Soil erosion can have significant environmental and logistical impacts on a construction site. A few potential causes of erosion are water runoff, changes to the elevation of the site, and the movement of construction equipment. Below are some common methods used for erosion control at construction sites.
ACCESS MATS
Frequently used on sites with wet, soft ground, these mats serve as portable work platforms that allow heavy equipment to access the site without the need for aggregate to build pads.
ARTICULATED CONCRETE BLOCKS
Fitting with joints, these special concrete blocks are used along waterways and drainage channels to hold soil in place. The interlocking joints allow these blocks to conform to the natural shape and slope of the embankments.
MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH WALLS
Using precast concrete walls or panels filled with granular soil, this technique is becoming more popular because of the relative ease of installation and its ability to retain soil on steep slopes.
TURBIDITY BARRIERS
These barriers consist of geotextile membranes that float on the surface next to the banks of a water body and are anchored to the bottom with weights. They serve the dual purpose of preventing erosion as well as water contamination.
GEOTEXTILES
Geotextiles are woven or unwoven fabrics that are used to hold soil in place. Different types of geotextiles are utilized for different levels of drainage, filtration, or reinforcement.
FRENCH DRAIN
This system consists of underground piping that carries surface and groundwater away from the site before it has an opportunity to carry away soil.
SOIL NAILS
A series of steel bars are driven into the soil and capped with facings that resemble retaining walls. This provides a resisting force against slope failures.
RIPRAP
This method uses large stone aggregate dumped over geotextile membranes to prevent erosion in areas where there is a high degree of concentrated runoff, such as around lake shores and riverbeds.
Courtesy Of Yak
Mat, a crane mats
