HK1251119B - A bag, system and method for using the same - Google Patents

Description

Bag, system and method for using same

Cross-reference to related applications

The present application claims the benefits and priority of singapore patent application No.10201507996T entitled "bag and its system for use (a bag and system for using the same)" filed on month 9 of 2015, and singapore patent application No.10201601395Y entitled "bag and its system for use (a bag and system for using the same)" filed on month 2 of 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to bags, associated systems and methods, and more particularly to bags and systems for forming a slope or dike, and systems and methods for covering, retaining and/or stabilizing a slope or dike.

Background

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an admission or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Slope stability is the tendency of a soil covered slope to withstand and withstand movement and is generally determined by the balance of shear stress and shear strength. A water accident caused by sufficient rainfall is one of the climatic events that makes the slope active and unstable, resulting in movement of the mass, such as landslide or landslide.

A common method of preventing landslide or landslide is to construct the retaining wall starting from the base of the slope. The retaining wall is a structure designed and configured to resist lateral pressure of the soil when a desired change in the ground gradient exceeds the angle of repose (angle of repose) of the soil. This involves building concrete and/or steel structures of sufficient height and depth to enable soil to be controlled. Steel and/or concrete retaining walls are expensive and often unsightly. In addition, such retaining walls require maintenance because the soil being retained will move sooner or later, even if sufficient fluid is built up, the retaining walls will be overwhelmed.

In order to make the retaining walls aesthetically pleasing, some retaining walls have been constructed with an outer layer of soil or plant growth medium that allows for the growth of shallow vegetation ground cover plants (e.g., ornamental grass).

One of the current methods of preventing soil loss on slopes less than a specific inclination angle with respect to a horizontal surface or plane (e.g., the ground) is to use Capillary Barrier Systems (CBS) to minimize rain penetration into the soil slope. CBS is an artificial double layer cover system, which is provided as an unsaturated system, which exploits the completely different hydraulic properties between the fine and coarse granular layers of soil, whereby a soil mixture can be arranged on top to provide a green vegetation cover. However, long-term monitoring studies have shown that CBS materials tend to slide along steep sloped surfaces if they are used only as an additional layer of precautions. Furthermore, CBS cannot be configured for slopes having an angle above a certain inclination, as this may result in a "drop" or movement of material along the slope. Thus, CBS may not be suitable for a retaining wall provided as a steep slope.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in the art, systems and apparatus to prevent slipping, falling or collapsing.

Disclosure of Invention

The above needs are at least partially met and improvements made in the art by the bag or related system or method according to the present invention.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to a container for holding a slope, comprising a bag capable of containing a plant growing medium, the bag having an opening for containing a plant, and the opening having securing means to seal the bag and prevent leakage of the plant growing medium from the bag, wherein the opening further comprises a cover covering the opening, and the cover is positionable to direct the direction of plant growth.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a geological barrier system for maintaining a slope, comprising: a unit comprising a first bag capable of containing a plant growing medium, the first bag having an opening for containing a plant, and the opening comprising a cover covering the opening, and the cover being capable of directing the direction of plant growth; an anchor mechanism attached to the base of the first bag;

a second pocket capable of containing a first material, wherein the second pocket is positionable on a first portion of the anchoring mechanism adjacent the first pocket; and

the second portion of the anchoring mechanism is capable of receiving a second material, wherein the second material comprises at least one hydraulic characteristic that differs from at least one hydraulic characteristic of the first material to form a capillary barrier in use.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of constructing a geological barrier for maintaining a slope, comprising the steps of:

forming a first layer by placing an anchoring mechanism attached to the base of the first bag at the base of the ramp;

filling a first bag with a plant growing medium, the first bag having an opening for receiving a plant, and the opening comprising a cover overlying the opening, and the cover being positionable to direct the direction of plant growth;

placing a second bag over a first portion of the anchoring mechanism adjacent the first bag;

filling the second bag with a first material;

placing a second material on a second portion of the anchoring mechanism, the second material having contrasting hydraulic characteristics relative to the first material;

placing compacted soil on a third portion of the anchoring mechanism; and

a second or subsequent layer is formed on top of the first or lower layer, wherein the first pocket of the second or subsequent layer is located at a junction of the first pocket adjacent to the second pocket of the first or lower layer.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Drawings

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1A and 1B illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, also referred to as a "Geological Barrier System (GBS)".

