Use of Geo-tubular Mattress in Flood Mitigation and Bank Erosion Problem - Case Studies

Over the years, significant progress in the use of geosynthetics as a short term and localized flood mitigation has been witnessed. Numbers of geosynthetics polymeric products like geotextiles, geotubes, geocells, geocomposites etc., are helping us to conserve resources and protect the environment. The geotubular mattress filled with sand is another versatile solution increasingly used as revetment along riverbanks, channel slopes, waterway sections and impoundment slopes for erosion protection. Geotubular mattress is manufactured with special integrated composite on the exposed surface to provide a green fleece texture and moisture retention that encourages the rapid establishment of vegetation and shielding UV attack. It replaces the conventional method of using rock, boulders, cement, concrete, steel etc., thereby reduces the emission of the greenhouse-gas from the construction process.

This paper is based on some of the key advances over the past years in using geotubular mattress as environmental friendly solution for flood mitigation and river bank erosion control. Various case studies illustrating the use of geotubular mattress at different vulnerable reaches has been discussed (i.e. Left & right bank embankment along the Ranganadi River, strengthening of Biswanath-Panpur embankment along the Brahmaputra River and construction of geo-dyke in breach portion of Matmara, North Lakhimpur). Geotubular mattress is designed for high strength, pore size, abrasion resistance, UV resistance etc., for protecting the vulnerable reaches.

Through the case studies an attempt is made to disseminate the solutions which may be rapidly deployed on field to achieve maximum benefit to the community, typically through the use of on-site river bed material, innovative geotubular mattress and construction techniques. It is a challenge for the professionals to build stable structures within constrained time against natural disasters like recurring floods.