Low Impact/Sustainable Solutions

Green Solutions to Geotechnical Engineering Issues

Sustainable SolutionsBackground, Research, and Philosophy

HWA has been doing soil characterization and performance research for The Hendrikus Group since 2000. The Hendrikus Group is one of the world leaders in environmentally-conscious landscaping, wetlands creation, site restoration, and has created an array of Erosion Control Soils (ECS) manufactured from natural materials. Coupling the use of ECS with sound engineering practices results in a diverse array of unique and environmentally-sustainable applications to address engineering challenges.

  • Steep Slopes
    ECS can be manufactured to remain on slopes up to about 60 degrees without eroding; even before vegetation has taken root. With conventional factors of safety we routinely design 45 degree slopes.
  • Very Steep Slopes
    We have designed stable slopes up to 80 degrees by hanging a layer of ECS and vegetation over the bank with cables and wire mesh.
  • Walls
    We have also designed geosynthetic-wrapped and stacked-bag walls that approach vertical; some of which reach heights of tens of feet. The face of the wall is covered with ECS, which when seeded, results is a near vertical vegetated surface.
  • Permeable Driving Areas
    HWA has assisted with design of soil mixtures consisting of large angular rocks which are compacted with loose planting soil to create driving surfaces. The result is something that looks like a lawn but does not rut even under the weight of truck traffic. Cut Slopes in Ice-Rich Permafrost Additionally, we have developed techniques to keep cut slopes in ice-rich permafrost from thawing and collapsing as they do under traditional construction techniques.

 

Selected project examples below, see Menu "Projects" tab for additional project descriptions:

Bank Stabilization Using Environmentally Neutral Techniques

Kitsap County Stormwater