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Designing and Building Sustainable Multi-Use Trails Using 3D Soil Confinement

Posted by Ashley Beyer

Trails and greenways play a vital role in communities by preserving and creating open spaces for low or no-cost outdoor recreation. They encourage people to get outside and safely explore environmentally sensitive areas that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to access. Trails also function as a safe transportation corridor for those who commute by foot or bicycle.

When talking about recreational trails, it’s also important to acknowledge the economic impact they have on communities. Many recreational trails across the country are revenue-generating tourist destinations that positively impact local economies.

Fundamentals of Good Recreational Trail Design

There are three key considerations to good trail design: reinforcement, drainage, and confinement of surface materials. These are critical components required to withstand repeated traffic loading, resist degradation from erosion, and minimize environmental impact.

Finding economical and low-maintenance solutions to stabilize trails and greenways can be difficult. It is even more challenging in poor soil environments or environmentally sensitive areas where minimal disturbance is allowed, or where paving or filling within an existing floodplain or coastal area is limited by local, state, or federal regulations.

Presto Geosystems’ soil stabilization solutions overcome these challenges by providing low environmental impact options that offer long-term stability for pedestrians, equestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs (ADA-compliant with appropriate aggregate infill), and ATVs. Protecting the trail surface from excessive rutting and long-term erosion while maintaining adequate permeability are key design considerations for many multi-use recreational trail projects.

Build Better Multi-Use Recreational Trails with the GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System

Multi-use trails can be designed to accommodate a variety of traffic, including pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians, and motorized vehicles. Through the confinement of aggregate infill, the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System creates a stable, low-maintenance trail surface. The highly permeable GEOWEB system reduces stormwater runoff and surface water ponding, allowing for natural percolation through the permeable infill and underlying granular base.

The GEOWEB system is fast to install without the use of heavy equipment—even in difficult or remote terrain. Construction vehicles can drive on the surface immediately after infill placement, helping to expedite construction.

The flexibility and versatility of the GEOWEB system make it the ideal solution for recreational trails. Surfaces for multi-use trails are built with GEOWEB sections that are 8.5’ wide by 27’ long, and typically 4” or 6” deep. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) used to manufacture The GEOWEB sections can be easily cut to accommodate any width or length, and its flexible structure allows it to follow the curves and contours of the landscape, seamlessly integrating into the natural environment.

Building Trails Through Protected Areas and Wetlands/Coastal Areas

Designing trails through nature preserves or environmentally sensitive areas may require a low-impact solution to prevent damage to wetlands, coastal areas, and other protected habitats. The load-spreading ability of the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System helps minimize construction and traffic-related damage to a tree’s critical root zone by reducing soil compaction and protecting near-surface roots. The open-graded aggregate surface is highly permeable, allowing moisture to get to the tree’s roots and limiting stormwater runoff.

Case Study: GEOWEB System Provides Flexible, Low-Impact Solution for Texas Shoreline Trail

recreational trailDevelopers in the City of the Colony, Texas, required a flexible and low-impact recreational trail that conformed to the curves and contours of the adjacent shoreline. The trail needed to accommodate traffic from pedestrians, bikes, small vehicles, and equestrians. The GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System with a well-graded, decomposed granite infill met these requirements. This infill material was readily available in the area, though any stone is acceptable as long as it is angular and promotes good drainage.

 

Tendons & Anchors Secure Sections Against Potential Uplift

Due to the high water table and lake level fluctuations, additional steps were taken to protect against potential uplift of the system. During installation, the contractors ran a series of polyester tendons through the GEOWEB panels and anchored them at regular intervals across each section. The use of tendons in conjunction with the stone infill material helped anchor the system, thereby providing resistance to buoyant forces that could otherwise uplift and deform the trail surface in response to elevated water table conditions This practice is recommended in wet environments with saturated soils.

