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

World record - the largest flexible debris flow protection system.

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

Installation

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.

 

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

Customer

Community of Oberwil, dept for flood control

Protected object

Road, Railway, Building, Residential area

Corrosion protection

GEOBRUGG SUPERCOATING

Engineering

Emch & Berger, Berne

Your local contact

Kevin H. Coyle
 

Kevin H. Coyle

Regional Manager Northeast

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,3 Beaudet Terr,Columbia CT 06237 / United States Regional Manager Northeast

E-Mail

Saleh Feidi
 

Saleh Feidi

Regional Manager California

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,8921 Emperor Ave.,San Gabriel, California 91775 / United States Regional Manager California

E-Mail

John Kalejta
 

John Kalejta

Regional Manager Central US

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,3215 67th Avenue Pl,Greeley CO 80634 / United States Regional Manager Central US

E-Mail

Bob Lyne
 

Bob Lyne

Regional Manager Southeast

Natural Hazards
Hydraulic Engineering
Geobrugg North America, LLC,8004 Windspray Drive,Summerfield NC 27358 / United States Regional Manager Southeast

E-Mail

Pierce Runnels, Civil Engineer
   

Pierce Runnels

General Manager Geobrugg North America

Natural Hazards
Geobrugg North America, LLC,22 Centro Algodones , Civil Engineer General Manager Geobrugg North America

E-Mail

Tim Shevlin
 

Tim Shevlin

Sales Director

Natural Hazards
Geobrugg North America, LLC,Salem OR 97302 / United States Sales Director

E-Mail