Straw Blankets Sewn With Recycled Plastic Threads for Erosion and Urban Sediments Control |
| |
| Authors: | Terezinha Cássia de Brito Galvão Aloisio Rodrigues Pereira Arnaldo Teixeira Coelho Paula Rodrigues Pereira Joaquim Fernandes Teixeira Coelho |
| |
| Institution: | 1.Spelman College,Atlanta,USA;2.Civil and Forestry Engineer, Soil Science,Deflor-Bioengenharia Ltda,Belo Horizonte,Brazil;3.Sanitary, Environmental and Hydric Resources Engineering,Ingá Engenharia,Belo Horizonte,Brazil;4.Architect Urbanist,Manager Deflor Bioengenharia Ltda,Belo Horizonte,Brazil;5.Sanitary, Environmental and Hydric Resources Engineering,Ingá Engenharia,Belo Horizonte,Brazil |
| |
| Abstract: | Soil erosion, transport and deposition of sediments represent invisible threats that along time can affect negatively the
existing infrastructure of roads and dams, and the quality of air and water resources. In the last decades, a great number
of researches were devoted to study erosion and sediments transportation processes. However, they addressed mostly areas of
agriculture, water impoundments for dams, and land conservation. A lack of studies for erosion processes in urban areas is
evident, in special those aiming to diminish the deposition of sediments originated from urban areas into the rivers and air,
in special as airborne particulate. Traditionally, the costs associated in controlling erosion and sediments in urban areas
are high and in some case, out of the range for most developing countries. Factors responsible for those high prices are the
use of heavy equipments for soil grading and transportation, the use of costly building materials, and the need for employing
more specialized personnel. In the case of gullies in urban areas, another concern is to ensure proper equipment access to
the area for remediation operations. Hereby, it is presented a cost-effective method to recover an extensive gully erosion
area of about 11,000 m2 located in urban area. Estimated sediments released from this area to the water resources and air were estimated on about
66,000,000 tons. In this study area, bioengineering works were performed in 60 days, with hardly any sediment generated outside
the work area resulting from bioengineering operations. A combination of bioengineering techniques were chosen for this study
area, which was a mixture of rigid and biological products including biologs, silt fence, biodegradable straw blankets sewn
with plastic threads derived from recycled PET bottles, among others. An efficient drainage system was implemented for preventing
upland flow, sub-seepage and seepage. Biologs were used aiming to fulfill a double role, the first as barrier to soil sediments
flow, and the second as filler for empty spaces, avoiding expensive grading operations. All engineering works were concluded
in about 60 days at a cost of US0.89/m < sup > 2 < /sup > . This price is cost-effective if compared with the traditional engineering cost of approximately US 0.89/m2. This price is cost-effective if compared with the traditional engineering cost of approximately US 2.92/m2 because it includes extensive use of grading and soil transportation. An environmental advantage of the bioengineering method
is the immediate reduction of airborne particulates. Furthermore, the overall visual aesthetics improved shortly after the
implementation of the works because the bare ground was substituted by native vegetation. After 6 months the vegetation in
the gully erosion area was totally established. Monitoring was performed after 12 months and no erosion and sediment transport
was visually noticed. The ease implementation of this technique without the need for specialized workers in combination with
low prices makes this method a model for developing countries. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