Permeable Surface Infiltrates Water, Reduces Runoff and Ponding

Trails built with the GEOWEB system support green infrastructure initiatives because they do not disrupt the water cycle or impact the groundwater flow. No additional stormwater infrastructure is necessary when the trail surface is permeable, so there is minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

The result was a stabilized, clean trail, suitable for a variety of traffic without needing constant maintenance. The path is clearly delineated while maintaining a natural aesthetic.

Design Support & Resources for Recreational Trail Design

The engineering team at Presto Geosystems works closely with civil engineers, offering free project evaluation services and on-site support for recreational trails and embankments.

ASCE Releases the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card

Posted by Ashley Beyer

infrastructureThe grades are in, and they’re not great. On Wednesday, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released their quadrennial Infrastructure Report Card. America’s infrastructure earned an overall grade of C-minus. While this is a minor improvement over 2017’s Infrastructure Report card, which revealed a dismal grade of D-plus, there’s still a lot of work to be done.

The report card assigns grades to 17 categories of American infrastructure. A staggering 11 out of these 17 categories received a grade in the “D” range, including Roads, Stormwater, Dams, and Levees. This means that the civil engineers who evaluated these categories determined that the infrastructure is “poor, at risk.” According to the report card, this means,

“The infrastructure is in poor to fair condition and mostly below standard, with many elements approaching the end of their service life. A large portion of the system exhibits significant deterioration. Condition and capacity are of serious concern with strong risk of failure.”

These systems are critical to the overall health and wellbeing of our communities, and vital to commerce and economic stability at local, regional, and national levels.

Solutions to Improve America’s Infrastructure Grade

The ASCE identifies three major factors when exploring how to raise the grade of these crucial infrastructure systems: Leadership & Action, Investment, and Resilience. All three are required to ensure our infrastructure can withstand or quickly recover from natural or man-made hazards.

President Biden proposed a $2 trillion climate-focused infrastructure plan that would focus spending on a US green energy infrastructure overhaul, new road and bridge construction, and expanding broadband access.

This type of investment is vital to the improvement of infrastructure reliability and environmental quality for communities across the nation. To make the most of this investment, we need to explore sustainable solutions that will provide a solid foundation and deliver long-term, resilient results.

Geosynthetics for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

The future success of many infrastructure projects depends on the strength of the underlying soil. Through an interconnected honeycomb-like network, 3D geocells confine and stabilize soils that would otherwise be unstable under loading. The GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System is the industry’s most complete geocell system, designed with fully engineered components to withstand the most challenging site conditions. These components are built for strength, durability, speed of installation, and long-term performance.

GEOWEB geocells can be used for shallow ground improvement and mitigation of geotechnical risks, thereby offering a unique solution toward improving infrastructure resilience. The GEOWEB system can also be used to protect the natural environment by providing robust protection against erosion, sustainable stormwater management solutions, as well as green slopes and retaining walls.

The engineering team at Presto Geosystems works closely with civil engineers, offering free project evaluation services and on-site support for load support, slope stabilization, channel protection, and retaining wall applications.

Learn more about how the GEOWEB geocells can be used to improve resilience in the lowest-graded categories.

Roads Video Dams Video Stormwater eBinder

Download the full 2021 Infrastructure Report Card >>

Designing Sustainable Ports & Yards with 3D Geocells

Posted by Katie Bocskor

Stabilization for Higher-Performing Pavements

Ports and intermodal yards in coastal areas are more prone to pavement problems due to inherent soft, unsupportive soils and high water levels. Heavy traffic patterns and the constant weight of loaded parked trailers and stacked containers at these facilities can accelerate the degradation of the paved or unpaved surfaces and subbase materials. The repeated pressure over poor soil conditions results in settlement, ruts, potholes, and even pavement failure. These surface problems require continual, costly maintenance and interruptions to facility operations. But the problem isn’t at the surface—it’s a base stabilization problem.

