Bio-Engineering in Hazard Mitigation

Advantages of bioengineering solutions are:

  • Low cost and lower long-term maintenance cost than traditional methods;
  • Low maintenance of live plants after they are established
  • Environmental benefits of wildlife habitat, water quality improvement and aesthetics
  • Improved strength over time

Bio-engineering includes the use of vegetation in civil engineering construction. It also extends to environmental modifications such as:

  • Surface soil protection
  • Slope stabilization
  • Watercourse and shoreline protection
  • Windbreaks
  • Vegetation barriers (including noise barriers and visual screens)
  • The ecological enhancement of an area
A ground-level view of sea grass planted in rows to stabilize reconstructed dunes on a beach.