Biography

     Dr. Giroud, worked in geotechnical engineering and foundation design in the 1960s and authored 80 publications on this subject. A pioneer of geosynthetics since 1970, Dr. Giroud is recognized worldwide as a geosynthetics leading expert. In 1977, he coined the words “geotextile” and “geomembrane”, thus starting the “geo-terminology”. In 1982-83, he initiated the formation of the International Geosynthetics Society (IGS), of which he was President until 1990. A former professor of geotechnical engineering, Dr. Giroud has been Director (1978-1983) of the Geotextiles and Geomembranes Group of Woodward-Clyde Consultants, a major consulting firm. In 1983, he co-founded Geosyntec Consultants, of which he was Chairman of the Board. Since 2001, Dr. Giroud works as an independent consultant. He was Chairman of the Editorial Board of Geosynthetics International (1994-2021), and Geotextiles and Geomembranes (1984-1994).

      Dr. Giroud, dubbed the “father of geosynthetic liner systems”, has developed design methods for liner systems for landfills, reservoirs, dams, tailings dams, etc. In particular, Dr. Giroud is known for methods for liner leakage evaluation, liner system stability, analysis of stresses and strains in geomembranes, evaluation of geomembrane properties, geomembrane uplift by wind, design methods for geomembrane linings in canals, etc. He wrote three books published as special issues of Geosynthetics International: “Design of Geomembrane Applications”, “Liquid Migration Control Using Geosynthetic Liner Systems”, and “Liquid Collection Systems”. He wrote in 1991 the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Design Standards on Embankment Dams with Geomembranes (302 pages).

      Dr. Giroud has also developed design methods used worldwide for filters and unpaved roads. Dr. Giroud has been involved in the design, performance analysis or expert testimony for more than 150 structures with geosynthetics. He is recognized as a leading expert in the analysis and remediation of failures associated with geosynthetics.

      Dr. Giroud conceived and designed for the first time several geosynthetics applications:  first nonwoven geotextile filter (1970), first geotextile in a dam (1970), first geotextile cushioning a geomembrane (1971), first double liner with a geomembrane (1972), first double liner with two geomembranes (1974), first entirely geosynthetic double liner system with two geomembranes and a geonet leakage detection system (1981). He played a key role in the development of liner construction quality assurance (1983-1984) and the development of exposed geomembrane landfill covers (1995-1998). Dr. Giroud has also extensive field experience gained at construction sites in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Far East, and Australia.

      Dr. Giroud was chairman of the 2^nd International Conference on Geotextiles (1982) and the International Conference on Geomembranes (1984). He served two terms as chairman of the Technical Committee on Geosynthetics of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). He is the author of 450 publications and the editor of a book of case histories on structures with geosynthetics. His work on testing is used in standard test methods (ASTM, GRI). Dr. Giroud is the author of a monumental Geosynthetics Bibliography (1721 pages, more than 10,000 references) and four books on foundation design, including the “Tables pour le calcul des fondations” (1310 pages).

      Dr. Giroud has taught courses on geosynthetics at conferences and for organizations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (which he advised for the development of landfill regulations), US Federal Highway Administration, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Association of State Dam Safety Officials. He has lectured worldwide and has been keynote lecturer at numerous conferences. Dr. Giroud has delivered prestigious lectures, such as Jack Hilf Lecture (1999), Vienna Terzaghi Lecture (2005), Mercer Lecture (2005-2006), Terzaghi Lecture (2008), Victor de Mello Lecture (2016), Széchy Lecture (2017), and Koerner Lecture (2023). In 2005, he wrote the chapter on filter criteria in the book commemorating the 75th anniversary of Terzaghi’s book “Erdbaumechanik”.

      Dr. Giroud has received awards from the French Society of Engineers and Scientists, the Industrial Fabrics Association International, and the IGS (1994 for liner leakage prediction and 2004 for filter design). In 1994, the IGS named its highest award “The Giroud Lecture”, “in recognition of the invaluable contributions of Dr. J.P. Giroud to the technical advancement of the geosynthetics discipline”. In 2002, he became Honorary Member of the IGS with the citation “Dr. Giroud is truly the father of the IGS and the geosynthetics industry”. In 2005, Dr. Giroud has been awarded the status of “hero” of the Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). In 2007, Dr. Giroud has been appointed Doctor Honoris Causa of the Technical University of Bucharest, Romania. In 2009, Dr. Giroud has been elected to the US National Academy of Engineering. In 2010, Dr. Giroud was appointed Chevalier in the Order of the Légion d’Honneur. In 2013, he received the prestigious Felix Centraliens award in Paris; and, in 2014, the IGS Service Award as co-founder of the two IGS journals.

      Dr. Giroud is currently involved in presenting lectures, writing papers and books, providing expert testimony for litigations, participating in research programs, and providing consulting services.

2025.05