Evaluation of alternatives for channels revetment with geosynthetics and traditional materials

Abstract

Channel revetment systems are essential to drainage and hydraulic infrastructure, traditionally relying on solutions such as riprap, gabions, and reinforced concrete to ensure stability and erosion control. While effective, these approaches are typically material-intensive, costly, and associated with significant environmental impact. This study presents a comparative evaluation of traditional and geosynthetic-based alternatives designed for identical hydraulic conditions, examining their performance in terms of material demand, construction efficiency, cost, and sustainability. Two scenarios were analyzed: (i) granular revetments comparing geocell-confined aggregate with gabions, and (ii) rigid linings comparing concrete- filled geocells with conventional reinforced concrete. All systems were designed for the same discharge, channel geometry, and slope to ensure direct comparability. Quantitative assessments included required material volumes, equipment and labor demands, construction processes, and environmental indicators such as fuel consumption and associated emissions. The results show that geocell-based solutions can provide equivalent hydraulic performance while significantly reducing resource use. In granular applications, the use of geocell-confined aggregate resulted in an estimated 52% reduction in CO₂ emissions associated with aggregate extraction and transport compared with gabion mattress systems. Across both scenarios, the adoption of geosynthetic systems led to cost reductions of approximately 40%, decreases in machine operating hours of about 15%, and reductions in total carbon emissions of roughly 35%. The observed performance is linked to the mechanical contribution of the geocell structure, which enhances load distribution and surface stability through confinement mechanisms and effects such as the Geocell-Induced Protective Zone (GIPZ). These results demonstrate that geosynthetic confinement systems can replace mass- intensive revetment strategies with mechanism-based stabilization approaches, enabling equivalent hydraulic performance with significantly lower resource demand and environmental impact.