GSI Courses

Note:  All GSI one-day courses carry with them eight (8) professional development hours (PDH’s).

 

Monday, December 7, 2009 and Monday, March 22, 2010


Course Description
Geosynthetics Design in Waste Containment Systems

Instructors:  Bob Koerner and George Koerner

Goal:  This one-day course is focused on the proper design, testing and construction of geosynthetics used in liner and cover systems for landfills, surface impoundments and waste piles.  Included are the following geosynthetics:

  • geomembranes,
  • geotextiles,
  • geonets,
  • geogrids,
  • geosynthetic clay liners,
  • geocomposites, and
  • geopipe.

Course Benefits:  The course provides the latest information on design, testing and installation of geosynthetics in solid waste containment.  Included are considerations regarding both hazardous and nonhazardous materials.  The thrust is design-by-function that leads to the determination of a factor of safety.  Numerous examples are utilized to illustrate different design procedures.  Thus, a quantitative approach toward proper design of geosynthetics in this important environmental area is presented.  Course notes are provided.

Targeted Audiences:  Federal, regional and state EPA regulatory agencies, Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Energy personnel with abandoned (and new) sites involving solid waste disposal problems; private and municipal landfill owner/operators; consulting engineers and testing laboratories servicing these organizations; academic and research groups; manufacturers and representatives of geosynthetic materials; contractors and installers of geosynthetic materials; citizens groups and others desiring technically related information on liners and covers for landfill surface impoundments and waste piles.

 

Tuesday December 8, 2009 and Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Quality Control/Quality Assurance of Geosynthetics – 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
(Inspectors Certification Exams given on December 8, 2009 and
March 23, 2010 @ GSI after course)
Separate registration required for exams.
Please see Inspectors Certification Exams for details.


Course Description
Quality Control/Quality Assurance of Geosynthetics

Instructors:  Bob Koerner and George Koerner

Goal:  This one-day course is focused on the quality control and quality assurance of geosynthetics as placed in permanent and/or critical applications.  Specifications and testing are emphasized.  It focuses on both the manufactured geosynthetics and on the installation processes.  Applications are mainly in the waste containment area, i.e., landfills and surface impoundments, but applicability to walls, slopes, dams, canals, etc., will also be emphasized.  Included are the following geosynthetics:

  • geomembranes,
  • geosynthetic clay liners,
  • geosynthetic drainage systems (geotextiles and geocomposites),
  • vertical cutoff walls,
  • ancillary materials & appurtenances

 

Course Benefits:  The course provides the latest information on manufacturing and installation of all types of geosynthetics.  It follows closely the U.S. EPA Technical Guidance Document (EPA/600R-93/18) of the same title as this course.  Included are manufacturing QC and QA, as well as construction QC and QA.  The course is very descriptive with numerous example situations, case histories and test methods/procedures.  Course notes are provided.

 

Targeted Audiences: Manufacturers and representatives of geosynthetic materials; as well as installers and contractors; manufacturing and construction quality assurance organizations; owners of facilities; engineering consultants; federal, state and regional agency personnel (both environmental and transportation); and private developers.

 

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 and Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Course Description

Design, Analysis, and Failures (i.e, Lessons Learned) of Geosynthetically Reinforced Retaining Walls and Steep Soil Slopes

 

Instructors:  Dov Leshchinsky, Bob Koerner and George Koerner

 

Goal:  This one-day course is focused on the proper design and construction of reinforced retaining walls and steep soil slopes using geogrids or geotextiles.  Included are the following:

  • overview of concepts, aesthetics, costs, designs and performance
  • actual testing for tension, shear, pullout, and transmissivity of geosynthetics
  • computer design using MSEW and ReSSA
  • characteristics of wall failures
  • design of wall and slope drainage systems

 

Course Benefits:  This is a new course, which provides the state-of-practice on design, testing and computer-aided analysis of geosynthetic reinforced retaining walls and steep soil slopes.  The course starts with the basic concept and cost/benefit of geosynthetic reinforced systems, followed by design methodology and performance.    Demonstration of tests will be given insofar as wide width tension, interface shear and geocomposite transmissivity.  Two computer program codes will be explained and illustrated in detail.  The course then goes into the hydraulic design for low permeability soils used for backfilling.  The course notes include all power point presentations and computer code information.

 

Targeted Audiences:  Federal, state and regional transportation engineers and related personnel; engineers from municipal districts and townships; private and municipal land developers, consulting engineers and testing laboratories servicing these organizations; manufacturers and representatives of geosynthetic materials; contractors and installers of geosynthetic materials; academic and research groups; and others desiring technically related information on this important aspect of transportation and geotechnical engineering systems.

 

Course Registration Fee and Form

$275/person for each one-day course up to one month prior to course
$325/person thereafter
$175/person - GSI members

Registration Form

The above courses will be held at:
Geosynthetic Institute
475 Kedron Avenue
Folsom, PA  19033
(approximately 4.5 miles from Philadelphia International Airport)


For information on Courses contact:

Marilyn Ashley