Transforming Base Materials through 3D Confinement

Creating and ensuring a stable surface supportive of the long-term, heavy traffic needs starts with better stabilization of the base materials. The GEOWEB® 3D Confinement System is built for this function. The system’s deep, cellular network controls both the horizontal and vertical movement of unstable base soils. When vertical loads are applied, active earth pressures in the loaded GEOWEB® cells push against passive earth pressures in adjacent cells to form a stable system. The benefits of confining fill are applied to both base reinforcement and unpaved surface applications.

Permeable Unpaved Pavements

Utilizing the GEOWEB® 3D system at the surface, unpaved yards and roads may be designed with highly-permeable, open-graded aggregate (low fines).

There is a notable environmental benefit with this approach. The pavement layer and base materials perform as an on-site stormwater detention basin, where it can store water in the void spaces for natural infiltration. The storage capability can reduce stormwater infrastructure and stormwater pond volumes. Without fines in the surface layer, drainage is also greatly improved. Water can flow freely through the system preventing pore pressure build-up and global failure of the cross-section. Where clean aggregate sources are not available, salvaged or low-quality aggregate material may be used to reduce material and hauling costs.

Base Reinforcement Under Paved Surfaces

In the base layer, GEOWEB® confinement is beneficial under asphalt, reinforced, and rolled compacted concrete, especially in areas with low CBR subgrades and drainage issues. Reducing stress on the subgrade allows a thinner pavement layer. Differential and long-term settlement is also reduced—resulting in extended pavement life.

Design Pavements for Better Performance

The selection of the GEOWEB® pavement solution is influenced by loading, subgrade soils, traffic frequency, and infill type. A free project evaluation from the manufacturer utilizing the AASHTO design method helps determine design feasibility.

Presto Geosystems Announces New Series of Professional Development Courses

Posted by Ashley Beyer

We are pleased to announce that Presto Geosystems will continue to offer regular online learning opportunities throughout 2021. Our webinars will explore soil stabilization and stormwater solutions for the civil, industrial, stormwater, and construction industries. The series will also include webinars that address improving resilience in industries including landfills, rail, mining, and ports. PDH credit is available for Presto Geosystems webinars.

We will kick off our new series, Geosystems University: Professional Development Courses on Tuesday, Jan. 12 with “Repair & Reduce Slope Erosion with the GEOWEB 3D Confinement System.” Business Development Specialist Jose Pablo George, M.S. will provide an overview of the GEOWEB geocells and how the system works to protect earthen slopes against erosive forces.

For an up-to-date schedule of professional development courses, please visit prestogeo.com/webcasts. New courses will be added on a monthly basis, so check back often to secure your virtual seat.

Great American Outdoors Act Provides Billions of Dollars for Overdue Repairs and Maintenance of U.S. National Parks

Posted by Ashley Beyer

Congress recently passed the most significant piece of land conservation legislation in a generation. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)—a rare bipartisan effort—will provide full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million annually and will put $9.5 billion over the next five years toward the deferred maintenance backlog on public lands. The GAOA provides $6.5 billion specifically for the 419 national park units. President Trump signed the bill into law on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020.

Increased Use and Lack of Funding Caused Maintenance Backlog

This piece of legislation will have a historical impact on National Parks in the United States. The number of visitors to national parks has increased by 50% since 1980, but budgets have remained virtually flat. This imbalance has contributed to a $12 billion backlog of repairs to access roads, trails, campgrounds, monuments, and other parks infrastructure.

Parks and recreational trails have recently become even more popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited indoor entertainment options, people have rediscovered their love for the outdoors. As this trend continues, our national parks must be equipped with the infrastructure necessary to sustain them in the long term.

The Importance of Green Infrastructure & Low Impact Development in Parks

As funds are allocated for maintenance and improvements, park agencies will need to determine how they are going to use this money. The focus needs to be on long-term, sustainable solutions that require less maintenance than the current infrastructure.

The incorporation of green infrastructure into park planning will positively impact the management of water resources and the creation of healthy environments. Stormwater management is an important element of green infrastructure and is beneficial in meeting regulatory requirements and enhancing the public space for the betterment of the community.

