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| 18 Sep 2026 | |
| Written by Gaby Vita | |
| Canada | |
| Events News |
| Richard J. Bathurst | Ivan Puig Damians | R. Kerry Rowe | Sandra Pouliot | Flavio Montez | |||||
| Vanessa Di Battista | Dr. Ing. Daniele A. Cazzuffi | ||||||||
| IGS North America |
The fourth and final day of the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics brought the conference’s themes of legacy, evolution, and revolution together.
From Pietro Rimoldi’s reflections on more than six decades of reinforced-soil development to new research into sustainable infrastructure, alternative materials, installation damage, resilient containment systems, and workforce diversity, Thursday demonstrated how the geosynthetics community continues to learn from its past while preparing for its future.
The day concluded with the 13ICG Closing Ceremony and the beginning of a new chapter for the International Geosynthetics Society, as Daniele Cazzuffi left Montréal as IGS President for the 2026–2030 term.
The final day began with the Bathurst Lecture, delivered by Pietro Rimoldi and titled Per aspera ad astra: the development of soil reinforcement through testing, design, and innovation.
The Bathurst Lecture recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the understanding, design, and application of reinforced-soil systems. It is named in honor of Dr. Richard Bathurst, whose own research and leadership have had a profound influence on the development of reinforced-soil technology internationally.
The title of Pietro’s lecture, "per aspera ad astra", or “through hardships to the stars”, provided an appropriate framework for tracing the development of reinforced soil from its early applications in the 1960s to the sophisticated systems used around the world today.
Pietro reflected on an evolution that began with Terre Armée structures using cross-shaped concrete facing panels and steel reinforcement strips. Over the following six decades, reinforced-soil technology has advanced through extensive testing, theoretical development, improvements in design methods, new reinforcement products, better construction practices, and experience gained from increasingly ambitious projects.
His lecture highlighted how progress has frequently required the profession to address uncertainty, learn from field performance, and question established assumptions. Today, reinforced-soil systems are used in structures of remarkable height and complexity, including projects located in demanding seismic environments.
Pietro also recognized Professor Alan McGown, referred to in the presentation by his initials, “AMG”, as one of the pioneers of geosynthetic soil reinforcement. A former professor at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, McGown began publishing research into the influence of geotextiles on soil behavior in 1977. His work advanced tensile testing of geotextiles confined within soil, understanding of long-term tensile creep, the concept of dynamic interlock between soil particles and geogrid apertures, and the use of numerical methods to analyze soil–geotextile systems. Pietro described these contributions as fundamental to the development of geotextiles and particularly geogrids, for soil reinforcement.
Pietro Rimoldi recognizes the pioneering contribution of Professor Alan McGown to the development of geotextiles and geogrids for soil reinforcement.
Pietro brought an exceptional depth of personal experience to the lecture. During his career, he has contributed to the design of hundreds of reinforced-soil structures around the world and authored or co-authored close to 300 publications, including more than 130 relating specifically to soil reinforcement.
Richard Bathurst was present to witness the lecture named in his honor. At its conclusion, he presented Pietro with an IGS plaque recognizing his achievement in delivering the Bathurst Lecture, a fitting moment between two people whose work has helped shape the field.
The lecture was chaired by Richard Bathurst and Ivan Puig Damians. The accompanying paper can be found in the published 13ICG proceedings.
Following the morning break, the Technical Committee on Soil Reinforcement presented a special session examining both established engineering questions and emerging approaches to reinforced-soil design.
The session was chaired by Fernanda Bessa Ferreira of the University of Aveiro and Ivan Puig Damians of CIMNE, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya–BarcelonaTech, and VSL International Ltd.
Together, its five presentations showed that innovation in reinforced-soil engineering is occurring at several levels: in system design, uncertainty analysis, material development, testing, and the use of more sustainable construction resources.
Yoshihisa Miyata of the National Defense Academy of Japan opened the session with Geosynthetic-Reinforced Soil Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure.
