Moderator: Jennifer Nicks, PhD, PE, Research Geotechnical Engineer, Federal Highway Administration
Geosynthetics, such as geotextiles, geogrids, geomembranes, geocells, etc. are used in a variety of applications and environments. The needs of a project, the site conditions, and the intended function of the geosynthetic, whether it is subsurface drainage, separation, stabilization, erosion control, etc., all influence the product selection. There is uncertainty amongst owners, however, on how to specify a geosynthetic for a project and the associated minimum criteria for its properties that will meet project requirements. There is also debate within the community on the test methods and standards used to evaluate products. This panel discussion will bring together experts in product testing and evaluation, quality assurance, testing standards, and specification development. Participation by all attendees will help shed light on the nuances associated with geosynthetic specifications for various applications.