Bioengineering Techniques Adopted for Controlling Riverbanks’ Superficial Erosion of the Simplício Hydroelectric Power Plant, Brazil

Vinicius F. Vianna, Mateus P. Fleury, Gustavo B. Menezes, Arnaldo T. Coelho, Cecília Bueno, Jefferson Lins da Silva and Marta P. Luz
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Vinicius F. Vianna: Eletrobras Furnas, Rio de Janeiro 22281-900, Brazil
Mateus P. Fleury: São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
Gustavo B. Menezes: Department of Civil Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
Arnaldo T. Coelho: Ingá Engenharia e Consultoria, Belo Horizonte 30320-130, Brazil
Cecília Bueno: Biological Science and Professional Master in Environmental Sciences, Universidade Veiga de Almeida (UVA), Rio de Janeiro 20271-020, Brazil
Jefferson Lins da Silva: São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
Marta P. Luz: Eletrobras Furnas, Rio de Janeiro 22281-900, Brazil

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: Controlling and preventing soil erosion on slope surfaces is a pressing concern worldwide, and at the same time, there is a growing need to incorporate sustainability into our engineering works. This study evaluates the efficiency of bioengineering techniques in the development of vegetation in soil slopes located near a hydroelectric power plant in Brazil. For this purpose, twelve different bioengineering techniques were evaluated, in isolation and in combination, in the slopes (10 m high) of two experimental units (approximately 70 m long each) located next to the Paraíba do Sul riverbanks, in Brazil. High-resolution images of the slopes’ frontal view were taken in 15-day interval visits in all units for the first 90 days after implantation, followed by monthly visits up to 27 months after the works were finished. The images were treated and analyzed in a computer algorithm that, based on three-color bands (red–green–blue scale), helps to assess the temporal evolution of the vegetative cover index for each technique adopted. The results showed that most of the solutions showed a deficiency in vegetation establishment and were sensitive to climatological conditions, which induced changes in the vegetation phytosanitary aspects. Techniques which provided a satisfactory vegetative cover index throughout the investigated period are pointed out.

Keywords: bioengineering techniques; vegetative cover index; slope’s superficial erosion; phytosanitary aspects; climatological conditions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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