July 22–24, 2026 | Bucharest, Romania

Building Expertise in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), in collaboration with our local IGS Romania Chapter, the Romanian Geosynthetics Association (ARG), recently delivered the Professional Development Course: Sustainable Design with Geosynthetics – Roads, Railways & Airfields in Bucharest, Romania.

Held over three days in Bucharest, Romania, the course welcomed 58 participants from industry, academia, and government, bringing together engineers, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, researchers, and students seeking to strengthen their expertise in the sustainable design of roads, railways, and airfields using geosynthetics.

Developed by the IGS Technical Committee on Roads, Railways and Airfields (TC-RRA), the course combined internationally recognized expertise with practical engineering applications, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of how geosynthetics improve the performance, durability, and sustainability of transportation infrastructure. It was the third and final pilot Professional Development Course, following successful pilot courses on Barrier Systems in South Africa and Reinforced Soil Structures in Brazil. 

Learn from International Experts

The course was led by two internationally recognized experts in geosynthetics and transportation engineering:

Professor Jorge Zornberg
The University of Texas at Austin

Professor Erol Tutumluer
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Together, they shared decades of research, engineering expertise, and practical experience on the rapidly evolving use of geosynthetics in transportation infrastructure. This included their exposure to recent transportation projects around the world, offering participants valuable insights into both current best practices and emerging developments in the field.

Bridging Research and Practice

A distinctive feature of the course was its combination of academic excellence with practical engineering experience. Alongside lectures delivered by Professors Jorge Zornberg and Erol Tutumluer, participants learned from industry specialists who presented real-world case histories demonstrating how geosynthetics are being applied to solve transportation infrastructure challenges across a variety of projects and environments.

Three Days of Technical Learning

The course combined fundamental principles with advanced engineering concepts, enabling participants to build both theoretical knowledge and practical design skills.

Day One – Understanding the Fundamentals

The opening day introduced participants to the role of geosynthetics in transportation infrastructure, the engineering principles behind their use, and initiated the detailed coverage of six geosynthetic applications to be covered throughout the program. 

Topics included:

• Types and functions of geosynthetics
• Structural capacity of pavements, railways, and airfields
• Overview of geosynthetic applications in transportation infrastucture
• Romanian framework for the using of geosynthetic products in transportation infrastructure
• Application 1: Geosynthetics for mitigation of reflective cracking in structural asphalt overlays
• Case Histories on asphalt reinforcement

The case histories presented this day, and throughout the course, placed particular emphasis on geosnthetic installation best practices and illustrated the use of design methods. 

Day Two – Improving Performance Through Design

The second day focused on three additional, particularly relevant applications, several of which include particularly recent developments that are critical to the widespread adoption of the geosynthetics in transportation practice. 

Sessions included:

• Application 2: Geosynthetic stabilization of unbound aggregate layers
• Application 3: Reduction of layer intermixing
• Application 4: Moisture reduction within transportation structural layers
• Engineering case studies demonstrating practical applications of the applications covered this day

Participants explored how geosynthetics can significantly improve pavement performance while reducing maintenance requirements and extending infrastructure service life. 

Day Three – Sustainable Solutions for Future Infrastructure

The final day completed the important portfoloio of geosynthetic applications in transporation infrastucture, emphasizing sustainability and resilient infrastructure design. 

Topics included:

• ● Application 5: Geosynthetic stabilization of soft subgrades
  ● Application 6: Mitigation of distress caused by shrink-swell subgrades, including expansive clays
  ● Sustainable transportation infrastructure
  ● Overall review of the course material
  ● Additional engineering case studies

The course concluded with the final examination, followed by a diploma ceremony recognizing participants who successfully completed the program.

Learning Through Real-World Engineering Applications

One of the defining strengths of the course was its emphasis on understanding the mechanisms governing the use of geosynthetics across multiple practical engineering applications.

Throughout the three days, participants explored numerous case studies illustrating how geosynthetics are successfully used to improve the performance of roads, railways, and airfields under a wide range of site conditions. The short course sponsors (Huesker, Naue, Techfab, Maccaferri, and Istanbul Teknik) worked closely with the instructors in advance to deliver practical contributions that were highly integrated with the overall technical program.