National parks are often in environmentally sensitive and undeveloped areas, making a low-impact development solution essential to prevent damage to vegetation and protect wildlife habitats.

Permeable Pavers and 3D Soil Stabilization Provide Sustainable, Low-Maintenance Solutions for Park Infrastructure

There are several opportunities to introduce green infrastructure and low-impact development options into parks through the integration of permeable recreational trails and embankments, green parking areas, and sustainable access roads.

GEOWEB® and GEOPAVE® Trail Stabilization Systems Manage Stormwater and Minimize Disturbance to Natural Environment

Recreational trails built into and through parks allow visitors to safely explore environmentally sensitive areas that would otherwise be difficult to access. The key to planning and building trails into undeveloped or protected areas is using the right reinforcement, drainage, and confinement of surface materials. These are critical components to withstand repeated traffic loading, resist degradation from water, minimize impacts to natural resources, and stabilize adjacent trail embankments.

Through confinement of aggregate infill, Presto’s GEOWEB® and GEOPAVE® Trail Stabilization Systems create a stable, low-maintenance trail surface. The highly permeable systems reduce stormwater runoff and surface water ponding. Both systems perform as on-site, below-ground stormwater retention systems, storing water in the aggregate voids of the pavement layer and base for natural percolation.

Porous Paver Systems Meet Aesthetic and Stormwater Requirements

Expanding parking areas does not have to mean introducing impervious surfaces to natural environments. Presto’s GEOBLOCK®, GEOPAVE®, and GEOWEB® systems provide permanent economical porous pavement solutions in traffic areas where the aesthetics and permeability of grass or aggregate are preferred over traditional paving approaches such as asphalt or concrete. The systems meet a wide range of load support requirements and environmental needs with permeable, aesthetically pleasing alternatives to hard-surface paving.

Build Higher-Performing, Lower-Maintenance Roads into and Through Parks

Roadways are an integral part of park systems, allowing access for both visitors and maintenance vehicles. Today, over 5,000 miles of paved roads traverse the national park system. Maintenance costs on these roadways can consume budgets. When installed under asphalt or concrete, the GEOWEB 3D Soil Stabilization System performs as a semi-rigid beam, creating a stabilized layer over subbase soils. The GEOWEB system reduces the required base material thickness by 50% or more by reducing the loading impact on sub-surface soils. The positive effect on the pavement base layer results in up to 30% reduction in paving depth and an extended pavement life with lower maintenance requirements and costs.

The GEOWEB system can also be used to build site access roads in soft soil environments. The GEOWEB roads are fast to deploy and install—even in remote locations—and frequently allow for the beneficial re-use of on-site fill, resulting in further project cost savings by reducing or eliminating the need for imported fill material. These unpaved roads can be permeable and are inexpensive alternatives to concrete and porous asphalt.

By distributing and bridging applied loads, the GEOWEB system significantly reduces vertical stresses that are typically applied to the underlying soil and root zone. The system offers a low-impact and economical solution to access sites without damaging trees.

The passing of the Great American Outdoors Act offers an opportunity to design sustainable, lower maintenance infrastructure in our national parks that will last another generation. Through the incorporation of green infrastructure and low-impact development systems, these institutions will be able to sustain the continued popularity and growth while preserving the natural beauty of these spaces.

Quick Repair of Track Subgrade & Railroad Right-of-Way

Posted by Katie Bocskor

GEOWEB® Geocells — Quick Fix, Long Term Protection

Be prepared to repair washouts and track issues quickly and economically with one solution. The GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System is a proven 40-year solution, delivering emergency repair for track and railroad right-of-way embankments, bridges and channels.

Stock readily available allows for fast deployment by local railroad crews. Contact us for more information about our GEOWEB Emergency Repair Kit Stocking Program.