Fig. 2A and 2B show front and side views of the opening of the pouch of the present invention.

Fig. 3A and 3B show front and side views of the opening of the pouch of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of one example of a bag.

Fig. 5 shows front and side views of an example of a bag with an anchor tail, showing different types of stiffeners.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of one example of a unit of a geological barrier system.

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a first layer of geological barriers, with examples of linear geological barriers (a) and curvilinear geological barriers (B).

Fig. 8 shows a side view of a construction of a geological barrier.

Fig. 9 shows a cross section of a geological barrier system.

Other configurations of the invention are possible and therefore the drawings should not be construed as superseding the generalization of the previous description of the invention.

Detailed Description

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the scope of the present invention. Other definitions of selected terms used herein may be found in the detailed description of the invention and applied throughout this specification. Furthermore, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings for the sake of clarity and consistency.

The terms "container," "bag," "geotextile bag," and "geotextile bag" are used interchangeably throughout the specification and are to be understood as referring to a container, bag, or geotextile bag used while retaining soil or a desired mixture of materials.

One aspect of the invention relates to a container for holding a slope, comprising a bag 1 capable of containing a plant growing medium, the bag having an opening 30 for receiving a portion of a plant and the opening having at least one securing means to seal the bag and prevent leakage of the plant growing medium from the bag, wherein the opening further comprises a cover 40 covering the opening 30 and the cover 40 is positionable to direct the direction of plant growth. In particular, the container may be adapted to maintain a steep slope.

The term "ramp" or "steep ramp" as used herein refers to a ramp having an angle higher than the angle of repose (the angle of repose) of the material used in the ramp relative to a horizontal reference plane (considered 0 degrees). The angle of repose or critical angle of repose of granular material is the steepest angle of descent or sloping descent relative to a horizontal plane/surface where the material can be deposited without falling. At this angle, the material on the ramp surface is on the verge of sliding. The angle of repose ranges from 1 deg. to 90 deg.. The morphology of the material affects the angle of repose; smooth round sand grains cannot be packed as steep as coarse interlocking sand. The angle of repose is also affected by the added solvent; if small amounts of water build up gaps between particles, the electrostatic attraction of water to the mineral surface increases the angle of repose and the associated amount, e.g. soil strength. At the angle of repose, the small particles in the ramp have reached a static friction or maximum angle before one of them begins to slide. This is called the angle of friction or rubbing angle. It is defined as:

tanθ＝μ _s

Where θ is the angle from the horizon and μ _s Is the coefficient of static friction between objects. Any greater thanThe static force causes small particles or particulates to slip.

Different materials will have different angles of repose and the small particle or particulate size and moisture content of the material will also affect the angle of repose. For example, sand has an angle of repose of about 15 ° to 34 °, but crushed bitumen has an angle of repose of about 30 ° to 45 °. Thus, depending on the material of the ramp, the steep ramp may be between 15 ° and 90 ° in various embodiments, and between 30 ° and 90 ° in various other embodiments. In various embodiments, the steep incline may be between 45 ° and 90 °, or between 50 ° and 85 °, or between 60 ° and 85 °, or between 70 ° and 85 °.

As used herein, "plant growth medium" may refer to any suitable plant growth medium. In various embodiments, the plant growing medium may comprise a soil mixture suitable for growing plants, the plant growing medium should contain sufficient nutrients to maintain plant growth for months to years. This can be achieved by artificial or natural fertilizers. Examples of natural fertilizers may include manure (manure), compost (composition), or other similar nutrient sources. In various embodiments, the plant growth medium may have the following proportions in terms of volume: 50% of top soil, 20% of sand, 15% of soil conditioner and 15% of organic fertilizer. Other ingredients, such as water retaining gels, may also be added if desired.

