The use of soil bioengineering to overcome erosion problems in a pipeline river crossing in South America

Abstract

Exposed pipelines are susceptible to geotechnical–hydraulic phenomena and to a high-risk level of failures caused by scouring or erosive processes in the river bed and river banks. Currently, in the prevention, maintenance, or remediation of river crossings, traditional engineering techniques are generally applied, which often leads to insufficient solutions concerning technical, financial, and environmental issues. The soil bioengineering methods, using vegetation in combination with inert materials for soil stabilization and protection against erosion, can be an alternative, a complementary tool, or even a substitute for traditional engineering practice. In this context, this work aims to present one case study of an exposed pipeline in which were used some soil bioengineering approaches to prevent natural erosion processes at pipeline river crossings. Compared to conventional methods, the soil bioengineering techniques used in the presented case study have proved to be advantageous in economic, environmental, and aesthetic aspects.