  • Wash Out Repair & Armoring:
    Right-of-Way Embankments | Earthen Berms | Bridge Protection | Drainage Channels
  • Variable Infill Options:
    Soil/Vegetation | Aggregate | Concrete

Economical Solution:

  • Less Down Time: GEOWEB material is quickly installed to repair any size emergency and minimize track disruptions.
  • Installation Benefit: Railroads can install the GEOWEB material with their own crews.
  • Reduce Rock Size: Rock confined in the GEOWEB structure replaces expensive rip-rap, reducing aggregate size up to 10 times.

Fast Deployment:

Strong, yet light-weight GEOWEB sections are easy to transport and quick to deploy, even in difficult site access areas. Most repairs do not require large construction equipment.

The GEOWEB structure with select infill stabilizes track ballast, and right-of-way embankments, earthen berms, drainage channels and earth retention structures.

 

Construction & Repair Versatility

The GEOWEB Soil Stabilization System has been successfully employed for railroad construction and repair for over 40 years.

  • GEOWEB sections are packaged in collapsed, easy-to-handle sections and are expanded into place on site.
  • Each GEOWEB section is 8.5 ft. wide x 27 ft. long and covers 230 sq ft.
  • Ideal for constructing and repairing track ballast, access roads, embankments, earthen berms, bridges, channels and right-of-way areas.
  • Low cost, locally available infill may be used instead of more costly imported infill.

GEOWEB STOCK COVERAGE:

  • 1 Pallet = 2,700 sq ft
  • 1 Truckload = 120,000 sq ft

ATRA® Key Connection Device:

  • Connects the GEOWEB sections quickly, easily and safely. Learn more >>


Track Ballast Support for New Track or Repair:
The GEOWEB System stabilizes the ballast material, reducing differential settlement and aggregate thickness by 50% or more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right-of-Way Repair Examples

Washout Repair: Right-of-way draining channel repair. GEOWEB sections are installed quickly in tiers, and may utilize local infill. Vegetated fascia is attractive and eco-friendly.

 

 

 

 

Eroded Shoreline Repair: Track derailment repair. GEOWEB System created a stable platform and tiered retaining wall to stabilize the right-of-way embankment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slide Repair: Track right-of-way repair. The GEOWEB system stabilizes embankments prone to slides from saturated or unstable soils. Aggregate infill allows drainage and minimizes maintenance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get a Quote | Request a Free Project Evaluation | Visit Railroad Website

Build a Stronger Foundation for Infrastructure Projects with 3D Soil Confinement

Posted by Ashley Beyer

It’s no secret that America’s infrastructure is desperately in need of investment. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the country’s infrastructure an overall grade of D-plus in its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card—dangerously close to an outright failing grade. The ASCE estimates that the U.S. will need to spend nearly $4.5 trillion by 2025 to fix the country’s roads, bridges, dams, and other infrastructure.

Our nation’s roads and bridges—commonly referred to as the “backbone” of the U.S. transportation system—received grades of D and C-plus, respectively. These transportation systems are deteriorating due to advancing age, increasing use, and inadequate funding. This degradation leads to a significant cost to users in terms of time, money, and safety.

There are over 4 million miles of road in the United States, and the cost to maintain these roadways can vary greatly by state. Several factors determine maintenance costs, including the type of pavement surface, its current condition, its geographical location, average precipitation, number of annual freeze/thaw cycles, and frequency of use.

Three-Dimensional Geocells Provide Solutions to Aging Infrastructure

The long-term performance of infrastructure construction projects depends on the strength of the underlying soil. Through an interconnected honeycomb-like network, 3D geocells confine and stabilize soils that would otherwise be unstable under loading. The GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System is the industry’s most complete geocell system, designed with fully engineered components to withstand the most challenging site conditions. These components are built for strength, durability, speed of installation, and long-term performance.

Extend Pavement Life with the GEOWEB® System

When incorporated into the base layer under asphalt or concrete, the GEOWEB® 3D Soil Stabilization System dramatically reduces the occurrence of rutting, potholes, and pavement degradation. The GEOWEB® system does this by performing as a semi-rigid mattress and distributing loads evenly over soft subbase soils, significantly reducing deflection and settlement.

