On January, 20th and 21st IGG | Internationale Geotextil GmbH organized the 3rd International Erosion Control Conference in Twistringen, Germany with the topic “Slope Stabilization and Slope Greening for Road Construction”. IGG welcomed more than 50 participants from 10 different countries to the event including a visit of Roess Nature Group's production facilities. The participants got the opportunity to see the production of different rolled erosion control products, including Vmax³ turf reinforcement mats (TRM´s) and coir-fiber blankets.

Thomas Roess, managing director of IGG introduced the lecturers which included some long term business partners of the Roess Nature Group as well as two scientists from the German Universities Dresden and Rostock.

Lecture about “Causes and Restoration Measures of Unstable Slopes” by Prof. Dr. Engel, University of Dresden (HTW)

According to Prof. Dr. Engel the destabilization of slopes starts with a local process, for example erosion or surface cracks. Very important is the influence of the water balance and seepage in soil structure. In Germany, embankment construction methods were developed only for newly constructed dams. Methods for the stabilization of damaged embankments are urgently required. For damaged dams new concepts are needed for the stability analysis incorporating the material properties of loose, unsaturated soils. Restoration measures should minimize erosion and improve the tensile strength of the slope surface. Conventional stability analysis methods are not able to take into account the positive effect of a simple slope surface cover which can be considered as a stabilization of the whole soil structure. Prof. Dr. Engel demonstrated in a simulation test (laboratory) how effective a simple slope surface cover protects the soil structure against slope failures.

“Current Developments in Guidelines and Regulations of Erosion Control for Road Embankments” by Prof. Dr. Saathoff, University of Rostock

Prof. Dr. Saathoff is chair of environmental geotechnics and landscape construction, a group specializing in ground construction, roads, flood protection and landscape construction for the development of rural areas. He gave a description of the different national as well as international guidelines and regulations of erosion control for road embankments. Furthermore he introduced different testing methods for erosion control products in Europe and USA, including those developed by the Erosion Control Technology Council (ECTC-USA). Prof. Dr. Saathoff is also the chairman of the workgroup Erosion Control. This workgroup is preparing guidelines for road construction in Germany.

Introduction to the Vmax³ TRM product range and the brand new ShoreMax^TM-System

Tim Lancaster, Director of Technology – Erosion Control & Marine, for Tensar/North American Green (USA), the world’s largest producer of rolled erosion control products, introduced the Vmax³ TRM product range and associated performance testing to the workshop participants. The Vmax³ patented TRMs consist of a 3-D permanent matting structure incorporated with a fiber matrix. Vmax³ provides excellent immediate erosion control in which no soil filling is required. The mulching aspect enhances quick vegetation establishment in severe applications, like steep slopes, shorelines and channels. Compared to traditional riprap or concrete, Vmax³ TRM´s are considered a substantial cost saving solution for permanent stabilization of severe slopes and drainage channels.

Furthermore Tim Lancaster introduced the brand new ShoreMax^TM-System which is used in areas subject to extensive scour or wave impact like culvert outlets, pipe outfalls or shorelines. ShoreMax^TM-System is a UV-stabilized rubber mat which can be installed above or below water lines in conjunction with TRMs, geotextile or sod. ShoreMax^TM with Vmax³ TRM´s can also incorporate coir logs and earth anchors. Areas of use are ponds, lakes, levees, canals, stream shorelines and spillway stabilization.

Examples for Vmax³ as alternative to large stone riprap in rivers

David Holland from Salix (Great Britain) specializes in bioengineering products and applications. Salix is the UK´s largest producer of native plants and pre-established coir planting systems. David Holland showed several Vmax³ projects which Salix has installed in Europe as a direct alternative to large stone riprap in rivers. Vmax³ TRM reinforced vegetation provides greater ecological value and a smaller carbon footprint than conventional hard armor systems.

Helmut Kroth from Tensar-International demonstrated how to build retaining walls and also how to establish vegetation on nearly vertical walls. The Tensar wall and slope systems are green solutions compared to concrete walls or gabions.

Advantages of hydroseeding

The content of the second workshop day was hydraulically applied erosion control products, hydroseeding and the required equipment. FiNN (Ohio, USA) is the innovator of hydroseeding technology and the market leader of equipment for hydroseeding worldwide. The product lines include hydro-seeders, mulches, soil amendments, straw and bark blowing equipment. Peter Hemelaer explained the different types of FiNN machines and their applications and re-vegetation industries. Peter Hemelaer showed the smallest FiNN-hydroseeder (T30) to the workshop participants. IGG is the distributor for FiNN- products in Germany and several other European countries.

HydraCX² Extreme Slope Matrix^® for protection and re-vegetation of severe slopes

In the final session of the conference, Tim Lancaster (NAG) presented HydraCX² Extreme Slope Matrix^® a high performance hydraulically applied erosion control product designed especially for protection and re-vegetation of severe slopes. The product contains a cotton plant material with relatively high nutrient content for vegetation growth enhancement, proprietary polymers for exceptional erosion control. Mr. Lancaster presented the results from recent testing on the HydraCX² product by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials ‘National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (AASHTO-NTPEP)’, where the products demonstrated unprecedented 99,9% erosion control effectiveness. IGG is the exclusive distributor for NAG and Finn products in Germany and several other European countries.

European Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association?

During dinner (traditional German Gruenkohl and Pinkel) of the first conference day, some participants explored the idea to form a European Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) in 2011. Thomas Roess of IGG will discuss this request with IECA officials during the upcoming conference in Orlando.

The 4th International IGG Conference will take place January 2012 in Twistringen, Germany.

The speakers (from left): David Holland (Salix, UK), Tim Lancaster (North American Green, USA), Albert Sorolla (Aquanea, Spain), Thomas Roess (IGG, Germany), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Saathoff (University of Rostock, Germany), Peter Hemelaer (FiNN, USA), Prof. Dr. Engel (University of Dresden), Helmut Kroth (Tensar, Germany) und Steffen Roess (IGG, Germany)

The participants