Short Courses

Geosynthetics Conference offers eight half-day Short Courses. These in-depth courses provide detailed instruction, four PDHs, and are included with full registrations at no additional cost.

Sunday, February 5 | 8 am–noon

Fundamentals of Geosynthetics – Types, Functions, Selection and Performance PT 1 – Materials

Kerry Petrasic, Gannett Fleming

This short course provides an overview of geosynthetic materials. It is independent of the Part 2 course offered in the afternoon session, but complementary.

The course is intended for individuals who want to explore the use of geosynthetic materials in design and construction applications and those who need broad fundamental knowledge of geosynthetic types, materials, and functions.

Topics include basic definitions, material types, polymers used in manufacturing, strengths and weaknesses of common polymers, and the physical structure of geosynthetic products. Materials discussed include geotextiles, geogrids, geocells, geomembranes, and geofoam. Emphasis is placed on selecting the appropriate material class and type based on the desired function.

Geosynthetics in Erosion and Sediment Control and Erosion-Resistant Hydraulic Structures

Joel Sprague, TRI Environmental; Nathalia Castro, Solmax

Geosynthetic-enhanced erosion and sediment control systems are widely used in temporary construction applications, steep-slope stabilization, shoreline protection, and coastal erosion control.

This course covers rolled erosion control products, sediment retention devices, geotextile filters beneath hard armor, anchored geotextiles, geocellular containment systems, fabric-formed concrete revetments, and sand-filled geosynthetic mattresses, tubes, and containers.

Participants will learn how these technologies are used to provide cost-effective protection against erosion caused by rainfall, runoff, stream flow, and shoreline wave action.

Landslide Remediation with Geosynthetics – Evaluation Methods and Construction Techniques

Stephan Gale and Nathan Lichty, Gale-Tec Engineering

Increased rainfall, greater rainfall intensity, and prolonged wet periods have created slope instabilities along roadway embankments and river and stream side slopes. This course examines the causes of instability, evaluates alternative solutions, and presents construction case histories featuring resilient remediation methods.

Projects reviewed balance geotechnical requirements, hydraulics, permitting, wetland impacts, special river designations, cost, site constraints, and aesthetic goals. Solutions range from riprap and gabion walls to vegetation-faced geosynthetic-reinforced soil slopes, erosion-resistant facings, shallow soil anchors, and grouted hollow-bar reinforcement.

Marketing in the Geosynthetics Industry

Sam Allen, President, International Geosynthetics Society and TRI Environmental; Tamara Tuttle, Atlas International Consulting

The global geosynthetics industry is relatively small but highly specialized, with companies providing products, installation services, design expertise, applications support, and testing.

This course examines the challenges of communicating and selling within a technically diverse industry whose professionals come from geotechnical, civil, environmental, chemical, polymer, materials-science, manufacturing, installation, and testing backgrounds.

Participants will explore geosynthetics-industry sales environments, professional associations, industry narratives, and positive sales techniques. The course is intended for business-development and sales professionals, including new hires, early-career staff, and experienced professionals.

Sunday, February 5 | 1–5 pm

AASHTO 2020 Design Methods of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Walls

Dov Leshchinsky, University of Delaware and ADAMA Engineering; Daniel Alzamora, FHWA Resource Center

This course provides an overview of AASHTO 2020 methods for designing geosynthetic-reinforced walls, including the Stiffness Method, Limit Equilibrium Method, and Simplified Method.

The primary focus is internal stability, with additional discussion of complex geometries, surcharge loads, external stability, and seismic design. Instructive examples and the MSEW+ and ReSSA+ programs are used to compare design outcomes.

Construction on Soft Soil Using Geosynthetics

Lilma Schimmel, AECOM; Alex Potter-Weight, Menard USA

This course focuses on using geosynthetics to address construction challenges associated with poor soil conditions.

Topics include geosynthetic-encased columns, prefabricated vertical drains, high-strength basal reinforcement, and load-transfer platforms. Technical information about specification parameters and geosynthetic design is also introduced.

Designing for a Zero-Leak Containment Facility

Abigail Gilson, MS, PE, TRI Environmental; Jeff Blum, Weaver Consultants Group

The assumption that all liners leak does not have to be accepted. Lining-system leaks can result from accidents, installation issues, poor craftsmanship, inadequate material testing, and poor design decisions.

This course takes a holistic approach to short- and long-term leakage. It covers electrical leak location technologies, construction quality assurance, project specifications, and practical methods for designing toward a target leakage rate.

Course Outline:

  • The physics of ELL testing methods and how to maximize effectiveness
  • Fundamentals of Electrical Leak Location
  • Available methods
  • Bare geomembrane methods

Fundamentals of Geosynthetics – Types, Functions, Selection and Performance PT 2 – Applications

Kerry Petrasic, Gannett Fleming

This course provides an overview of geosynthetic material applications. It is independent of the Part 1 morning course, but complementary.

Functions explored include separation, drainage, stabilization, reinforcement, impervious barriers and containment, erosion control, and lightweight fill.

Emphasis is placed on how polymer type, material structure, compatible function, and cost work together across products including geotextiles, geogrids, geocells, geomembranes, geofoam, erosion-control products, and turf-reinforcement products.

Short Courses are subject to change.