Three-dimensional soil confinement delivers higher performance and offers adaptability with varying fill materials, subgrades, and loading stresses when compared to two-dimensional geosynthetic solutions. The positive effect on the pavement base layer results in up to a 30% reduction in required pavement thickness and an extended pavement life with lower maintenance requirements and costs.

 

Build Safer, Lower-Maintenance Road Shoulders

Road shoulders play a vital role in the performance of roads and highways. They provide additional structural support for the roadway and a safe area for drivers and emergency responders to maneuver in the event of an emergency. The GEOWEB® system creates stable shoulders that reduce typical maintenance by up to 3 times and protect sealed pavement from deterioration and edge breaks. The GEOWEB® road shoulders can be designed with permeable aggregate or engineered topsoil/aggregate infill to facilitate vegetation.

Stabilize the Surface Around Bridge Abutments

Using the GEOWEB® system, you can design and construct bridge embankments with topsoil/vegetation, aggregate, or hard-armor concrete infills. The flexible nature of the GEOWEB® panels allows it to easily contour to the slope face and around obstacles such as piles and abutments. The GEOWEB® system prevents erosion around the abutments, which reduces lifetime maintenance costs.

Whether it’s a new project or repair work, you can build stronger, lower-maintenance roads and roadway structures with the GEOWEB® system—and with your own road and highway crews.

Presto Geosystems Offers Free Design Support and Tools

The engineering team at Presto Geosystems works closely with civil engineers, offering free project evaluation services and on-site support for roads, embankment or erosion control projects.

Keep Projects Moving Forward With Our Free Design Tools and Project Evaluations

Posted by Ashley Beyer

There’s no denying that life looks a lot different than it did a month or two ago. Most of us have been affected by COVID-19 in some way. While the degree to which we are feeling these effects varies by person, population, industry, etc., this situation has changed the way we all live and do business.

Those who are able to work remotely are adjusting to a new normal. With schools closed indefinitely, many of us are now simultaneously trying to manage workloads while homeschooling and meal prepping. People in many industries are working tirelessly on the frontlines ensuring that we have access to essential goods and services, and we are incredibly thankful for them.

Learn From Home and Earn PDH Credit

With shelter-in-place orders still in effect for many regions, we will continue to evaluate how we can better serve our partners in the engineering and construction industries. Over the past month, we have increased our offerings of live webcasts to stay connected and provide colleagues and customers with a direct line to our engineering team. We will continue to offer these webcasts, as well as customized virtual technical presentations for your engineering staff.

Free Design Support and Tools

As we begin to see a shift from “relief” to “recovery,” we anticipate a surge of new construction projects, and some industry experts have even predicted a forthcoming “construction tsunami.” It is imperative that our industry remains prepared to respond to these opportunities when the time comes. We’re here to help.

The team at Presto Geosystems is here to provide project engineering support from the preliminary stages through installation and follow-up. Use our free online tools to keep your projects moving forward. There is absolutely zero risk and zero cost associated with our online tools.

We are committed to delivering quality products and services when you need them!

FHWA Repeals its Proprietary Product Rule, Allows Geosystems’ Products to be Specified

Posted by Katie Bocskor

By: William G. Handlos, P.E.

Design engineers received good news on September 23, 2019, when the Federal Highway Administration repealed 23 CFR 635.411(a)-(e).

Colloquially known as the “Proprietary Product Rule”, the long-standing provision made it difficult to use patented or proprietary products or technologies in federally funded projects, unless they first received a seldom-granted Public Interest Finding or classified the project as experimental.

Specialty engineered and innovative systems, such as the GEOWEB® soil stabilization (geocells) lineup of products have at times been difficult to specify because there is simply nothing quite like it in the marketplace. While other geocell manufacturers exist, the Geosystems products have patented innovations making it unique in the products’ ability to perform far better than other “or equal” systems.

Now, engineers will no longer be constrained to the lowest common denominator offerings from the marketplace and instead can use technically advanced materials that reduce costs, speed construction and save money.