The presentation placed reinforced-soil technology within the broader need to construct infrastructure that uses resources efficiently, performs reliably, and remains adaptable throughout its service life. Reinforced-soil systems can support these objectives by reducing the demand for conventional structural materials, enabling the use of locally available fills, and offering flexible solutions that can accommodate a range of ground and loading conditions.
The subject also reinforced an important message heard throughout 13ICG: sustainability cannot be assessed solely by considering the materials used at the point of construction. Service life, resilience, maintenance requirements, constructability, and the ability to work with available resources must all be considered.
Richard Bathurst then addressed the Influence of uncertainty in geosynthetic stiffness on deterministic and probabilistic analyses using analytical solutions for three reinforced soil problems.
The presentation focused attention on a challenge faced by designers: engineering inputs are rarely represented by a single perfectly known value. Geosynthetic stiffness can vary because of material characteristics, testing conditions, loading duration, temperature, manufacturing variability, and the way a reinforcement interacts with the surrounding soil.
By examining both deterministic and probabilistic approaches, the work encouraged participants to consider not only a calculated result, but also the uncertainty surrounding that result. This type of analysis can provide a more complete understanding of reliability and help engineers identify which assumptions or material properties have the greatest influence on expected performance.
The original journal article can be found here.
Margarida Pinho Lopes of the University of Aveiro explored how 3D printing can support research into new reinforcement forms in Soil Reinforced with Geosynthetics – Prototyping Reinforcements Using 3D Printing.
The published study compared four prototype reinforcement geometries: a solid plate, two geogrid configurations with square apertures, and a nature-inspired spider-web geometry. Direct shear testing was completed at normal stresses of 50, 100, and 150 kPa.
All four reinforcements increased the shear strength of the soil. However, the spider-web geometry achieved the highest shear stress, peak friction angle, and interface force among the prototypes.
These results suggest that reinforcement performance is influenced by more than the total quantity of material or solid surface area. The arrangement of apertures and interaction between the reinforcement and surrounding soil can have a substantial effect on behavior.
The work also demonstrated the value of additive manufacturing as a research tool. By rapidly producing repeatable experimental geometries, researchers can investigate unconventional reinforcement concepts before committing to full-scale manufacturing. The paper is available in the 13ICG proceedings.
Sam Allen of TRI Environmental presented Revealing the Mysteries of Installation Damage Testing.
Installation damage remains an important consideration because the properties measured for an undamaged product do not necessarily represent the condition of that product after placement, compaction, construction traffic, and interaction with aggregate or fill materials.
The presentation drew attention to the relationship between laboratory testing and what happens during construction. A clearer understanding of installation damage can help specifiers select appropriate reduction factors, compare products meaningfully, and ensure that design values reflect realistic site conditions.
It also underlined the continuing importance of carefully designed testing programs. Test procedures must reproduce relevant field mechanisms closely enough to provide designers with useful information while remaining repeatable and practical.
Fernando Portelinha of LabGEO/UFSCar concluded the session with Pullout Behavior of HDPE Geogrid Embedded in Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Backfill.
The published study compared the pullout behavior of an HDPE geogrid embedded in reclaimed asphalt pavement with its behavior in natural sand. Testing was undertaken at normal stresses of 25, 50, and 100 kPa.
Pullout resistance increased as normal stress increased in both materials. At larger displacements, however, the RAP produced greater pullout resistance. The researchers attributed this response to mechanical interlocking and apparent adhesion associated with residual asphalt binder within the reclaimed material.
The study provides encouraging evidence that reclaimed asphalt pavement could serve as an alternative backfill in geosynthetic-reinforced soil systems, subject to appropriate project-specific characterization and design. Reusing RAP in this way could reduce demand for virgin aggregate while creating a productive application for an existing construction material.
The full paper is included in the published proceedings.
Collectively, the special session demonstrated the breadth of current reinforcement research, from the treatment of uncertainty and installation effects to digitally produced prototypes and recycled backfill materials.
