Environmentally and technologically friendly ways to protect watercourse banks and channels
Protect the bank of a river, canal or any other watercourse from water and wind erosion by cladding it in a concrete or stone (made of gabions) shell. It will look and cost solid. Then why do many countries legislate against "stone" solutions? Shoreline condition 3 months after protection work
There are enough reasons to switch from "stone" to "green" technology.
Eco-friendliness.
"Green" structures are usually finished with a turf layer. All materials provide optimum conditions for vegetation to thrive on the surface of the structure. A "green" surface (as opposed to stone and concrete) will not disturb the natural microclimate (ecosystem) of the river. It won't overheat in the sun during the day and won't give off excess heat at night, turning the surrounding landscape into a desert. The inhabitants of the riparian zone and the river itself will not lose their native habitat.
Vegetation takes organic matter from the river as fertiliser The water in the river will be clearer and the channel will not have to be cleared of silt. It is the environmental indicators that have led many countries to legislate against encasing rivers and canals in concrete and stone.
Economy
Concrete reinforcement will always be the most expensive option. A gabion filled with stone is only profitable if cheap local stone and cheap labour are available at the site.
"Green” technologies are a serious advantage in terms of the price of materials and the work performance cost. The volume of local materials in these constructions is usually between 80% and 95%. Technology for riverbed and bank protection using geomats and hydroseeding.
Performance
The basis of "green" protective constructions are state-of-the-art geosynthetic materials: geomats, geogrids, flat and profiled geomembranes, and geodrains. Their low weight makes the entire production process much easier.
The low weight of the materials makes it possible to do without heavy machinery and to work in hard-to-reach areas. You can optimise the structure to suit your capabilities. Basic procedures can be carried out at the production site, and materials can be brought to the site and laid mechanically. Mechanisms can be completely eliminated in hard-to-reach areas ...
Reliability
Protection with concrete or gabion (stone + metal) only looks reliable and durable. Metal and concrete as such are susceptible to corrosion and erosion and in normal building practice protect themselves against these phenomena. Therefore, it is not reasonable to use them for riverbank and bed erosion protection.
But the main problem with concrete and gabion reliability is their stability. Any heavy structure on the riverbank will tend to tipping over or sliding "Green" protective constructions are lightweight and do not overload the base. Not only do they hold up the bank, but they also hold on to it themselves, so they are not prone to tipping over and sliding. The range of materials (geomats, geogrids, geocomposites, geodrains, profiled and drainage membranes, bentonite mats, geomembranes ...) allows us to solve a wide range of engineering tasks and ensure the reliability of structures.
The estimated service life of these materials is 60-120 years.
Repairability
Every builder is aware of the complexity and cost of repairing concrete structures Repairing gabions is also a troublesome task and not cheap. "Green" structures are designed on the principles of "self-healing": areas affected by drought, frost, excessive water or wind damage gradually regenerate themselves. Problem areas can always be corrected with a couple of workers.
Aesthetic qualities
Technology for riverbed and bank protection using geomats and hydroseeding. The surface of the stone or concrete will weather, become dusty, corrugated, salt-laden and stained with organic matter over the years. The cost of restoring the aesthetic appearance of stone surfaces is comparable to the cost of laying new green structures.
"Green" structures will be cleaned and restored by nature itself. Geomats on the surface of the structure filter out organic matter and seeds from rainwater and meltwater, and in spring, after healing from summer and winter wounds, the bank will once again be a joy to the eye with fresh greenery.