According to Federal Highway Administrator Nicole R. Nason, “This final rule promotes innovation by empowering states to choose which state-of-the-art materials, tools, and products best meet their needs for the construction and upkeep of America’s transportation infrastructure.”

 

 

 

GEOWEB® — Most Complete Multicomponent Geocellular Confinement System

For information related to the design advantages offered by GEOWEB® geocells, visit www.prestogeo.com.

The Integration of Pervious & Impervious Pavements to Address Green Infrastructure Needs

Posted by Katie Bocskor

Written by: Samantha Justice, P.E.

Green infrastructure incentive programs have become commonplace for new construction and redevelopment regulations. Five of the most common incentives include:

  • Development incentives such as expedited permitting, decreased fees, zoning upgrades, and stormwater requirement reductions.
  • Grants.
  • Rebates and installation financing.
  • Awards and recognition programs.
  • Stormwater fee discounts.

A subset of green infrastructure, stormwater management usually includes the consideration of pervious/porous pavements. Traditional asphalt and concrete parking lot surfaces create significant stormwater runoff, and many municipalities do not allow them in expansion or new build situations.

When the entire parking area is constructed using a porous pavement system, stormwater concerns are greatly reduced. Depending on the type chosen, pavements that return rainwater to the aquifer nearly eliminate stormwater runoff and reduce sheet flow and point load erosion problems at the pavement edges. They also reduce the need for additional stormwater infrastructure to convey the water away from the area. Integrating porous pavement systems with asphalt and concrete surfaces can reduce such failures and reduce or eliminate the need for stormwater conveyance channels, pipes, and swales. As a result, downstream stormwater pipe systems see less silt and water, which requires less maintenance and less capital expenditure for upsizing stormwater pipes.

Increase Parking Capacity

Expanding parking areas with porous pavement can have a neutral effect on the existing stormwater loading or, in some cases, can even decrease existing loading.

  • In cases where existing parking areas drain to internal inlets, additions self drain but seldom offer any benefit to existing hard surfaces.
  • In cases where parking areas sheet drains in the direction of the parking capacity addition, the new porous surface can go beyond self-draining and can cut off sheet flow and absorb hard-surface runoff. Of course, you must be careful not to overload the new porous system with sediment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Integrating Permeable with Impervious Pavements

Not all new-build parking lots need to be 100% porous. A combination of pervious and impervious surfaces can solve stormwater concerns and heavy traffic loading expectations. Using asphalt or concrete surfaces in the drive lanes of parking lots alleviates stresses on the system from repetitive passes from vehicles and ensures that all types of vehicles can use the lot. Joined to these drive lanes can be adjacent porous parking stalls, controlling stormwater runoff and eliminating the need for inlets and conveyance systems. While permeable infill promotes fast infiltration, the base depth may be designed to suit the stormwater needs of the site, allowing for storage and natural percolation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-rigid resin-based porous pavement units may be filled with either aggregate or topsoil, allowing for customization of parking lots for aesthetic appeal while considering intensity and frequency of use. The permeable paver units are easily cut to seamlessly align with hard-surface pavements (permeable pavers, asphalt, concrete), even along curved lines. Impervious surfaces can be painted for centerlines and turning lanes. Porous pavement units offer delineators, allowing parking stall lines and other separation markers. Parking stops and signs can be easily installed over porous pavement units, so there are no limitations when it comes to fully outfitting parking areas for a project’s needs.

The Benefits of Porous Pavements in Pavement Design

Whether porous pavements are included in all or part of a green infrastructure pavement project, the benefits they offer for reducing runoff and stormwater infrastructure size/need, protecting watersheds, and reducing cost are significant.

Presto Geosystems offers the GEOBLOCK® grass and GEOPAVE® gravel porous pavement systems to help control stormwater, meet load requirements and suit landscape plans.

See our Myth Busters Blog Series for how the units eliminate typical concerns about using porous pavements.

For more information on porous pavements, visit our web page: Porous Pavements.