As shown in fig. 1 and 9, the bags are stackable and have the advantage of being able to grow plants of larger size in the geological barrier. Unlike ground vegetation, larger plants require stem support during the initial growth phase when they are young plants and the like. In various embodiments, the cover and the opening act like a pocket on one side of the bag 1, whereby the transition between root and stem can be positioned in the opening protected by the cover, and the cover extends up to the opening in the desired direction of plant growth, at the upper end of the opening, allowing light to enter the pocket. In various embodiments, the cover is formed from the same fabric as the pouch. In various other embodiments, the cover is formed of a thicker fabric than the pouch. The combination of the tactile and light response of the plants to the upwardly extending cover will direct the direction of any plants placed in the pocket. The cover may guide the stem growth in a direction towards the sky and ensure that low stems and roots are protected from bad weather and sunlight and not trigger abnormal growth patterns. The root systems of plants that can grow to larger sizes in many cases grow deep into the soil mixture and provide stability to the geological barrier. Such plants also provide protection and shielding of the interior components of the geological barrier from UV radiation and other damaging natural climates. Examples of various embodiments of bags are shown in fig. 2-4.

In various embodiments, the opening 30 comprises a slit at the top of the bag 1 that allows growing plants (similar in function to a pocket, which serves as an opening 30 for plants at the sides of the bag). This can be done when there is sufficient space for the opening 30 on top of the bag 1 in such a way that the stacking of bags is not interfered with when the slope of the geological barrier is formed in an offset manner when in use. The slit opening 30 may be customised by a cover 40 in the form of a baffle provided over the opening 30 or an extension sleeve with a drawstring to reduce possible soil loss.

In various embodiments, the pouch has a surface area of at least 0.2 cubic meters (m ³ ) Or a volume of 200 liters. This ensures that the bag is large enough and heavy enough to be anchored on a slope when full, and that there is enough plant growth medium to sustain plant growth for a period of time, for example months to years. In various embodiments, the pouch may have at least 0.2m ³ Or 200 liters to 0.5m ³ Or 500 liters, or at least 0.22m ³ Or 220 up to 0.45m ³ Or a volume of 450 liters. The size of the bag may be varied to accommodate one or more types of plants to be grown in the bag.

In various embodiments, the pouch further comprises an anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism may be in the form of an anchoring tail 60 attached to the base of the bag, wherein the anchoring tail 60 is also capable of anchoring the bag in the ramp.

Throughout the specification, the terms "anchor tail", "key bar" and "geogrid" are used interchangeably. In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 or geogrid includes a grid or indicia dividing the anchor tail into multiple sections. These gratings or marks are shown in fig. 5 and 6. This will demarcate the user where the different materials and parts are to be placed or positioned when forming the barrier. In such an embodiment, not only can the anchor tail 60 help stabilize the geological barrier by anchoring the bag to the slope, but depending on the type of material, the calculation of the amount of each material used can be marked on the anchor tail and effectively used to control irrigation or water movement on the slope, further stabilizing the material of the slope. This is particularly useful during periods of heavy rainfall (e.g. in the tropics). In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 may be at least 1.8 times as long as the length of the bag. In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 may be at least 1.8 times to 4 times as long as the length of the pocket. In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 may be at least 2 times to 3.75 times as long as the length of the pocket. In various embodiments, the pouch is 0.6m wide by 0.5m high by 1.5m long with an anchor tail of 2.8 m. In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 is divided into a first portion 61, a second portion 65, and a third portion 68. In various embodiments, the third portion 68 is about half the length of the anchor tail 60. In various embodiments, the first portion 61 of the anchor tail 60 includes a larger surface area than the second portion 65 of the anchor tail 60. In various embodiments, the pouch is 0.6m wide by 0.5m high by 0.75m long with a 2.8m anchor tail. In various embodiments, the anchor tail 60 includes a tensile strength of at least 10kN/m at 2% tension. The strength of the tail depends on the height of the ramp and the overload at the top of the ramp.

