SOIL BIO-ENGINEERING

FOR
ROADSIDE SLOPE STABILIZATION
AND
EROSION CONTROL WORK

Shankar Rai
Soil Bio-engineering Consultant
Email: shankar.rai@gmail.com
Why Road Access ?
Road construction practice
Road construction practice
 Mass balance ???

Road

Road

Road
Road
Road
Slope instability and erosion in roadside slope
Road Consequences
Road • Loss of agriculture land and
forest
• Increase landslides after road
construction
Road • Contributing sedimentation

Road
Conventional engineering practice for slope stabilization work
Bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
 Bio-engineering structure for slope stabilization work

Contour lines of Diagonal lines of Vertical lines of Rill and ridge formation and
grass plantation grass plantation grass plantation chevron grass plantation

Grass seeding Turfing Tree and shrub plantation Shrub/tree seeds sowing
Bio-engineering structure for slope stabilization work

Fascines Brushlayer Palisade

Live check dam Bamboo plantation

 Bio-engineering structure for slope stabilization work

Sub-soil drain Bolster

Jute/coir netting

Gabion wall Cement masonry/dry Stone soling

stone/composite wall
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Application of bio-engineering techniques for roadside slope stabilization
Failure bio-engineering
 Reason of failure
• Lack of proper assessment of site,
• Lack of correct combination of
geotechnical/civil engineering and
bio-engineering structures,
• Selection of inappropriate plant
species,
• Quality of work.
• Timing of work,
Site assessment and design procedure for successful bio-engineering

Site Assessment Procedure

Stage 1 Examine erosion and failure process

Stage 2 Examine the cause and mechanism of failure

Stage 3 Examine the depth of failure

Stage 4 Examine the material formation of slope

Stage 5 Examine the rock orientation, weathering grade and degree of

fracture
Stage 6 Draw plan and profile of site

Stage 7 Divide the slope into the segments

Site assessment and design procedure for successful bio-engineering

Site Assessment Procedure Stages

Stage 8 Examine the cause and mechanism of failure of each segments

Stage 9 Examine material drainage of site or site moisture

Stage 10 Examine the history and life progression of slide
Stage 11 Determine required engineering functions to stabilize the site

Stage 12 Altitude and aspect of site

Stage 13 Annual rainfall of site or region

Stage 14 Land use pattern

Stage 15 Existing structures if any

Stage 16 Surrounding vegetation

Bio-engineering design
Bio-engineering design
Quality of work for successful bio-engineering
Quality of work for successful bio-engineering
Quality of work for successful bio-engineering
Quality of work for successful bio-engineering
Cost comparison of conventional and
Bio-engineering technique for slope
stabilization
Conventional Engineering Solution Designed
Road

NRs. 12,201,833.00 Sindhupalchowk district rate FY 2059/060

Bio-engineering solution design and applied

Total expenditure of work NRs. 5,875,704.00

Road
Road
Cost comparison of conventional and Bio-
engineering technique for slope
stabilization

Conventional Engineering Bio-engineering Cost

Cost NRs. 12,201,833.00 NRs. 5,875,704.00
 For Bio-engineering to be successful

• Combined skills required (Geology, geomorphology,

civil engineering and plant ecology and structures
knowledge and practical experience is essential)

• Critical examination of the cause and

mechanism of failure and material
characteristics and drainage system.
 For Bio-engineering to be successful

• Ensure correct combination of geotechnical and

bio-engineering structures
• Ensure that timing of works are appropriate.
• Use appropriate type of plant species.
• Ensure the quality of work.
• Ensure Community involvement for
sustainability.
 Challenges

• It takes time for the plants to reach maturity to

perform required function,
• Bio-engineering work is related with seasons,
• Constant attention is required, in order to keep
the system performing its designed
engineering function,
• Constant protection of plants required against
grazing and cutting.
 Conclusion
• Bio-engineering solution have proven to be
very successful
– Cost effective
– Environmentally friendly
– Socially and economically advantageous
– and sustainable in solving range of slope
instability problem, from simple to complex
landslides in roadsides of Nepal.
 Conclusion

• Bio-engineering and with the application of bio-

engineering techniques for slope stabilisation
works are a special field of engineering
requiring combined knowledge of geology,
geomorphology, civil engineering, good
knowledge on plants and above all practical
experience is essential.
ANY QUERIES PLEASE?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND
ATTENTION Shankar Rai
Soil Bio-engineering Consultant
Email: shankar.rai@gmail.com