The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar, “Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall, Berm and Slope Construction Inspection,” on February 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) member companies and their employees receive discounted rates on all GSI webinar and short course registrations.

The inspection (aka, monitoring) of MSE wall, berm and slope construction using geosynthetic reinforcement is essential for providing a safe and durable system. Such inspection includes three distinct time frames: before, during and after construction. This webinar is focused on what is felt to be the proper state-of-the-practice in this regard. Integral to this task is the contractual method, the various organizations involved and the specific inspector’s tasks.

The materials involved (soils, geosynthetics and facings) will be illustrated, as will be typical inspection costs.

Specific activities before construction (foundation conditions, water regimes, materials conformance testing, meetings and documentation); during construction (leveling pad, drainage, face forming, lift progression and finished soil surface); and after construction (final structure, as-built survey and periodic future inspections) will be emphasized. An inspector certification program will be described.

Webinar participants will learn about contractual variations used in the construction of MSE structures with geosynthetic reinforcement. They will also learn about types and conformance testing of materials used in their construction. The major focus, however, is to learn an inspector’s duties and obligations before, during and after construction of the MSE system. These separate stages are amply illustrated by many field photos of correct practice.

The implications of a failed MSE structure will be discussed from the vantage point of remediation costs, negative publicity and loss of confidence in this type of wall, berm and slope system.

Webinar benefits

• Various contracting schemes will be discussed.
• General inspector’s tasks will be defined.
• The different materials involved in construction will be illustrated.
• Specifics of activities before construction will be illustrated.
• Specifics of activities during construction will be illustrated.
• Specifics of activities after construction will be illustrated.
• Data on failed MSE systems will be described so as to emphasize various areas of specific attention.
• Costs of inspection and remediation of failed walls will be presented.

This webinar will be beneficial to owners of MSE walls, berms and slopes in both the public and private sectors; federal, state and regional geotechnical, transportation, and environmental engineers; engineers from municipal districts and townships; private and municipal land developers; architectural and landscape designers; general civil consulting engineers; testing laboratories servicing these organizations; manufacturers and representatives of geosynthetic materials; contractors and installers of MSE walls, berms and steep soil slopes; academic and research groups; and others desiring technically related information on this important aspect of our constructed infrastructure.

Webinar instructor

George R. Koerner, Ph.D., P.E., and CQQ, is the director of the Geosynthetic Institute. He is in charge of laboratory accreditation, field certification and continuing education at the institute. He also manages several research projects and has published more than 350 technical papers in his 35-year association with polymers used in below-ground construction. Koerner’s Ph.D. is from Drexel University in geotechnical engineering. He is a registered professional engineer and a certified quality auditor. Koerner has received many awards over the years. The most notable being ATA’s Environmental Technologies Award of Excellence 1995, ASCE’s DVGI Geotechnical Engineer of the year in 2004, the title of ASTM Fellow in 2013 and GMA’s first Robert M. Koerner Lecture and Award in 2017.

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Webinars cost $200.00 for GSI and GMA members, and $250.00 for nonmembers. Successful completion of a multiple-choice test after the webinar carries 1.5 professional development hours (PDH).

For more information or to register, visit http://www.geosynthetic-institute.org/webinar.htm.