1.
COMMON METHODS
USED FOR EROSION CONTROL
AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
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 ground
water away from the site before it has
an opportunity to carry away soil.
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 purposes
of preventing erosion as well as
water contamination.
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.
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.
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