Concrete Canvas USA with Nathan Ivy

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Key Points Discussed [00:00:00] - Introduction

• Host Ty introduces the topic and guest, Nathan Ivy.

• Quote (Ty): "We're going to be talking a whole lot of concrete, which I know is near and dear to my wife’s heart as a civil PE."

• Nathan shares the origin of Concrete Canvas and its initial use as rapidly deployable shelters for humanitarian aid.

[00:04:00] - What is Concrete Canvas?

• Concrete Canvas is a flexible, fabric-like material that hardens when hydrated.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "It’s a three-dimensional spacer fabric filled with concrete. You roll it out, anchor it, hydrate it, and in 24 hours, you have between 70 to 80 percent of the ultimate compressive strength."

[00:06:00] - How It Works

• GCCM (Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat) has three thicknesses for different applications.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "Type 1 is the thinnest, used for light erosion control. Type 3 is the thickest and strongest, used for the most extreme environments."

[00:10:00] - Applications & Case Studies

• Used in tank storage facilities, drainage channels, and industrial sites.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "We lined a drainage ditch for Chevron in Houston in just three hours, preventing further erosion and water loss."

• Also used for landfill protection and irrigation canal lining.

[00:16:00] - Installation Challenges & Lessons Learned

• Common installation mistakes: not using anchor trenches, improper surface preparation.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "If you're just going to peg it down, you might as well go to Walmart and buy a tarp because water will get underneath and wash it out."

[00:20:00] - Cost & Efficiency Compared to Traditional Methods

• Costs around $4-$6 per square foot installed, significantly cheaper and faster than shotcrete or poured concrete.

• Quote (Nathan Ivy): "We expect a lifespan of up to 120 years for slope protection applications."

[00:27:00] - Environmental Considerations & Water Flow

• Can be installed underwater and maintains structural integrity.

• Used to reduce seepage in irrigation canals, with one project in California showing a 96% reduction in water loss.

[00:33:00] - Global Uses & Future of Concrete Canvas

• Widely used in Japan for weed suppression around road signs.

• Expanding in U.S. markets like petrochemical containment, drainage, and erosion control.

[00:37:00] - Final Thoughts

• Nathan shares his contact info for technical questions.

• Ty wraps up, mentioning that his wife, a civil engineer, will love this episode.

Key Quotes

• "We expect a lifespan of up to 120 years for slope protection applications. Drainage applications can be more like 50 years, depending on water flow and environmental conditions." – Nathan Ivy

• "We lined a quarter-mile irrigation canal in California in just three and a half days, and after testing, they saw a more than 96% reduction in seepage." – Nathan Ivy

• "Municipalities are always hurting for budget, and this seems like a solution that saves money and lasts longer—why aren’t more of them using this?" – Ty Garmon

In this episode of the Stormwater World Podcast, host Ty Garmon speaks with Nathan Ivy, Technical Manager at Concrete Canvas USA, about an innovative erosion control solution known as geosynthetic cementitious composite mats (GCCM). Nathan explains how Concrete Canvas works, its durability, and its cost-effective applications in stormwater management, petrochemical containment, and infrastructure repair. They discuss real-world projects, including a Chevron drainage ditch relining and an irrigation canal in California that saw a 96% reduction in water seepage. Nathan also shares key lessons learned from installation mistakes and how municipalities can use this