In various embodiments, the anchor tail is removably attached to the base of the bag. It is sometimes necessary to replace bags in an erect geological barrier, for example in the event that the plants in that bag become infected with disease or when the bag has been damaged. In these cases, it is preferable to replace only the affected bag without breaking the entire geological barrier. The base of the bag may comprise detachable attachment means for easily detaching the affected bag and attaching a new bag to the anchor tail. When the affected bag is removed, a bracket (not shown) may be pushed and inserted around the affected bag in the upstanding geological barrier to form a temporary support to prevent the other bags from collapsing when the affected bag is removed. The base of the affected bag is then detached from the anchor tail and the entire bag (including plant growth medium and plants) is removed from the geological barrier, for example by the action of pulling. The base of the new bag may then be attached to the anchor tail and filled with plant growth medium prior to removal of the scaffold. One example of how this can be achieved is shown in fig. 4, where the detachable attachment means is in the form of a zipper 45, which is arranged or attached around the base of the bag in such a way that the base can be completely removed. In this example, the base is permanently sewn to the anchor tail, one half of the zipper 45 is on the base, and the other half of the zipper 45 surrounds the lower edge of the bag, whereby when the two halves are pulled together, the bag is attached to the anchor tail and when the two halves of the zipper are separated, the bag is detached from the anchor tail. Other attachment means may be used, such as snaps, clips, or the like, so long as the bag is capable of being attached to the anchor tail and then removed when desired while also allowing a new bag to be attached. Along the entire upper edge or part of the upper edge of the bag, a similar zipper 45 may be included to allow the bag to be temporarily opened to place or replace plant growing medium in the bag. An alternative temporary opening may include a slit on the top of the bag. In some embodiments, a portion of the removable attachment means may be provided on the anchor tail 60.

In various embodiments, the securing means comprises a drawstring 50, wherein the drawstring 50 operates to constrain the opening 30 around the plant. Such partial closure will ensure that the plant growing medium does not spill during rainfall. Referring to fig. 2, in various embodiments, a drawstring 50 is included around the cover 40 to provide further closure of the opening 30, further reducing the space in which plant growing medium may spill during rainfall. The drawstring 50 with the configuration of the cover 40 also provides support for young plants and also guides the direction of growth of the plants by limiting the amount of light that can enter the cover when the drawstring 50 is included around the cover 40.

In various embodiments, the pouch 1 comprises a plurality of openings 30, each opening comprising a cover 40 overlying or covering the plurality of openings 30. This embodiment allows many plants to grow in the same bag. In various embodiments, the plurality of openings 30 includes two or more openings 30, which may include 2 to 6 openings 30 in each bag, or 6 to 14 openings 30 in each bag 1. In various embodiments, the openings 30 are alternately arranged in two or three rows 41. One example is shown in fig. 4, where the covered openings 40 along the upper row 41a are offset and not directly above the covered openings 40 along the lower row 41 b. This has the advantage that: the growth space on the surface of the bag 1 is maximized and any shading of the plants in the lower row 41b is limited by the plants growing directly above.

In various embodiments, the bag further includes a stiffener 48. This provides stability for the bag on the slope when used in a geological barrier system. When used, the plant growing medium should not be too compacted, thereby allowing the roots to grow through the plant growing medium. Because the bags are placed one on top of the other as the geological barrier is formed, the weight of the upper bag may press against the lower bag and slightly compress them, causing a reformed shape. In various embodiments, stiffeners 48 may be added to the bag as shape-retaining members to assist in maintaining the shape of the bag 1 during use. Anything that structurally maintains the shape of the bag 1 is suitable for use as a stiffener. In fig. 5A, an exemplary thick cloth is used as reinforcement, two strips 48a over the top of the bag, a rigid plastic strip 48B is used in fig. 5B, a circle is formed around the width of the bag, and a wire mesh or texture system 48C is used in fig. 5C. Other forms of reinforcement 48 may be used, such as: a barrier inside the bag, or any other reinforcement that can maintain stability of the geological barrier when in use and can substantially limit compression or reshaping of the bag when in use with a plant growth medium.

In various embodiments, the geotextile bag comprises a bag containing a soil mixture suitable for plant growth, the bag having an opening for containing plants and the opening having a securing means to seal the bag and prevent leakage of the soil mixture from the bag, wherein the opening further comprises a cover overlaying the opening and the cover is capable of directing the direction of growth of the plants. In addition, the geobag has a keybar attached to the base of the bag, wherein the keybar is capable of anchoring the bag on a slope. Alternatively, the fixation means comprises a drawstring, wherein the drawstring may restrict the opening around the plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a geological barrier system for maintaining a slope, comprising a unit 3 comprising a first bag 1 capable of containing a plant growing medium, said first bag 1 having an opening 30 for containing a plant, and said opening 30 comprising a cover 40 overlapping said opening 30, and said cover 40 being capable of guiding the growth direction of the plant, an anchoring mechanism 60 being attached to the base of the first bag 1;

a second bag 5 capable of containing a first material, wherein the second bag 5 is positionable on a first portion of the anchoring mechanism 601 adjacent to the first bag 1; and

a second portion 65 of the anchoring mechanism 60 capable of receiving a second material, wherein the hydraulic characteristics of the first material are different from the hydraulic characteristics of the second material such that the first and second materials are capable of forming a capillary barrier in use.