During the lunch break, conference participants gathered for Evolution & Revolution of the Workforce: Strategies for Attracting New and Diverse Talent in Geosynthetics.
Moderated by IGS Diversity Committee Chair Sandra Pouliot, the session featured Dr. Hajer Bannour of CTT Group, Dr. Vanessa Di Battista of the University of Sherbrooke, and Flavio Montez of HUESKER North America.
The discussion addressed a challenge that reaches across the entire geosynthetics industry: how to attract, develop, and retain the next generation of professionals while building a workforce that is more diverse, inclusive, and prepared for future needs.
Hajer Bannour shared personal insights alongside observations about workforce demographics, changing talent requirements, and the role that IGS diversity and inclusion initiatives can play. The discussion recognized that attracting new talent requires young people to see a place for themselves in the industry and understand the contribution that geosynthetics can make to infrastructure, environmental protection, sustainability, and climate resilience.
Vanessa Di Battista emphasized the value of outreach and mentorship throughout the education pathway, from elementary and secondary education through university and early professional life. Early exposure to science and engineering can influence career aspirations, while mentors can help students and young professionals understand the opportunities available to them.
The panel also considered the importance of stronger connections between academia, industry, and professional organizations. Universities can expose students to geosynthetics through teaching and research, employers can provide meaningful internships and early-career opportunities, and organizations such as the IGS can create international networks through which younger professionals can learn, participate, and lead.
Recruitment, however, was only one part of the conversation. The panel examined how employer reputation, workplace culture, professional development, and visible career pathways affect whether people remain in the industry. Attracting a broader range of candidates must be supported by an environment in which different experiences and perspectives are respected and individuals have equitable opportunities to progress.
Participants were invited to contribute their own experiences and recommendations, helping connect the discussion to the practical challenges faced by companies, universities, Chapters, and committees around the world.
The session demonstrated that workforce diversity is not separate from the industry’s technical future. A resilient profession needs people with different backgrounds, ideas, skills, and experiences who can work together to address increasingly complex infrastructure and environmental challenges.
Thursday afternoon continued with parallel sessions covering reinforced walls and slopes, embankments and piled foundations, dams and reservoirs, geomembrane welding, roads and railways, and mining applications.
The breadth of the program made it impossible for any one participant to experience every presentation, but several studies illustrated the strong connection between the conference research and real-world performance.
One study examined a bituminous geomembrane installed over approximately 188,000 square meters at the Wasteway 5 Re-Regulation Reservoir.
Samples were recovered from areas that had remained submerged, experienced changing water levels, or remained fully exposed. After eight years in service and following a rare flooding event, the material continued to meet its original specifications, with relatively little variation among the different exposure conditions.
Long-term field evidence of this kind is particularly valuable. Laboratory testing provides essential comparative information, but performance data from full-scale installations help owners and designers understand how materials respond to combined environmental and operational demands over time.
The findings indicate strong stability and resilience under the conditions examined. The study is available in the 13ICG proceedings.
A further case study described the underwater repair of 18 leakage locations using bituminous geomembrane patches and an underwater-curing bituminous mastic.
The work reduced measured leakage from approximately 140,000 gallons per day to around 2,000 gallons per day—well below the permitted level of 17,000 gallons per day.
Importantly, the repairs were completed without draining the reservoir. This avoided the operational, environmental, and financial consequences that could have accompanied taking the facility out of service.
The case illustrates how geosynthetic repair systems can extend the useful life of existing infrastructure and provide targeted solutions to difficult containment problems. The full case study is published here.
Road and railway sessions continued the conference’s examination of moisture-management geotextiles.
Field research in Iowa evaluated road sections exposed to real truck and agricultural traffic as well as changing weather conditions. A wicking or moisture-management geotextile installed between the base and subgrade produced a significant reduction in volumetric water content.
