Geosynthetics and their benefits in reducing vehicle movements and CO2 emissions in construction projects

Geosynthetic materials made from natural or synthetic materials are used in various construction projects, particularly in civil engineering. These materials are specifically designed to perform functions like separation, filtration, drainage, reinforcement, and containment. They come in many forms, including geotextiles, geomembranes, geogrids, and geocells.

Reducing Design Thickness

One of the significant benefits of using geosynthetics is the ability to reduce the thickness of various layers in construction projects, such as roads, embankments, and landfills.

1. Roads and Pavements:

In traditional road construction, multiple layers of natural materials like gravel or crushed stone are used to build up the base and sub-base layers. These layers are designed to support traffic loads and prevent soil deformation. However, by using geosynthetics, the thickness of these layers can be reduced without compromising strength or durability.

Geogrids, for example, can reinforce the base layer, allowing for a thinner layer of aggregate while still maintaining the same load-bearing capacity. This not only reduces the amount of material needed but also speeds up construction and lowers transportation costs.

2. Landfills:

In landfill design, geosynthetics can be used to create a liner system that prevents leachate (liquid that drains from the landfill) from contaminating the surrounding environment. By using a combination of geomembranes and geotextiles, the need for thick clay liners can be reduced or even eliminated. This means less excavation and less material to transport, which translates into lower costs.

Cost Savings

The reduction in material thickness directly leads to significant cost savings in several ways:

1. Less Material Use:

Thinner layers mean that less material needs to be mined, transported, and placed. This reduction in material use not only saves on material costs but also on labour, machinery, and time.

2. Lower Transportation Costs:

Reducing the thickness of layers means fewer loads of material need to be transported to the site. This can lead to considerable savings, especially if the site is in a remote location where transportation costs are high.

3. Faster Construction:

With less material to place and compact, construction can be completed more quickly. This can reduce labour costs and allow the project to be finished ahead of schedule, potentially leading to earlier revenue generation or use of the facility.

4. Reduced Export/Import of Landfill:

In landfill projects, reducing the thickness of layers means less material needs to be imported to or exported from the site. Importing soil or aggregates for cover material or drainage layers can be expensive, especially if they need to be sourced from distant locations. Exporting excavated material can also be costly and may require disposal in an environmentally regulated manner. Geosynthetics help minimise these needs, leading to further cost reductions.

Environmental Benefits

Using geosynthetics also brings several environmental advantages:

1. Reduced Carbon Footprint:

Less material to transport means fewer vehicle trips, which directly translates into lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions. This is particularly beneficial in projects that require large amounts of material, such as road construction or landfill development.

2. Less Excavation:

By reducing the need for thick layers of natural materials, the amount of excavation required is also reduced. This means less disruption to the natural landscape and ecosystems, as well as a reduced need for landfills to dispose of excavated material.

3. Sustainable Resource Use:

Geosynthetics are designed to be long-lasting and durable, products. This contributes to a more sustainable use of resources, as the materials are engineered for extended service life.

4. Improved Environmental Protection:

In landfill applications, the use of geosynthetics can provide superior protection against leachate leakage, safeguarding groundwater and surrounding ecosystems from contamination. This is crucial in maintaining environmental quality and preventing long-term ecological damage.

Conclusion

Incorporating purpose-designed geosynthetics into construction projects offers a range of benefits, including reducing the thickness of design layers, lowering costs, and minimising environmental impact. The reduced need for natural materials, faster construction times, and enhanced environmental protection make geosynthetics an attractive solution for modern civil engineering challenges. By adopting these advanced materials, projects can achieve better performance while also contributing to sustainability goals.

This hopefully provides a clear and concise explanation of how geosynthetics can better the environment by preventing large movements of natural resouces and replacing with a man-made product which is overall less use of CO2 and is better suited for the environmentally sensitive nature of Construction projects

Stratec have built a significant knowledge base which is available for designers and contractors to refer to with an unbiased view of providing the best solution available.