Bio-Engineering Practices along Hill Side

Bioengineering is the application of engineering design and technology to living systems. In terms of
flash flood mitigation,it refers to the combination of biological,mechanical, and ecological concepts to
reduce or control erosion, protect soil,and stabilize slopes using vegetation or a combination of
vegetation and construction materials.

Bioengineering techniques used in combination with civil and social engineering measures can
reduce the overall cost of landslide mitigation considerably. Bioengineering offers an environmentally
friendly and highly cost and time effective solution to slope instability problems in mountainous and
hilly areas
and is a technique of choice to control soil erosion, slope failure, landslides, and debris flows, and
thus ultimately to help minimize the occurrence of floods and flash floods.

One of the major differences between physical construction techniques and bioengineering is that
physical structures provide immediate protection, whereas vegetation needs time to reach maximum
strength. Thus the combination of physical and vegetative measures offers a combination of
immediate and long-term protection, as well as mitigation of the ecologically damaging effects of
some physical constructions.

Engineering functions

 ƒ . Catching: Loose materials have a tendency to roll down a slope because of gravity and
erosion, and this can be controlled by planting vegetation. The stems and roots can catch and
hold loose material.

 ƒ . Armouring: Some slopes are very water sensitive. They start moving and/or are easily
liquefied when water falls on them. Vegetation can protect the surface from water infiltration
and erosion by rain splash.

 ƒ . Reinforcing: The shear strength of the soil can be increased by planting vegetation. The
roots bind the grains of soil. The level of reinforcement depends on the nature of the roots.

 ƒ . Supporting: Lateral earth pressure causes a lateral and outward movement of slope
materials. Large and mature plants can provide support and prevent movement.

 ƒ . Anchoring: Layers with a tendency to slip over each other can be pinned to each other
and the stable underlying layer by penetration of woody taproots from vegetation which
function as anchors.

 ƒ . Draining: Water is the most common triggering factor for slope instability. Surface water
drains away more easily in areas with dense rooted vegetation. Thus draining can be
managed by planting small and dense rooted vegetation such as durva grass.

Bioengineering techniques to control slope failure phenomena

Reinforcement: The dense network of coarse and fine roots from vegetation can work as a
reinforcement mechanism on the slope by binding and stabilizing loose materials. The stabilizing
effect of roots is even greater when roots are able to connect top soil with underlying bedrock, with
the root tensile strength acting as an anchor.
Small dense roots also contribute to the shear strength of a slope and thus reduce the risk of
landslides and debris flows. Trees and bamboos can stabilize the whole soil layer in slope terrain,
whereas bush and shrub roots mainly protect soil up to 1 m deep, and grasses can conserve top soil
to a depth of around 25 cm .

Erosion control: Bare soil-covered slopes are easily affected by the splash effect of intense rain
leading to heavy erosion. The surface runoff rate is also very high, and the flowing water can carry the
soil particles away and trigger a debris flow. A dense cover of vegetation protects the soil from splash
effects and reduces runoff velocity, while the roots bind the soil particles, thus hindering
surface erosion.

Soil infiltration: As decayed roots shrink, they leave a gap which provides a passage for water
seepage, which leads water away from the surface and reduces the likelihood of surface soil
saturation. This reduces slope instability and hinders the development of debris flows.

Reducing runoff: Vegetation can be used to reduce runoff in a number of ways including trapping of
moisture in leaves and branches, slowing the flow of water across the rough surface, increasing
infiltration, and through structures designed to deflect flow away from the top of a slope and channel it
along a desired pathway down the slope.

Soil moisture adjustment: Soil moisture is a key factor in slope stability. Vegetation can directly
influence soil moisture through interception and evapotranspiration. In interception, precipitation is
captured by the vegetation canopy and returned directly to the atmosphere through evaporation. The
rate of interception varies according to various factors including leaf type and size, canopy density,
temperature, and humidity. In evapotranspiration, the plants channel moisture from the soil to the
leaves and stems, from where it returns to the air via evaporation. These two processes combine to
reduce the overall soil moisture content.

Choice of techniques: Different bioengineering techniques are used to control erosion and slope
failure in different parts of the world. The techniques suitable for a particular area should be selected
on the basis of availability of resources, site condition, and required function. Table 3 shows the
appropriate bioengineering techniques for controlling different types of landslide and debris flow
hazards.

Common Bioengineering Techniques

Grass Trees & shrub Sowing:

Bamboo broomgrass planting:

Brush layering
In brush layering, live cut branches are interspersed between layers of soil to stabilize a slope against
shallow sliding or erosion. Fresh green cuttings are layered in lines across the slope. As the roots
grow, they anchor and reinforce the upper soil layers (up to 2 m depth), and the foliage helps to catch
debris. Some toe protection structures such as a wattle fencing, fiberschine, or rock riprap may be
required to support brush layering.

Palisades
A palisade is a fence or wall made from wooden stakes or tree trunks. Palisades were used
historically as a defensive structure. In slope protection, palisades are barriers made from live wood
cuttings or bamboo installed across a slope following the contour in order to trap debris moving down
the slope, to armour and reinforce the slope, and to increase the infiltration rate. Palisades are used
to prevent the extension of deep, narrow gullies and the erosion of V-shaped rills by forming a strong
barrier which stabilizes the gully floor and traps material moving. They are also effective on steep
landslide or debris slopes. Palisades can be used on a wide range of sites with slopes of up to about
60°.

Jute netting
Jute netting is a useful way of stabilizing steep slopes of 35–80° where it is difficult to establish
vegetation . Locally available woven jute net is used as a form of armour on the slope and low
growing grass is planted through the holes. The technique is often used in South Asia to reduce
landslides along roads. The aim is to protect the bare slope from rain splash erosion, to improve the
condition of the site, and to enable vegetation to become established by retaining soil moisture and
increasing infiltration.

Log dam
Generally preffered in the areas having higher depth and width.

Advantages of Bio-Engineering:
1) Cost effective
2) Environmentally friendly
3) Socially and economically advantageous
4) Various plants and shrubs can be made available locally.
5) Skilled and Experianced manpower is not required.
6) working becomes easy and safe.
7) Durability Increases.
8)Repair and maintenance also becomes easier.

Following steps are implemented for slope stabilization along hill roads:
1.Make initial Plan
2.Prioritize the works
3.Divide the side or slope into segments.
4. Assess the side
5.Determine civil engineering works
6.Choose the right bio-engineering technique.
7.Design the civil & bio-engineering works.
8.Select the species to use
9.Calculate the required quantities and rates.
10.Finilise priority against available budget.
11.Plan plant needs.
12.Arrange implementation & prepare documents.
13.Prepare the plant propagation.
14.Make the necessary side arrangement.
15.Prepare the side.
16.Implement the civil engineering work.
17.Implement the bioengineering work.
18.Monitor the works.
19.Monitor the works(Routine & Preventive maintenance).