Protection of Infrastructure from Surface Erosion and Shallow Hydrogeological Instability Using Nature-Based Solutions

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4. Protection of Infrastructure from Surface Erosion and Shallow Hydrogeological Instability Using Nature-Based Solutions

Extensive studies, experimental trials and hundreds of construction sites worldwideimplemented un-der diverse pedoclimatic conditionshave demonstrated that selected deep-rooted, resilient herbaceous species effectively mitigate both surface erosion and shallow hydrogeological instability, with beneficial repercussions extending to greater depths. This nature-based solution (NBS) represents an optimal technical, economic and environmental approach: it requires no maintenance and entails installation-related energy consumption and emissions up to two orders of magnitude lower than conventional engineering methods. By virtue of their physiological characteristics, these species increase soil shear strength, protect slopes from intense precipitation, transpire large water volumes to reduce pore-water pressure and improve key geomechanical soil parameters. Furthermore, this technology enables the in-situ construction of innovative surface and stormwater capture and regulation systems. It also promotes the homogenization of moisture contentespecially within superficial and subsuperficial layersacross slope profiles. Chromatic variations in the turf, corresponding to differential soil moisture, provide a real-time NBS-based hydrological monitoring tool for slopes.

3rd International Workshop on Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction (RootS2025)

2b. Field scale characterisation of the bio-hydro-chemo-mechanical behaviour of rooted soils