FROM SEDIMENTATION TO GEOSYNTHETIC BAGS

CONTROLED FILLING OF SOLIDIFYING RIVER SILT

Geosynthetics in real time

The unique approach towards a complete technological solution in isTech REISS+ and SEISS+ product is shown at the end of the pumping hose controlled by the excavator in real time by a controlled filtration system between discharged water and processed silt.

IsTech technology allows real time silt processing in a way that allows for an immediate controlled filling of standardized and certified geosynthetics. Silt can be processed either for immediate use or transport to a dedicated dumping ground.

Complete processing of sedimentation is based upon the pipeline of a floating excavator – real-time precision pump control. The process of silt solidification allows us to control the discharge of redundant water (filtering of particulate matter) back into the nature. In case of direct geosynthetic filling this technology allows for a controlled flow of silt, reduced consolidation timings and increased geotextile stability in separate fillings.

Continuous operation execution

Geosynthetic parts are a composite of stabilized river and lake silt filled into geosynthetic bags. This product in prepared with a purpose for creating a silt filled geosynthetics used for stiffening, embankment construction and erosion prevention.

Continuous execution of sediment pumping rivers and lakes has until now been a time limited, technologically problematic and an environmental problem for most investors and maintenance companies. Using currently known methods of marsh decomposition there has not been any technological improvement using a continuous approach of further processing and filling of geosynthetics at the same time as pumping with a purpose of deepening lake and river bottoms.

Until now the built interfaces of temporary or sustainable silos – lagoons for dumping pumped and processed sedimentation in current practices present big spatial and construction requirements that from an environmental standpoint present a questionable action of conformity standards and legal order. From 2015 forward isTech technology (isTech group) referentially proves the options of beneficial sedimentation usage – sea, river and lake silt which are classified as waste.

Technology upgrade

Because of differences in typologically specific structures between river/lake silt and sea silt development headed into technological upgrades for every one of the mentioned types of sedimentation/silt. Besides isTech REISS (riverbed excavation instant sedimentation solution) in isTech SEISS (seabed excavation instant sedimentation solution) development on real projects with confirmed investor references is also isTech REISS+ and isTech SEISS+ technology that adds the much needed real time upgrades with measurable technological and economic opportunities unlike current practices.

Both technologies are comparable as they both allow quick stabilized subsidence of silt mixture in the first phase and separation or wringing in the second phase – with or without geosynthetics filling. However, because of its unique approach towards silt pumping from the bottom with its specific typological differences, the approach towards a technological solution is completely different, except for the part of a (patented) technological solution of processing silt mixture in the pipeline with focus on primary stabilization.

Uniqueness of the technological solution isTech REISS+ and SEISS+ is seen in the final processing of silt mixture at the end of the pumping pipe of a pumping excavator in real time control over discharge water and silt residue. With this we have solved the only technological problem of direct silt mixture processing on the pipline in real time by pumping (the process of excavation) independently from the pumping excavator capacity.

This allows a solidification with an immediate separation of silt and water, with which the full capacity of the pumping excavator is used as its work is undisturbed. At the same time, we can separate a minimal amount of 80% of particulate matter from the water pipe, which can lead back to the water body.

The whole process is done on the pipeline therefore there is no need for allocation of additional space and at the same time we can continue with silt processing right after water separation with the intention of additional thickening and with that the minimization of volume in real time.

Environmental friendly technology and references

As we have already predicted in expert articles in September of 2018 that project manager visions would change in course of development of presented solutions, this has happened. We can also support these multiple referential executions in Port of Koper from year 2015 forward and with referential operations on Drava River for the uses of DEM and its concessioner RGP in year 2017.

Besides the completed zero impact on nature condition and reusage of waste into building material with the help of isTech technology, the whole segment of environmental energetics has become so executable exactly because of isTech technology in construction of comprehensive solutions while executing maintenance work on watercourses in connection with assurance of a stable water-energetic potential and connected environmental restorations that until now were not possible because of legal limitations.

A special chapter in this part presents an environmental view of solving the problem of sedimentation in a way that preserves and improves the nature position of water plant and animal world. This is discussed in the project on Drava River in year 2017 on the location of Duplek lake in the county of Duplek in spring of 2020 – restoration with the construction of embankment with composite river, lake silt filled in geosynthetic bags which the investor was the county of Duplek and the executor C&G and IS.

C&G Ljubljana d.o.o. has in the frame of its business model of environmental energetic restoration since 2017 approached towards creating a professional foundation and methodology for solving the problem of sedimentation on Drava River for use cases of DEM and RGP by which we followed the directions of EU on circular economy – zero waste approach towards environment was in this case referred to BOT practice and referential achievements of the manufacturer TenCate in Nederland.

Attachment to IS group and the connection to isTech technology was a natural decision after now discovered, completed and referentially executed project. In this case the collaboration with county of Duplek and Directive for waters RS we followed up with execution of restoration of flood barrier on Duplek lake which was not restored after the water intrusion from Drava River with all the sedimentation in Duplek lake.

The project was technologically and geomechanically designed for the use case of proving that the pumped lake sedimentation can be a material for filling of geosynthetic bags. The material is created by pumping river, lake silt with processing on the pipeline using the method isTech REISS and isTech REISS+. With the mentioned method the river, lake silt is solidified in a way that allows for a simple filling of geosynthetics where it is consolidated and stabilized without any excess water.

Such a part (geosynthetic bag filled with drained silt) presents a product prepared with the intention that river, lake silt after filling and consolidation in geosynthetics can be used as a building composite with the use case of stiffening, construction of flood barriers and prevention of erosion in coastal areas. The usefulness of such a material is already shown in our first conclusions of all the needed research that we are conducting for acquiring the Slovenian technical agreement (in order with the law) with the certified manufacturer. Besides the evidential rating for usages in construction, such a part proves that the advantage of little to no water residue after filling using isTech REISS+ in this case of acquiring a legal environmental license for such technology.

Provable usability of geosynthetic bags filled with drained silt is on its own opening new possibilities as we can change the basic fillings of geosynthetics to various residue by-products in industry, electrical-industry or public waste industry.