Switzerland
Switzerland

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Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

Flexible debris flow barrier in extra-large - up to 14 meters high

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

Lateral bird's eye view

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

Anchoring the support ropes provided by our sister company Fatzer

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

Front view on the barrier.

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

Another bird's eye view on the installation.

Debris Flow & Shallow Landslide Protection - Huepach, Canton of Berne 2013

World record - the largest flexible debris flow protection system

 

Systems

Special Solutions

 

System length

10 m - 40 m

 

Year of installation

2013

Initial situation

As a result of three heavy thunderstorms during the nineties, the mountain creek Hüpach caused shallow landslides, debris flows, and deluges. Debris and boulders blocked roads and railways in Oberwil near Interlaken. To prevent future hazards, our customer Schwellenkorporation Oberwil decided to install two retention structures. The construction is designed for a 300-year debris flow event. This project was a joint endeavor of the sister companies Geobrugg and Fatzer.

Benefits of the chosen solution:

  • Minimal material requirement – an important factor because of limited site accessability
  • Low total costs
  • Minimized impact to nature
  • Highest possible drainage permeability
  • Full functionality of the entire system

Description

The barrier was planned and installed to protect settled areas within the community, highly endangered by debris flow and flooding. The goal for the client (and therewith for GEOBRUGG and the planner) was to find a cost effective solution to saveguard lives, buildings and property.

Key figures of the drainage basin:

  • Retention capacity: 16´000 m³
  • Average slope inclination in the flow channel: 32 %
  • Length of the main channel: 4150 m
  • The peak discharge for a return period of 300 years is 350 m³/s. Debris flow modelling was calculated using the software RAMMS from SLF / WSL (Switzerland).

This solution is also documented in a video

Country/Region

Switzerland

Customer

Community of Oberwil, dept for flood control

Engineering

Emch & Berger, Berne

Protected object

Road, Railway, Building, Residential area

Corrosion protection

GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING

Your local contact

René Müller
   

René Müller

Country Manager Western Switzerland

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG,Industriestrasse 21,5200 Brugg / Switzerland Country Manager Western Switzerland

E-Mail

Olivia Sartorius
   

Olivia Sartorius

Project Manager Sales Eastern and Central Switzerland

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG Project Manager Sales Eastern and Central Switzerland

E-Mail

Alexander Bittendorfer
   

Alexander Bittendorfer

Project Manager Inspection Services

Natural Hazards
Monitoring
Geobrugg AG,Trucks via road 14 or 13 only!, Aachstrasse 11,8590 Romanshorn / Switzerland Project Manager Inspection Services

E-Mail

Matthias Denk, Msc. Env. Eng.
 

Matthias Denk

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg AG,Aachstrasse 11,8590 Romanshorn / Switzerland , Msc. Env. Eng.

E-Mail

Isacco Toffoletto
   

Isacco Toffoletto

Country Manager Southern Switzerland

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Mining / Tunnels
Geobrugg AG Ticino,Via Brusada 5,6933 Muzzano / Switzerland Country Manager Southern Switzerland

E-Mail