THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY'S VIEW ON BIOENGINEERING, AND ITS RESEARCH ON REINFORCED GRASS WATERWAYS --AN INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING. PLANTS AS ENGINEERING STRUCTURES IN THE CONTROL OF SOIL EROSION AND STABILISATION OF SLOPES. PROCEEDINGS OF A SEMINAR, WOLFSON COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, OCTOBER 12, 1987

This paper describes the forthcoming report by the construction industry research and information association (ciria) on bioengineering, and the research done by ciria on reinforced grass waterways. Ciria report seeks to provide a structured guide covering basic aspects and physical effects of vegetation, its establishment and management, design and implementation and also its applications. The importance of the assistance of a specialist in these matters is stressed. Certain problems need to be overcome, i.e. The need for appropriate input to planning and design; the necessarily more empirically-based approach to the incorporation of vegetation; the real cost of aftercare and management; the requirement of good contractual arrangements. The ciria project on the reinforcement of steep grassed waterways involves the use of geotextiles, cellular concrete and a series of field trials. In addition to describing the design methodology, major emphasis is placed on the method of specification and also on the need for the client to accept ongoing responsibility for maintenance. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 814174.