Climate-induced or anthropogenically triggered geohazards may cause damage to buildings, infrastructure and the environment. Climate-induced geohazards, such as landslides, floods or droughts, are known to exacerbate with climate change due to the increased frequency and intensity of rainfall and extreme weather events.
Solutions that use natural materials or mimic biological processes are increasingly being adopted to mitigate the triggering or propagation of such geohazards through improvement of the soil characteristics and its behaviour.
The use of vegetation on potentially unstable slopes and streambanks is an example of a Nature-Based Solution (NBS). Root-shaped anchors are an example of bio-inspired design used for soil reinforcement. Microbiological activity, biological exudates and fungi, can change both soil strength and hydraulic conductivity, improve erosion resistance and alter the rheology of the soil.
These NBS must combine ecological approaches with engineering design in order to provide practical solutions, whilst also maintaining/enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services.
This session aims to stimulate multi- and interdisciplinary knowledge exchange of NBS, bio-based and bio-inspired solutions for landslides and erosion mitigation.
Contributions could originate from the fields of geotechnical engineering, ecological engineering, ecology, forestry, hydrogeology and agronomy, among others. Experiences of interactions between research and industry, with involvement of NBS entrepreneurs, are particularly welcome.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Experimental (either laboratory or field) or numerical investigation of root biomechanics and plant water relation, hydrological and/or mechanical soil reinforcement by vegetation, or bio-based solutions for slopes or streambanks;
• Theoretical or empirical data-driven design methods used in geotechnical engineering for vegetated and bio-improved soils;
• Tools, approaches, and frameworks showing how NBS can mitigate geohazards and offer co-benefits;
• Upscaling potential of laboratory data to slope and catchment scales;
• Case studies of combined hard and soft engineering, stabilization works, or Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, especially involving design principles and performance assessment;
• Guidelines, reviews, and data repositories on NBS for risk reduction, with focus on NBS for infrastructure protection.