Geomat – Erosion Control and Revegetation

Geomat is a non-woven polymeric structure that protects bare soil and land against erosion. It also ensures revegetation in damaged slopes.

It has high tensile strength and can withstand heavy water flow, which reduces soil erosion. Compared to unprotected banks, it can reduce the amount of eroded land by 50%.

Erosion Prevention

Erosion causes many problems such as clogged waterways, loss of soil particles, mudflows and loss of agricultural land. Therefore, erosion control is a critical aspect of landscape design. One of the most effective ways to prevent erosion is by installing Geomat. Geomats have a stable surface that prevents the displacement of soil particles, thus helping to reduce erosion by 50% when compared to unprotected areas.

The special circular structure of Geomat helps to keep seeds, soil and rock in place and enhances revegetation by promoting a dense green Geomat surface. It also helps to replace the traditional shotcrete slope protection engineering method by using a more environment-friendly product that is easy to transport and install.

It is important to scarify the surface of a slope before installing the Geomat to ensure that it is properly integrated into the soil. It is also recommended to tamp down the geomat during installation to achieve a compacted, well-draining layer of soil.

Geomats are biotechnical composite technologies used to protect slopes and reservoir margins. This paper aims at analysing the survivability or durability of geomats after long-term monitoring of their performance in reservoir slopes at Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPP). The degradation of the geomats was investigated through thermal analysis, such as thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both ageing methods demonstrated that the exposure to UV radiation in the field and in the laboratory increases the decomposition temperatures.

Water Retention

With their high tensile strength, geomats can resist heavy water flows. They disperse water evenly and reduce the kinetic energy produced by water flow, which helps to reduce erosion by 50% in unprotected areas. In addition, geomats are long-lasting polymeric structures that do not extract dangerous chemicals from the surrounding environment, so they can be used repeatedly without compromising their performance or chemical composition.

It is important to scarify the drain field base well before installing com- ponents. It is also helpful to position GeoMat laterals parallel to ground surface contours when possible, as it makes it easier to keep drain field base elevations uniform.

When designing a system, it is important to maintain a minimum of six inches of uniform cover over the drain field. This will help to ensure that the Geomat remains protected and allows for consistent oxygen transfer into the drain field system. Construction staples should be placed sparingly in the system and only on top of the mat, as they can pierce and weaken it.

During the design phase, it is necessary to determine how much water will be needed to operate and maintain the system. This will help to avoid over-sizing the drain field or purchasing equipment that is not required. It is also a good idea to set up float switches that control the high water alarm, pump on/off and low water alarm/redundant off.

Stabilization of Soil Interface

Erosion on reservoir margins causes losses in energy production in Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPP). To control erosion processes, it is essential to implement techniques that ensure the reduction of sediment deposits inside the reservoir. This is why the use of geomats is very important for reservoirs because it prevents sediment accumulation and enables the re-cultivation of the soil.

The 3-dimensional synthetic erosion controlling mats are light and easy to handle, making them ideal for a wide range of applications. They can be placed before the erosive process starts or in areas where revegetation needs to be accelerated. The densely fused strands in the mat mimic the root matrix and bind, trap and retain soil particles as well as fertile humus to provide long-term support and stability.

Geomats can also be used to prevent the formation of landslides, improve soil’s endurability and enhance grass/vegetation growth. They are also used for slope stabilization and in a variety of construction projects. They are available in different materials depending on the environment, incline and soil type of the project.

When used in conjunction with time dosing, the mat’s surface area to void space ratio increases oxygen transfer from the soil to water. This enables the removal of pathogens, B.O.D, and nutrient nutrients that are found in wastewater. This leads to increased treatment efficiency.

Reinforcement

Geomat is a synthetic product shaped like a three dimension erosion controlling carpet. It is a useful product for solving various technical challenges in constructions and infrastructure’s maintenance like line protection, slope reinforcement as well as environment recovery and other special applications. The special three dimensional structures in Geomat make it easy to protect the soil’s surface while letting plants’ root sprout grow easily without being disturbed.

Unlike other low profile systems, the GeoMat utilizes an internal core and hygroscopic membrane to retain water. The core and membrane distribute water flow evenly across the mat hdpe liner manufacturers to reduce kinetic energy and prevent the displacement of small to large soil particles. This also results in a much more uniform soil moisture application and minimizes the point loading associated with other low profile systems.

The Multimat P three-dimensional pre-seeded Geomat is designed to protect slopes from surface erosion, support and speed up revegetation and is suitable for roads and railway embankments as well as the banks of reservoirs, canals and landfills. It comprises 2 external layers of flat polypropylene geogrids and a central layer folded to give thickness and solidity. It is surrounded by a vegetative pre-seeded felt which is inserted into the geomat to encourage vegetation growth and help stabilize the soil surface. It is installed with a minimum of 6 inches of approved sand underneath in a bed configuration.