These examples bridged the gap between research and engineering practice, helping participants understand not only the theory behind geosynthetics but also how design decisions are implemented in real infrastructure projects around the world.

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability and resilience were central themes throughout the course. 

Sessions demonstrated how geosynthetics can:

• Extend infrastructure service life
• Reduce the need for construction materials
• Improve transportation infrastructure performance
• Enable the use of marginal and recycled materials
• Reduce maintenance requirements
• Lower life-cycle environmental impacts

Together, these approaches illustrate how geosynthetics are helping engineers deliver more resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

Participant Experience & Engagement

The course encouraged active discussion and knowledge sharing throughout the three-day program, giving participants the opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss engineering challenges, and explore practical solutions for transportation infrastructure projects.

Participants particularly valued the opportunity to learn directly from internationally recognized experts while exploring real-world case studies, emerging design methodologies, sustainability, and innovative approaches to the use of geosynthetics in roads, railways, and airfields. The interactive format also encouraged questions, discussion, and collaboration among participants from a wide range of professional backgrounds.

Course feedback demonstrated exceptionally high levels of participant satisfaction:

• 100% of participants said they would recommend the course to others.
• 80.5% awarded the course a perfect 5 out of 5 overall rating, with the remaining 19.5% awarding it 4 out of 5—no participant rated the course below 4.
• 97.6% rated the instructors as "Excellent."
• 97.6% rated the course materials as "Useful" or "Extremely Useful."
• 97.6% found the course content "Relevant" or "Extremely Relevant" to their professional needs.

Some of the written feedback is transcribed below, further reflecting the significant impact of the course on the knowledge gained by attendees. 

Beyond the Classroom

In addition to the technical sessions, participants had numerous opportunities to connect with instructors and fellow delegates.

Coffee breaks, lunches, and a Gala Dinner encouraged conversations beyond the classroom, allowing attendees to exchange experiences, discuss engineering challenges, and build lasting professional relationships. The attendees received not only an electronic version of the material, but also a well-crafted book with all slides in the technical program so notes could be taken throughout the delivery of the lectures and case histories. The impeccable organization provided by IGS Romania sets a high standard and demonstrates the significant impact of careful planning and commitment on technical programs.

These networking opportunities remain one of the defining strengths of IGS Professional Development Courses, bringing together professionals from academia, consulting, manufacturing, and construction to share knowledge and best practices.

Thank You

The International Geosynthetics Society extends its sincere appreciation to:

• The Romanian Geosynthetics Association (ARG) for hosting an excellently organized course.
• Professor Jorge Zornberg and Professor Erol Tutumluer for delivering an exceptional technical program.
• All participants whose enthusiasm, engagement, and thoughtful discussions contributed to three outstanding days of learning and collaboration.

The International Geosynthetics Society also thanks HUESKER, Istanbul Teknik, TechFab, Maccaferri, and Naue for sharing practical engineering case histories that enriched the technical program. 

Continuing the Learning Journey at 13ICG

The success of the Professional Development Course is just one part of the Technical Committee on Roads, Railways and Airfields' (TC-RRA) broader contribution to the global geosynthetics community. Delegates attending the 13th International Conference on Geosynthetics (13ICG) in Montréal this September will have further opportunities to engage with the committee's work.

Building on the knowledge shared during the three-day Professional Development Course, TC-RRA will present a one-day short course, Geosynthetics in Roadway Design, on Sunday, September 13. Led by internationally recognized experts, the course provides an integrated overview of roadway applications, including design methodologies, sustainability benefits, engineering mechanisms, and real-world case studies, making it an ideal opportunity for professionals seeking a focused introduction or refresher in transportation geosynthetics.

Throughout the conference, TC-RRA will also play a significant role in the technical program, contributing to 10 dedicated technical sessions across Monday through Thursday. These sessions will showcase the latest research, innovations, and practical applications in roads, railways, and airfields, highlighting the committee's continued leadership in advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure. The sessions can be identified in the Program at a Glance by the light-yellow highlighted TC-RRA tracks. 

If you haven't already, register your place at the 13ICG to attend these fantastic sessions with TC-RRA. 

Don't forget to browse photos from the course below.