Gabion Walls

ENTRY DATE: 03.05.2015 | LAST UPDATE: 03.05.2015

CATEGORIES:

  • Disaster Prevention
  • Construction of infrastructure

TECHNOLOGIES MATURITY:

Applicable immediately

Technology Owners:

  • Consultants, construction firms
  • Local governments
  • Non-government organisations
  • E.g. In Afghanistan the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) implemented flood protection walls in collaboration with the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA)

Needs Address

Protection from soil erosion and landslides

Adaptation effects

Protects communities, households and individuals and their assets from the damaging impacts of flash floods

Overview and Features

Gabions are rectangular wall made of heavy steel wire filled with cobble-sized rocks to protect again soil erosion and landslides. The gabion structures are permeable, thereby protecting from flood intrusion while draining flood waters to reduce pressure at the same time.


Figure 1: Gabion Walls to protect from soil erosion and landslides in Nepal (Source: Sthapit and Tennyson, n.d.)

 


Figure 2: Low gabion breast walls showing sequence of excavation, assembly, and filling (Source: White and Franks, 1978)

Cost

  • Construction materials – these can be locally sourced and costs therefore vary according to source
  • Labour costs
  • Maintenance costs

Energy source

Human resources for constructions and maintenance

Ease of maintenance

  • Low maintenance
  • Maintenance necessary after a flood disaster event

Technology performance

  • Beneficial option due to their ease of construction, tolerance of uneven settlement and good drainage characteristics
  • Suitable for vegetative environments, integrating successfully to provide strength over time.
  • Gabion walls are able to withstand harsh environmental conditions
  • The performance of gabion walls can be improved by anchoring the walls to the soil. E.g. flood protection walls in Afghanistan have successfully protected communities from flood waters and their use is being expanded across the country – IOM estimate that 14 gabion walls protected 39 villages, 8000 houses and 1460 acres of agricultural land; 14590 local labourers were employed, contributing to the local economy (IOM, 2014)

Considerations

Comprehensive site assessment prior to construction is necessary to ensure strategic design and maximal protection

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

  • Local materials can be used for construction – gabions are particularly well suited to areas where small rocks and rubble are abundant
  • Provides employment opportunities for labourers and can be built without the use of heavy equipment
  • Community involvement in construction and maintenance enables sustainability of the structure
  • Land tenure for construction may pose some issues, though the benefit of construction for land owners should mitigate this limitation 

Information Resources

FAO, 1998. Watershed management field manual. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/t0099e/T0099e00.htm#cont [28 December 2014]

Hall, J. 2014. Hardscaping 101: Gabion Walls. Available at: http://www.gardenista.com/posts/hardscaping-101-gabion-walls-pros-and-cons [28 December 2014]

IOM, 2014. Humanitarian Assistance Programme Cumulative Report. Available at: http://www.humanitarianresponse.info/fr/system/files/documents/files/HAP%20Bimonthly%20Report%20May-Jun%202014.pdf  [19 March 2015]

IOM Kabul, 2014. IOM Helps Communities in Northern Afghanistan after Devastating Floods. Available at: http://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2014/pbn-listing/iom-helps-communities-in-norther.html [20 March 2015]

Sthapit, K.M. and Tennyson, L.C. n.d. Bio-engineering erosion control in Nepal. FAO. Available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/u1510e/u1510e04.htm [28 December 2014]

White, C.A., and Franks, A.L. 1978. Demonstration of erosion and sediment control technology, Lake Tahoe Region of California, State Water Resources Control Board, Final Report.