As used herein, "capillary barrier" refers to a system that uses differences in the hydraulic properties of materials in the unsaturated state to limit water penetration. In the unsaturated state, the second material becomes a barrier layer that limits water penetration. The relationship between water content and soil suction is known as the soil-water characteristic curve (MWCC). The air intake value of the soil is the allowable suction value that must be exceeded before the air is let out. Water inlet value, ψ _w Is the allowable suction value at which water first moves through the initially dry second layer into the smallest holes forming the continuous grid. It is also called breakthrough head (breakthrough head) because this value corresponds to a pore-water pressure head where water first breaks through the interface of the first material 15 and the second material 17 of the layer formed in the geological barrier system.

The barrier effect of the capillary barrier, which limits the downward movement of water from the fine particle first material 15 into the coarse particle second material 17, can be explained using the soil-water characteristic curve (SWCC) and the penetration function of the fine and coarse particle soils. SWCC is the relationship between the moisture content of a material and allowable suction, while the permeability function is the relationship between the unsaturated permeability coefficient of a material and allowable suction.

The barrier effect limiting downward water movement is caused by the difference in the unsaturated permeability coefficients between fine and coarse grained soils. Outside of the specified suction values, the permeability coefficient of the coarse-grained soil is much lower than that of the fine-grained soil. Thus, the permeated water will be stored or laterally transferred through the fine granular soil (the first material of the geological barrier system) rather than flowing into the coarse granular material (the second material of the geological barrier system). As the water continuously permeates, both the measured volume of water content and the permeability coefficient of the fine particulate material increase. When the permeated water reaches the interface of the fine and coarse particulate materials, the allowable suction force of the coarse particulate material at the interface may decrease. When the allowable suction force of the coarse particulate material at the interface reaches its water entry value ψ _w In this case, the permeability coefficient of the coarse particulate material increases. Water will then start to flow into the coarse particulate material. As the allowable suction force is further reduced, the permeability coefficient of the coarse particulate material increases rapidly and eventually exceeds that of the fine particulate material. In this state, there is no barrier effect, and water can easily flow into coarse granular soil, and the geological barrier serves as a surface excreting means that causes water to drain in a direction parallel to the ramp surface.

In designing geological barrier systems, material selection is very important. Four parameters are considered in selecting fine and coarse particulate materials, which are: the ratio of the water entry values of the fine and coarse particulate materials (ψ _w -ratio); saturation permeability coefficient (ks) of fine particulate material; water ingress value (ψ) of coarse particulate material _w ) The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the And shrinkage properties of the material. These four parameters are either alone or in combination withThe hydraulic properties of the first and/or second material are affected by a combination of one, two or all other parameters.

The water entry value of the coarse particulate material (second material) needs to be very low (preferably less than 1 kPa) (i.e., gravel with a particle size greater than 10mm, coarse recycled concrete aggregate, and coarse recycled asphalt). It was observed that the coarser and more uniform the material, the lower the water ingress value. Psi of first material to second material _w The specific need is large, i.e. at least 10 (i.e. having a ψ of 11.5 _w -fine sand-gravel of specific ratio). The saturation permeability of the fine particulate material (first material) should not be too low, say, greater than 10 ^-5 m/s (i.e., fine sand, fine recycled concrete aggregate, and fine recycled asphalt). The reason for this is to obtain a good discharge pattern of fine particulate material, so that water can easily flow into and out of the geological barrier system. The first and second materials should not exhibit shrinkage cracking (preferably less than 4% potential shrinkage) when dried. In various embodiments, the second material has a saturation permeability that is at most 10 times less than the saturation permeability of the first material. As a rough guide, when the particle size of the second material is at least 5 times as large as the particle size of the first material, then the saturation permeability of the second material may be at most 10 times as small as the saturation permeability of the first material.

In various embodiments, the first portion 61 of the anchoring mechanism or tail 60 includes a larger surface area than the second portion 65 of the anchoring mechanism or tail 60. The difference in surface area allows the volume of the first material to be greater than the volume of the second material, which can take a significant amount of time for the first material to become saturated under severe rainfall and minimize penetration of rainwater into the slope.

