Shoreline erosion protection. How do Geotubes® stack up against other methods?
Does a massive Geotube® geotextile structure provide better shoreline protection than rip rap, armor stone or the other hard stabilization methods that are typically used to prevent erosion at waterfront properties?
There’s a lot of evidence to show that it can. Hundreds of kilometres of shoreline in more than 50 countries are using Geotube technology to protect against erosion caused by storms, waves, flood waters, ice and human activity. Many of these installations have been protecting shorelines for decades and face some of the toughest waves and weather on the planet.
Geotubes provide a resilient and cost-effective way to protect shorelines from erosion. The size, shape, materials and versatility of Geotube systems all contribute to their success in providing superior shoreline protection.
Here’s how:
1) Virtually immovable mass
Geotube containers can measure 100 feet (30.5 m) in length or more and when filled with sand can weigh in excess of 150 tons (136 tonnes). The Geotube and the consolidated sand inside of it, behave as a single, massive structure that is nearly impossible to be moved by waves or ice.
2) Durable, impact-resistant technology
Geotube containers are designed for long-lasting shoreline protection and are manufactured using high-strength polypropylene multifilament yarns that have been rigorously tested for fabric strength, seam strength, and resistance to UV exposure, souring and punctures. In extremely demanding applications, Geotube containers can be further protected with polyurea coatings or even conventional barriers such as riprap or armour stone.
3) Establish a softer, living shoreline
The tri-composite material traps soil and seeds, which helps to establish a covering layer of vegetation. Geotubes are often used in hybrid engineering approaches that combine soft or green nature-based methods with the structural properties of the Geotubes to create living shoreline stabilization systems.
4) Deflective elliptical shape
As ice advances towards the shoreline, the elliptical shape of the Geotube® containers can deflect it and prevent movement of the strucutre. Conventional barriers made of materials such as armour stone or timber face the ice head-on and can be dislodged or heaved up.
5) Simple installation
Geotube containers are filled in-place with a slurry mix of sand and water or locally dredged material. This simple process enables Geotube® containers to be installed much more quickly than conventional approaches such as armour stone or concrete. Once filled and installed, Geotube® containers with crimpled fibers enable soil to become entrapped and help establish vegetation that can further stabilize landscape as part of a “living shoreline” approach.
A success story:
High water, waves and storms washed away much of the vegetation and sand dunes around a home on the shore of Lake Huron. See how our Geotube Shoreline Protection system provides a massive, virtually immovable structure that defends against erosion, enables beach restoration, and over time, can become a natural-looking living barrier.
Watch the video case study to learn more.
Learn more about Geotube® Shoreline Protection.
Contact us to discuss a Geotube Shoreline Protection System for your property.