course, Women in Geosynthetics, and more.
FGI Offers Short Course in Bogota, Colombia
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) presented a one-day short course at the Sheraton Bogota Hotel in Bogota, Colombia on 12 August 2019. The short course was offered in collaboration with Filmtex, a geomembrane manufacturing company headquartered in Bogota, and the Colombian Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS). The all-day short course drew 49 registrants.
The excellent and timely presentations focused on the challenges and environmental concerns associated with mining, tunneling, water, and waste containment technologies and how geomembranes and geosynthetics can be used to mitigate the concerns and risks. The beginning portion of the short course focused on geomembrane fabrication, installation, manufacturing and geosynthetics for civil engineering applications with five (5) presentations. Dr. Timothy D. Stark of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focused on the new FGI PVC Geomembrane Specification, factory fabrication and field installation, and the Columbus Water Reservoir Project. Juan Cortes and Myriam Acevedo of Filmtex provided insight into the latest advancements in geomembrane manufacturing. Camillo Marulanda of Ingetec Colombia, wrapped up the morning session with an informative presentation on the use of geosynthetics for dam applications.
The second half of the presentations continued the focus on various applications of geosynthetics in containment applications, as well as geomembrane seaming. For example, Marina Villaroel of Alphard (Canada) gave an informative presentation on geosynthetics for mining application. Julio Ferreira of TRI Environmental reviewed the best practices for developing leak location surveys and obtaining a zero leak containment system. Finally, Jorge Herrero Vega of Cesla Mexico, wrapped up the event with a presentation reviewing the the general concepts of geomembrane seaming followed by an interactive welding demonstration that allowed attendees to weld and test geomembranes.
Many attendee questions, comments, and experiences made the course a great success. The topics and speakers from the successful short course are shown below:
FGI Introduction, Activities, and Current Research - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)
Introducción sobre la FGI, sus actividadese Investigación actual
Introduction to IGS Colombia Chapter - Mauricio Rendon (IGS Colombia)
Introduccióna la sociedad internacional de geosintéticos, capítulo Colombia.
FGI PVC Spec: scope, origin &description of properties - T. Stark (U. ofIllinois)
Presentación Especificación FGI 6119 para PVC
Factory Fabrication & Field Installation - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)
Fabricación de Páneles en Planta e Instalación
Geosynthetics in Tunnel Applications - Chungsik Yoo (IGS President)
Aplicaciones de Geosintéticos en Túneles(Videoconferencia)
PVC Geomembranes Manufacturing - Juan Cortes & Myriam Acevedo (Filmtex)
Producciónde Geomembranas de PVC
Columbus Water Reservoir & Geomembrane Seaming - T.Stark (U. of Illinois)
Reservorio de Agua en Columbus, OH y sellado de geomembranas.
Geosynthetics in Dam Applications - Camillo Marulanda (Ingetec Colombia)
Aplicación de geo sintéticos en Represas.
Geosynthetics in Waste Management - T. Stark (U. of Illinois)
Geosintéticos en Aplicaciones de Manejo deDesechos
Geosynthetics in MiningApplications - Marina Villaroel (Alphard,Canada)
Geosintéticosen Aplicaciones de Minería
Leak Location for Fabricated Geomembranes - Julio Ferreira (TRI/Environmental)
Detecciónde fugas en Geomembranas
General Concepts of Geomembrane Seaming - Jorge Herrero,(Cesla Mexico)
ConceptosGenerales de Sellado de Geomembrana
Welding Demonstration - JorgeHerrero, (Cesla Mexico)
Práctica de sellado
The FGI is dedicated to advancing the use of fabricated geomembranes through education, research, and technology transfer. The FGI is an industry sponsored consortium of manufacturers, fabricators, installers, designers, regulators, and material suppliers of fabricated geomembranes. For more information on the FGI, please visit www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com
FGI Webinar: Temporary Landfill Covers - Design & Construction
September 10, 2019 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CDT
Free to Industry Professionals & Students
1.0 PDH Available
This webinar will focus primarily on Prefabricated Landfill Covers and associated ballast systems. More specifically, it will provide a brief introduction into the geomembrane fabrication and installation processes, typical applications where these covers are used, how they perform, as well as considerations for material selection, project designs and construction techniques. Lastly, the presentation will review specific case studies throughout the United States to highlight these cover systems and designs.
Register for FREE today: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9200528983946286859
FGI Creates FREE Online PDH Credit Program
The FGI has created a program that will offer engineers one (1.0) Professional Development Hour (PDH) of credit for each FGI webinar that is viewed from the FGI Online Webinar Library. The FGI currently has thirteen (13) webinars in its online library and is offering an additional four (4) live webinars this year: CCR Regulations and Policy (August 6), Temporary Landfill Covers (September 10), Lightweight Aggregate (October 15), and Geomembrane Wrinkles (November 12). A PDH certificate will be issued to anyone who attends a live webinar or views a pre-recorded webinar in its entirety. Each live webinar will be added to the FGI's online library after the initial airing date.
For more information or to view the list of webinars, please visit: www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/resources/webinar-gallery
To learn more/register for the August 6, 2019 webinar on CCR Policy and Regulations, please visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4561903830197164300
FGI To Offer Coal Combustion Residuals Short Course
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is offering a one day short course on Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs): Current Regulations and Solutions. The short course will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at the Center City Building near the University of North Carolina Charlotte campus. Attendees will gain a broad knowledge of current and emerging CCR regulations, local experience managing CCRs, and the advantages of using geosynthetics to manage and dispose of CCRs. Course attendees will earn seven (7.0) PDHs. Lunch and break refreshments will be provided. The short course is offered in collaboration with S&ME, Wood, University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The short course will feature dynamic presentations from representatives of Consumers Energy, Duke Energy, American Electric Power, UNCC, The Ohio State University, Wind Defender, Wood, TRI, DemTech, Leister and S&ME.
For more information or to register, please visit: https://www.geosynthetics-ccrs-charlotte-2019.eventbrite.com
Early bird registration discount ends October 15, 2019.
FGI Welcomes Poly Fab LLC
The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) is pleased to welcome its newest fabricator/installer member, Poly Fab LLC (www.polyfabllc.com). Poly Fab LLC was established to supply step and panel geomembranes to the water transfer energy companies in several of the shale project areas in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Oklahoma. PolyFab’s primary lining products are fabricated polyethylene geomembranes and non-woven felt pads. Their FGI liaison is Enrique Saavedra, Business Development Manager, who can be reached at sales@polyfabllc.com. Please help us welcome PolyFab LLC to the FGI!!!!