An example of one of the various embodiments of the unit 3 of the geological barrier system is shown in fig. 6. Thereby, the base of the first bag 1 is attached to the anchoring mechanism or the anchoring tail 60. The anchoring means or tail 60 has markings to demarcate a first portion 61 where the second bag 5 can be placed, a second portion 65 where the second material can be placed, and a third portion 68.

By means of the unit 3 having a structure with the spacers of the pockets 1 and 5 and the anchoring tail 60, it is possible to facilitate or form a capillary barrier structure at the interface of the first and second material on steep slopes without collapsing the slopes. Those skilled in the art know how to determine the hydraulic characteristics of a material, for example: volume water content, water inlet value psi _w The allowable suction, shrinkage characteristics and saturation permeability coefficient, the correct type, volume and ratio of the first and second materials to be used can thus be selected to ensure that a capillary barrier is formed between the first and second materials to minimise the penetration of rainwater into the ramp. As a rough guide, when the particle size of the second material is at least 5 times greater than the particle size of the first material, then a capillary barrier is formed between the first material and the second material to minimize penetration of rain into the slope.

In various embodiments, the anchor tail is removably attached to the base of the first pocket. The bag described above is used as a component of the unit 3 of the geological barrier system.

In various embodiments, the opening of the first bag 1 comprises a securing means to close the bag and prevent leakage of plant growing medium from the bag, wherein the securing means comprises a drawstring 50 to restrict the opening around the plant in the closed position.

In various embodiments, the first bag 1 comprises a plurality of openings 30, each opening comprising a cover 40 covering said opening 30. The bag described above is used as a component of the unit 3 of the geological barrier system.

In various embodiments, the first bag 1 further comprises a stiffener 48. The bag described above is used as a component of the unit 3 of the geological barrier system.

In various embodiments, the second material comprises coarse particulate material. Materials having a particle size of about 1mm to about 80mm can be considered coarse particulate materials. In various embodiments, the second material comprises a particle size of about 5mm to about 80mm, about 10mm to about 70mm, or about 20mm to about 60mm.

In various embodiments, the first material comprises a fine particulate material. Materials having a particle size of about 5mm or less can be considered fine particulate materials. In various embodiments, the first material comprises a particle size of about 4mm or less, about 2mm or less, or about 1mm or less. In various embodiments, the ratio of the particle size of the first material to the particle size of the second material may be 1:5, or 1:6, or 1:7, or 1:8, or 1:9, or 1:10, or 1:11, or 1:12, or 1:13, or 1:14, or 1:15,1:16, so long as a capillary barrier is formed between the first and second materials to minimize penetration of rain into the slope.

In various embodiments, the first and second materials are formed of the same or similar chemical compositions and differ from each other in structural particle size. For example, the material may be Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA), whereby the RCA is ground to different particle sizes, whereby the first material comprises a particle size of about 5mm or less and the second material comprises a particle size of about 1mm to about 80 mm. Another example is the use of reclaimed asphalt, whereby the reclaimed asphalt is ground to a different particle size, whereby the first material comprises a particle size of about 5mm or less and the second material comprises a particle size of about 1mm to about 80 mm. The use of recycled materials, such as concrete or recycled asphalt, is environmentally advantageous because it does not use limited resources and reuses existing waste products.

In various other embodiments, the first and second materials may comprise different chemical compositions, so long as the permeability coefficient of the second material is at most 10 times less than the permeability coefficient of the first material. In various embodiments, the first material comprises sand and the second material comprises gravel having a particle size at least 5 times greater than the sand particles of the first material.

In various embodiments, the unit further comprises a third portion 68 of the anchor tail 60 of the first bag 1, wherein the third portion 68 is about half the length of the anchor tail 60 for placement of a third material comprising compacted soil.

In various embodiments, the geological barrier system also includes perforated pipes 20 for collecting and transferring rain water from the system. In various embodiments, when the geological barrier is erected or installed, the perforated pipes are located under the different components of each unit 3 at the base of the ramp. Examples of such embodiments are shown in fig. 1B and 9. In various other embodiments, the tube may be corrugated to minimize any large particle blocking perforations.

