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Geotechnical News • September 2014
31
GEOSYNTHETICS
In 1997 the journal comprised two
special issues: one on Geofoam and
the other on papers from the 10th GRI
conference. In 1998 Dr. R.K. Rowe
became Editor and Chair of the Edito-
rial Board, a position that he holds
today.
The first volume (1984) of Geotex-
tiles and Geomembranes had six full
length original articles (by Giroud;
Andrawes, McGown and Kabir;
Koerner, Bove and Martin; Gamski;
Heerten; and Rowe and Soderman). In
2012 (the most recent year for which
full statistics are available), a total of
63 articles were published, the rejec-
tion rate was 65%,
Thus Geotextiles and Geo-
membranes provides a leading outlet
for geosynthetics related research, and
is an essential source of information
for those wishing to keep up-to-date.
As one of the two IGS sponsored
journals, access to Geotextiles and
Geomembranes is free to IGS mem-
bers (and hence CGS members who
select the Geosynthetics Division as
their first choice option). Knowledge
regarding geosynthetics has evolved
enormously in the 30 years of Geotex-
tiles and Geomembranes and there is
no slowing of the pace as an inspec-
tion of recent issues of the journal
will show. Each year there are more
challenging applications and new
products, and each year we learn more
about the effects of not using geosyn-
thetics properly. Journals like Geotex-
tiles and Geomembranes help keep the
practitioner at the leading edge and are
essential to the professional develop-
ment of those involved in the geosyn-
thetics industry.
Geosynthetics International
Richard Bathurst, Editor
Geosynthetics International
is received by all members of the IGS
as part of their membership (and hence
is also received by CGS members
who select the Geosynthetics Divi-
sion as their first choice option). It is
published in e-only format six times a
year, by Thomas Telford Ltd., the pub-
lishing division of the UK Institution
of Civil Engineers, having been previ-
ously published by the International
Fabrics Association International
(IFAI) out of St. Paul, Minnesota. The
topics covered include the range of
geosynthetic materials (including nat-
ural fibre products), from a perspective
of research, behaviour, performance
analysis, testing, design, construc-
tion methods, case histories and field
experience. The first volume of 1994
contained ten full length articles in
two issues, on the cyclic load-exten-
sion behaviour of geosynthetics, the
effect of solar radiation of geomem-
branes, carbon black content, installa-
tion damage, durability, performance
monitoring of reinforced soil struc-
tures constructed with poorly-draining
backfill soil, deformation mechanisms
in reinforced soil, landfill covers, and
pavement applications, with author-
ship from Canada, the USA, Brazil,
France and the United Kingdom. By
2013, the last year for which com-
plete data are available, the volume
had grown to contain thirty-two full
length articles in six issues, with a
truly diverse international authorship.
The growth in number of published
articles, and diversity in contributing
authorship, is both a testament to the
global use of geosynthetics technology
in ground engineering and a strong
indicator of the benefit to be gained
from knowledge dissemination to the
members of the IGS.
A closure to these four
contributions
by Jonathan Fannin
It is very clear that we have an exten-
sive body of technical and case-study
information on geosynthetics, much
of which has been published in the
form of conference papers and peer-
reviewed journal articles. A significant
body of this content (including the
proceedings of the IGS conferences,
and issues of the journal Geotextiles
and Geomembranes, and the journal
Geosynthetics International) is readily
accessible to members of the Interna-
tional Geosynthetics Society (IGS). In
Canada, IGS membership is automati-
cally included with a selection of the
CGS Geosynthetics Division as your
primary technical Division when join-
ing or renewing membership with the
Canadian Geotechnical Society.
Richard Bathurst, Editor of
Geosynthetics International and
Past-President of the IGS