Vegetation Use in Slope Stabilization
Soil bioengineering represents a sustainable approach to civil engineering challenges and combines geotechnical principles with technical design to tackle slope instability and other geotechnical issues. Unlike other geotechnical solutions, soil bioengineering is a process that utilizes structural properties of vegetation to reinforce groundwork. Roots in plants create networks that bind soil particles together and uphold the strength of a area while improving drainage.
Using vegetation in slope stabilization and erosion control varies based on the conditions on a site. This leads to a variety of different methods being used, like live staking, brush layering, and vegetated geogrids. Live staking is a process where engineers establish root systems that will develop over a long span of time. In brush layering, engineers alternate layers of soil with branches that creates immediate reinforcement. For vegetated geogrids, which are used in severe conditions, they combine geotextiles with plant material, which offers immediate structural support which transitions to a more natural system when vegetation matures.
The use of vegetation holds a variety of benefits. Economically, studies have proven that vegetation-based geotechnical approaches reduces project costs by up to 50 percent compared to traditional alternatives. Also, soil bioengineering systems improves over time when roots grow older, rather than needing maintenance. Along with this, these systems allow for improved water quality (although it may not be substantial), with roots filtering water.
The implementation of vegetation use in geotechnical engineering requires a great deal of work between civil engineers, soil scientists, and ecologists. Proper timing of installation is also vital, as most projects need to be established during periods where vegetation can securely grow. While soil bioengineering may not be appropriate for all scenarios, especially geotechnical challenges in areas where vegetation is too weak or cannot grow, the use of it in civil engineering is an evolution towards more sustainable infrastructure.
