Geomat – Reduce Erosion and Improve Revegetation
Geomat is an aluminum framed, patented waste water filtration and containment system. The low profile system is designed for optimum treatment and infiltration into soil to increase microbial activity, reduce BOD/TSS and encourage evapotranspiration.
Transport lines from the treatment unit to the GeoMat are sloped back or toward the mat to avoid clogging of distal outlet orifices. This ensures continuous aeration of the drain field.
Reduces Soil Erosion
Erosion is a widespread problem that affects the quality of soil, causes environmental damage and results in poor revegetation. Geomat reduces erosion by stabilizing the surface soil layer, encouraging vegetation and ensuring fast re-vegetation.
A three dimensional polymer erosion control mat with up to four layers of UV stabilized polyethylene fibres fused together at their intersections, the geomat’s unique structure traps seeds and soil particles, promotes root growth and provides long term support for a healthy plant matrix. Geomat’s flexible construction and simple handling makes it an excellent choice for projects requiring quick installation of a strong, yet lightweight erosion control solution.
Geomat has been proven to be an effective and durable method of reducing erosion on reservoir margins. By reducing the volume of sediment deposits, Geomat improves the quality of water inflow, reduces the impact force of precipitation and demonstrably increases infiltration.
The performance of the geomats, both with and without sack gabion in six margin sections distributed in three experimental units of Brazilian HPPs, has been evaluated over four years of monitoring through a qualitative evaluation matrix and differential bathymetry. The effect of the geomat on the sediment accumulation and water infiltration in the reservoirs was also studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, accelerated weathering tests have been performed to determine the degradation rate of the geomat in natural and simulated conditions.
Reinforces Soil Interface
Erosion on reservoir margins causes a loss of energy in hydroelectric power plants (HPPs). To avoid this, control techniques must be used. These must guarantee the reduction of sediment deposits inside reservoirs. Geomats are one of these techniques. They act as reinforcement for the soil and ensure revegetation.
They are ideal for slopes, channels and embankments with a high erosion risk. Their low weight allows for easy handling and installation both in dry and wet conditions. They are also not attractive to rodents and bacteria. Their biodegradable backing is made of cellulose, which makes it ecologically friendly.
In order to assess the performance of Geomats, they were subjected to a Geomat continuous monitoring over four years. To this end, they were installed in six margin sections of three experimental units in two HPPs, Porto Colombia and Volta Grande. They were then evaluated with TG and DSC analyses.
The results showed that the Geomats are able to significantly reduce erosion, protect vegetation and provide stable ground surface. Their performance depends on the type of climate, soil, exposure to wind or hydraulic loads. They also depend on the inclination and shape of the slopes. In this way, they can be customized according to each project’s specific needs and conditions. In addition, there are various 3D geomats that meet specific application requirements such as fireproof or permeable.
Stabilizes Slopes
Slopes’ instability leads to landslide and erosion potential. Geomat helps to stabilize them and prevent those risks. It is a high molecular synthetic material shaped as a three dimension erosion control carpet that can be buried under soil and turf. It can increase shear strength, decrease pore water pressure and soil self-gravity to improve slope stability and anti-erosion ability.
It is easy to install by using ground anchors, and it can replace traditional shotcrete slope protection engineering method. It is also more environment friendly. It can be used on a wide range of applications such as road, railway, airport and mining projects.
Another great use for Geomat is in slope vegetation. It can be planted with a variety of plants such as shrubs, trees and grass and it helps to strengthen the slope’s surface. The plants will grow and cover the mat, preventing it from weathering and erosion.
3D vegetation geonet slop protection is a new technology that reinforces the slope’s surface with plant growth. It is a new technique that combines the advantages of plant slope protection and geosynthetic engineering materials. Workers will cover the slope with a layer of Geomat, then plant it with a variety of plants according to a specific combination and spacing. The plants will quickly grow and cover the Geomat, strengthening the slope’s surface and preventing erosion effectively.
Retains Water
Geomat’s dimpled cellular structure is designed geotextile factory to draw water to it through capillary action. It allows the soil to retain more water and reduce pore pressure, helping the ground remain more stable and preventing erosion.
GeoMat is a non-woven, long-lasting and permeable mat that does not extract or transfer any harmful chemicals into the surrounding environment. It is a natural and safe solution to stabilize slopes, provide linear protection and environmental recovery projects as well as construction applications such as soil erosion control and sediment control.
Due to the nature of wastewater treatment systems and their low BOD and TSS effluent, overtime biosolids or slime can build up within the lateral pipes and orifices. This can cause orifice clogging and uneven wastewater distribution. To keep the laterals and orifices clean, locate the distal port valve box and open the lateral sweep on each end of the piping. After a few minutes of running the pump, manually engage each lateral and flush out any visible solids with a small bottle brush.
Unlike regular drainage boards, Geomat+ also contains a layer of non-woven geotextile fabric to filter out soil particles while allowing water to pass through. This can add an extra element of protection and help ensure that the drainage pathways are unobstructed over time, ensuring that the system continues to function at optimal performance.
