Present practices and emerging opportunities in bioengineering for slope stabilization in Malaysia: An overview

Area of Science:

• Geotechnical Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Increasing infrastructure development, particularly road construction, on hilly terrains leads to extensive land clearing and bare slopes.
• Malaysia's tropical climate exacerbates soil erosion and runoff due to intense weathering and high rainfall, increasing landslide susceptibility.
• Existing slope stabilization methods have limitations, necessitating exploration of alternative solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current slope management practices in Malaysia.
• To highlight the potential of soil bioengineering, specifically using whole plants, for slope stabilization.
• To discuss the ecological principles for vegetation establishment in slope failure mitigation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on slope stabilization techniques, including geotextiles, brush layering, live poles, rock buttress, and concrete structures.
• Analysis of the mechanical, hydrological, and hydraulic effects of vegetation on slope stability.
• Assessment of plant species selection, root structures, architecture, and ecological principles for mix-culture approaches.

Main Results:

• Traditional methods like geotextiles and concrete structures are effective but have drawbacks.
• Soil bioengineering using vegetation offers a sustainable approach by enhancing slope stability through plant attributes.
• The mix-culture approach is identified as a key ecological principle for effective vegetation establishment.

Conclusions:

• Soil bioengineering is a viable mitigation measure for low to moderate risk slopes, offering mechanical, hydrological, and hydraulic benefits.
• For high-risk slopes, traditional engineering measures remain the most appropriate solution.
• Further investigation into vegetation properties and ecological establishment is crucial for advancing soil bioengineering in slope stabilization.