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| 30 Jun 2026 | |
| Written by Gabriella Vita | |
| General |
On June 12, 2026, the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) hosted the IGS Africa-Middle East Corporate Member Case Study Competition, bringing together innovative geosynthetics projects from across the Africa and Middle East region in a live webinar attended by members from around the world.
Chaired by Angelo Ricciuti, Chair of the IGS Corporate Committee, the competition provided Corporate Members with the opportunity to showcase real-world applications of geosynthetics while demonstrating technical excellence, innovation, and sustainable engineering solutions. The event highlighted the important role geosynthetics continue to play in delivering resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable infrastructure.
The judging panel evaluated each presentation based on technical excellence, innovation, practical application, and presentation quality. The winner of this regional competition will be invited to present their project in person during the finals at the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) in Montreal, Canada, where they will compete against the winners from the other three IGS regions for the global title.
Congratulations to Maccaferri and its presenter, Jayakrishnan Puthiya Veettil (Jay), for winning the 2026 IGS Corporate Member Case Study Competition – Africa and Middle East Region with their presentation, Transformative Geosynthetic Applications in the Guinness World Record-Holding Doha Expo House 2023 Project in Qatar.
Following an outstanding presentation and evaluation by the judging panel, Maccaferri has earned the opportunity to represent the Africa and Middle East region at the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) in Montreal, Canada. There, they will present their project live during the competition finals and compete against the winners from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America regions for the title of 2026 IGS Corporate Member Case Study Competition Champion.
The IGS congratulates the team on this outstanding achievement and wishes them every success as they prepare to compete on the international stage.
Presenter: Arnold Kiptum
Project: Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls for Bridge Ramps in Nigeria
Project Highlights:
The Yaba Overpass Bridge project in Lagos, Nigeria, required the construction of three bridge ramps over weak, compressible soils within a densely populated urban environment. Tight construction schedules, limited working space, and challenging ground conditions made conventional retaining structures impractical. ACE Geosynthetics implemented Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls with geogrid reinforcement and independent full-height facing panels, providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution that reduced concrete usage by approximately 65% while minimizing construction time and disruption to surrounding traffic. The completed structures have demonstrated excellent long-term performance, with no evidence of settlement or cracking, highlighting the effectiveness of geosynthetics in supporting resilient transportation infrastructure.
Presenter: Jayakrishnan Puthiya Veettil (Jay)
Project: Transformative Geosynthetic Applications in the Guinness World Record-Holding Doha Expo House 2023 Project, Qatar
Project Highlights:
At the heart of Expo 2023 Doha, Maccaferri delivered an innovative geosynthetic solution that helped create the Guinness World Record-holding Largest Green Roof while supporting the Expo's sustainability objectives. To stabilize steep landscaped slopes in a challenging desert environment, the project incorporated six complementary geosynthetic systems, including geogrids, geocells, geotextiles, geomats, and drainage geocomposites. These solutions enabled the reuse of on-site materials, improved drainage and erosion control, reduced imported fill requirements, and supported long-term vegetation growth. The result is a visually striking and environmentally sustainable landmark that demonstrates the versatility of geosynthetics in modern landscape engineering.
Presenter: Matthieu Aouad
Project: The Case of the Pokuase Interchange, Ghana
Project Highlights:
The Pokuase Interchange in Accra, Ghana—one of the largest and first four-tier interchanges in West Africa—presented significant engineering challenges, including weak foundation soils, heavy traffic, and strict budget constraints. HUESKER's geosynthetic-reinforced Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) wall system provided a sustainable alternative to conventional concrete retaining structures. More than twenty reinforced soil structures, reaching heights of up to 12 meters, were constructed using high-performance geogrids, delivering reduced construction costs, lower carbon emissions, faster installation, and improved resilience to settlement and seismic loading. The project demonstrates how geosynthetics can support the delivery of major transportation infrastructure while minimizing environmental impact and disruption to the surrounding community.
Presenter: Manish Barot
Project: Ground Improvement for the Container Yard and Storage Warehouse at Nacala Port, Mozambique
Project Highlights:
To support the expansion of the Port of Nacala, Mozambique, TechFab India developed a geocell-based ground improvement solution for a new container yard and storage warehouse built over weak coastal soils with a high groundwater table. The TechCell Geocell system provided three-dimensional confinement of granular fill, improving load distribution, increasing bearing capacity, and significantly reducing settlement under heavy operational loads from container handling equipment and trucks. The solution delivered a durable, cost-effective foundation while reducing construction materials, accelerating installation, and lowering long-term maintenance requirements. The project demonstrates the value of geocell technology in delivering reliable and sustainable infrastructure for demanding port and logistics environments.
The presentations were evaluated by an experienced panel of judges:
The IGS extends its sincere thanks to the judges for sharing their expertise and helping recognize excellence in geosynthetics engineering.
The IGS congratulates all four finalists for the exceptional quality of their submissions and thanks the presenters, judges, attendees, and Corporate Members who contributed to the success of this year's competition. The event showcased the innovation, collaboration, and technical expertise that continue to advance the global geosynthetics industry.
We look forward to cheering on Maccaferri as they represent the Africa and Middle East region in the finals at the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) in Montreal this September.
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