Use of vegetation in civil engineering

TLDR

The majority of bioengineering applications focus on restraining surface soil particles or stabilising soil mass, and involve understanding vegetation structure, growth, and its interaction with soil, water, and climate, including physical effects. This guide introduces a range of bioengineering applications relevant to the United Kingdom construction industry. The guide details highway construction uses such as slope stabilisation, erosion control, watercourse and shoreline protection, noise and wind barriers, and runoff control, and provides sections on vegetation basics, properties, selection, establishment, management, and practical applications.

Abstract

This guide introduces a range of bioengineering applications relevant to the United Kingdom construction industry. The majority relate either to the restraint of surface soil particles or to the stabilisation of soil mass. Applications relevant to highway construction include: slope stabilisation, water erosion control, watercourse and shoreline protection (discontinuous flow channels), vegetation barriers against noise or for wind protection, and control of runoff in small catchments. Sections are provided on: a) the basic aspects of vegetation. This includes the theory and understanding of the structure and growth of vegetation and its interaction with the soil, water and climate; b) the physical effects of vegetation. This includes the presentation of the properties and functions of vegetation in an engineering role; c) vegetation selection, establishment and management; d) method of approach and management; and d) the practical applications of vegetation.