Assessment of soil bioengineering and conventional methods used in road side slope stabilisation works in Nepal

New clearing of marginal lands for food production on the steep slopes, deforestation for commercial timber production and large-scale construction of highways, railways, dams, and mining are the most important man-made reasons for soil erosion and slope failures, which are critical in developing mountainous countries like Nepal. The solution of this kind of problems requires a multidisciplinary approach in consideration of sustainable, environmental and socioeconomic aspects. For developing infrastructure projects different parameters have to be taken into account by the engineers and authorities in the planning and implementation process. Since twenty years of the slope stabilisation works the technique of soil bioengineering has developed and now established as an alternative and additional engineering discipline beside the conventional geotechnical or civil engineering in Nepal. Living plants and auxiliary materials are used as construction material. From the point of view of sustainability, environmental impact, and socioeconomic aspects these “living” soil bioengineering systems provide a lot of advantages. Research work is required due to the still missing of technical standards. This project imparts the knowledge of using soil bioengineering systems for slope stabilisation work. On the basis of initial encouraging results from a previous research project in Nepal a field study will be conducted in this project. A vegetated bamboo crib wall will be compared with a conventional slope stabilisation method (gabion) by means of different parameters. The implemented construction work of the crib wall will be presented as an on site demonstration project. The local people will also be involved in the practical construction work, whereby the public awareness will be increased in the different applications of soil bioengineering techniques. In addition a training program will be organised for the technicians working in the field of soil bioengineering.