Bio - Engineering

1
What is Bio - engineering:

Bio-engineering is the use of living vegetation, either

alone or in conjunction with the civil engineering
structures and non living plant material, to reduce
shallow-seated instability and erosion on slopes.

2
Engineering function of Bio-engineering System

Support Catch
Armour
Reinforce

Anchor

3
Purpose of bio-engineering

Protect slope
Prevent erosion
Prevent soil loss
Prevent landslides
Retain soil moisture where needed
Reduce soil moisture where not needed

4
Where is bio-engineering used?

Bare slopes
Steep slopes
Unstable slopes
Above roads
Below roads
Erosion gullies
Around water sources
Waterlogged slopes
Areas of soil tipping

5
 Advantages of bio-engineering

• Slopes get stronger over the years (civil works g

et weaker)
• Community can grow plants
• Easy to maintain
• Grows naturally
• Plants can repair themselves if damaged
• Plants can produce food and firewood
• Avoid soil erosion and loss of land

6
Types of bio-engineering works:

• Grass planting
– Contour planting
– Diagonal planting
• Turfing (green Bermunda grass)
• Shrubs planting
• Trees planting
• Bamboo planting
• Brush layering
• Live check dams
• Live stakes
• Jute netting
• Sub soil drains
• Stone soling
• Fencing
• Sheeting

7
R4D and bio-engineering

• Bio-engineering included in all contracts

• Very simple or very complicated
• CMG maintenance
• Local species of plants
• Local nurseries
• Bio-engineering Working Group
• Guideline
• Plant at the start of the rainy season
• Takes time to establish
• Need to water
• Fences to protect from animals

8
Grass planting:

9
Brush layer:

10
Bamboo Planting:

11
Live stakes:

12
Bio-engineering Typical

13
 Pictorial presentation of some of Bioengineering works:
Bio Engineering is defined as “the use
of living plant materials to construct
structures that perform an engineering
function”. Bio-engineering is widely
used for slope stabilization and soil
conservation

Reinstated
Reinstated gabion
gabion wall
wall and
and constructed
constructed sub-soil
sub-soil drain
drain in
in herringbone
herringbone pattern,
pattern, trimmed
trimmed off
off Brush
Brush layer
layer of
of hardwood
hardwood cuttings
cuttings inin tipping
tipping site
site of
of road
road
overhanging
overhanging slopes,
slopes, coir
coir netting
netting and
and grass
grass planted
planted in
in landslide
landslide scar,
scar, brush
brush layering
layering of
of
hardwood
hardwood cuttings
cuttings and
and shrubs
shrubs plated
plated on
on debris
debris slope.
slope.

14
Obrigadu Wain

15