This matters because excess moisture can reduce subgrade strength and accelerate rutting, deformation, and seasonal deterioration. By moving moisture away from vulnerable areas, these materials may help maintain strength and improve the resilience of unpaved roads.
The field study is available in the 13ICG proceedings.
A related laboratory study considered performance during a freeze-thaw cycle. Under the reported test conditions, a conventional nonwoven geotextile specimen experienced 10.0 mm of frost heave followed by 2.8 mm of settlement. The specimen incorporating a wicking nonwoven geotextile showed no frost heave, recording deformation of -1.1 mm, and no subsequent settlement.
Although these results relate to a controlled test and further evaluation under a wider range of conditions will be important, they demonstrate the potential of moisture management to reduce frost-related pavement distress. The freeze-thaw study can be read here.
Research presented at 13ICG also considered the development of a Type III Environmental Product Declaration for a wicking geosynthetic composite in accordance with ISO 14025 and ISO 21930. This work reflects increasing demand for transparent, independently verified environmental data that can support meaningful project-level comparisons rather than relying solely on broad sustainability claims. The EPD-focused paper is available here.
Elsewhere during the afternoon, presenters addressed seismic performance of reinforced slopes and walls, embankments over soft ground and piles, geosynthetic systems for dams and canals, geomembrane weld durability and quality, reinforced asphalt overlays, and mining containment and closure.
Together, these sessions showed an industry working simultaneously on immediate construction challenges and longer-term questions concerning durability, resilience, resource efficiency, and environmental impact.
Members can explore these studies and the wider body of research presented in Montréal through the published 13ICG proceedings.
After four intensive days of technical sessions, plenaries, committee activities, competitions, networking, and social events, the conference community returned to the Auditorium for the 13ICG Closing Ceremony.
The ceremony was chaired by Daniele Cazzuffi and included reflections from 13ICG Honorary Co-Chairs Dr. Kerry Rowe and Dr. Richard Bathurst.
Their comments helped bring the conference full circle. Both have played major roles in the development of geosynthetics research, education, publishing, and professional practice, and Montréal provided an opportunity to celebrate more than 50 years of progress while also examining the challenges that lie ahead.
The ceremony also looked toward future regional and international IGS conferences, where many of the relationships, research questions, and initiatives advanced during 13ICG will continue. These forthcoming gatherings include GeoAfrica5 in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2027, GeoAmericas6 in Cartagena, Colombia in 2028, EuroGeo9 in Porto, Portugal in 2029, GeoAsia (details to be confirmed) and ultimately the 14th International Conference on Geosynthetics, which will form part of GeoEng 2030.
Daniele addressed delegates in his new capacity as IGS President, bringing the conference to a close while setting the tone for the Society’s next four years.
He leaves Montréal as IGS President for the 2026–2030 term, supported by the new Officers and Council and guided by five presidential priorities: representative and transparent governance; international harmonization; efficient communication; applied research and coordination among the Technical Committees; and a more active IGS presence throughout the international scientific and technical community.
Across four days, 13ICG demonstrated that the evolution of geosynthetics is not defined by one material, application, or technical discipline.
It is found in the accumulated experience behind the Bathurst Lecture; in new reinforcement geometries made possible through 3D printing; in the reuse of reclaimed materials; in field evidence gathered over many years; in repairs that allow essential infrastructure to remain operational; and in the effort to welcome a new and more diverse generation into the profession.
The conference also showed that progress depends on a willingness to share both successes and uncertainties. Published research, technical debate, committee involvement, industry participation, mentorship, and international collaboration all help turn individual projects and studies into knowledge that can benefit the wider community.
As the IGS community departs Montréal, the formal program may be complete, but the work continues, in laboratories, universities, manufacturing facilities, construction sites, Technical Committees, Chapters, and projects around the world.
In the spirit of Pietro Rimoldi’s Bathurst Lecture, the journey may take us per aspera, through challenge and uncertainty, but together, the geosynthetics community continues ad astra: toward higher ambitions, better solutions, and a more sustainable and resilient future.
