Concrete mats for erosion control in the event of flooding

HUESKER Ltd.

Space2work Warrington
Winwick Quay
WA2 8LT Warrington
United Kingdom

Abdullah reveals

The Gailtal valley in Austria was repeatedly exposed to flooding and high water. To protect the region, a floodable dam area was built, among other things. Our Incomat geotextile concrete mat was used here, which significantly reduces the risk of failure of dykes and dams in the event of flooding. This innovative solution protects against internal erosion processes and offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional rockfill. This not only results in significant savings in transport costs and emissions, but also speeds up project completion.

Geosynthetics as the key to flood protection
Effective flood prevention means taking safe and sustainable measures in the long term. With our geosynthetic building materials, erosion-protected dams and dykes can be built quickly and efficiently. In this way, they offer reliable flood protection, even in the event of heavy rainfall.

Challenges in the Gailtal Valley
The Gailtal is a region in Austria that has been affected by flooding several times in recent years. After the devastating flood in October 2018, in which 39 houses and a dam collapsed and a bridge was destroyed, damage of €233 million was estimated. Heavy rainfall caused dams to break or overflow uncontrollably, causing severe damage throughout the Gailtal.

Our solution for future challenges
In order to prevent future flood damage and to control the overflow of the Gail in the event of flooding, an overflow section was planned and constructed near Rattendorf. It was necessary to protect the overflow channel with an erosion-resistant top layer to ensure the stability of the dike during flood events. Our Incomat Crib geotextile concrete mat was chosen for its numerous advantages:

Innovative erosion control and protection of the overflowable dam area
Reduced environmental impact and emissions by avoiding long transport routes for stone fills
Increased speed of project realisation, resulting in cost savings for the municipality
Easy installation and long service life
Possibility of greening Incomat Crib for a natural appearance and improvement of ecology

Working 8 hours per day, the entire length of the dyke with an area of 3,600 m² (4,300 m² of concrete mesh) was filled within six days. This reduced both the cost of renting equipment and the working time of personnel on site.

Incomat Crib - the vegetated bank protection
Incomat Crib consists of two high-tensile synthetic fabric layers arranged to form a tubular grid pattern. The gaps in this system are not filled with concrete; instead, these highly permeable recesses allow soil moisture to penetrate, allowing vegetation to grow on them.

Successful implementation and positive results
After hardening, the mats were covered with soil and seeded in order to blend harmoniously into the surroundings. The plant growth that begins soon after completion benefits from the water permeability of the erosion control system below. The natural look corresponded to the client's wishes and blends aesthetically into the landscape. Both the contractor and the customer were very satisfied with the smooth process.

My personal contribution to environmental protection
As an engineer in hydraulic engineering, I am increasingly experiencing projects to protect against floods. Due to climate change, heavy rainfall events are becoming more frequent, which means that natural disasters cannot be prevented, but their effects can be significantly reduced – especially by geosynthetics. I am proud to do my part to protect the environment and people.

Your Abdullah