In various embodiments, the geological barrier system further comprises a plurality of units 3, which units 3 may be placed side by side and/or stacked on top of each other when in use containing plant growth medium, first material, second material and compacted soil, whereby the units 3 stacked on top of another unit 3 are offset, wherein the first pocket 1 of an upper unit 3a is located at a junction of the first pocket 1 adjacent to the second pocket 5 of another unit 3 below 3 b.

Based on the modular structure of the unit 3, geological barriers of any shape can be formed to suit various situation needs. For example, as shown in fig. 7A, where the cells are arranged in line adjacent to each other, the resulting geological barrier will be substantially straight. Similarly, where the cells are arranged adjacent to each other at slightly offset angles, as shown in fig. 7B, the resulting geological barrier will be substantially curvilinear.

Referring to fig. 8, it can be seen that when a unit comprising plant growing medium 13, first material 15, second material 17 and compacted soil 10 or gravel is stacked on top of each other, the next unit 3 stacked on top of the unit is biased like a brick, as shown in fig. 1A, wherein a first pocket of the top unit is placed on a junction of the first pocket adjacent to a second pocket of an underlying other unit, and/or the top unit is located on a junction of the first pocket adjacent to the first pocket of an adjacent unit, which provides increased structural integrity.

The described configuration provides a geological barrier system that is particularly suited for, but not limited to, maintaining a slope having any inclination up to nearly vertical (i.e., 90 degrees) relative to the horizontal. It will be appreciated that the combination of the anchoring mechanism, the arrangement of the first and second bags filled with different materials of different permeabilities provides a stable hill hold structure or system that can be maintained during heavy rainfall.

In various embodiments, the geological barrier system comprises a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a first geotextile bag comprising a soil mixture suitable for growing plants, the bag having an opening for receiving plants, and the opening comprising a cover covering the opening, and the cover being capable of directing the direction of plant growth; and a second geotextile bag containing concrete aggregate positioned adjacent the first geotextile bag and positioned on the spline of the first geotextile bag.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of constructing a geological barrier for maintaining a slope, comprising the steps of:

forming a first layer by placing an anchoring mechanism attached to the base of the first bag 1 at the base of the ramp;

filling a first bag 1 with a plant growing medium, the first bag having an opening 30 for receiving a plant, and the opening comprising a cover 40 covering the opening 30, and the cover being positionable to direct the direction of growth of the plant;

placing the second bag 5 on the first portion 61 of the anchoring mechanism adjacent to the first bag 1;

filling the second bag 5 with a first material 15;

placing a second material 17 comprising a hydraulic characteristic different from the first material onto the second portion 65 of the anchoring mechanism;

placing compacted soil on the third portion 68 of the anchoring mechanism; and

a second or subsequent layer is formed on top of the first or lower layer, wherein the first pocket of the second or subsequent layer is located on a junction of the first pocket adjacent to the second pocket of the first or lower layer.

In various embodiments, the first layer is formed by placing a plurality of cells 3 side by side, wherein each cell 3 is adjacent to each next cell 3, and each cell 3 includes a first pocket 1 attached to an anchoring mechanism or anchor tail 60 at the base of the first pocket 1 and a second pocket 5 placed on a first portion 61 of the anchoring mechanism or anchor tail 60; filling each first bag 1 with a plant growing medium 13, filling each second bag 5 with a first material 15, placing a second material 17 on each second portion 65, and placing compacted soil 10 on each third portion 68; a second layer is placed on top of the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of cells that are side-by-side in an upper portion and that are inserted into the first layer such that each first pocket of the second layer is located on a junction of a first pocket adjacent to a second pocket of the first layer and/or the upper cell is located on a junction of a first pocket adjacent to a first pocket of an adjacent cell.

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, it can be seen that when the unit 3b is arranged at the base of the ramp, the first pocket 1 faces away from the base and the anchor tail 60 is drawn into the ramp along the base. Each first pocket is filled with plant growing medium 13 and then each second pocket is filled with first material 15, second material 17 is placed over each second portion 65 of anchor tail 60 and compacted soil is placed over each third portion 68 of anchor tail 60. This results in the first layer at the base of the ramp having a defined compartment of plant growth medium 13 at the front of the ramp, a first material 15 behind the plant growth medium in the ramp, a second material 17 further into the ramp behind the first material, and compacted soil 10 or gravel at the rear of the ramp base. Referring to fig. 8, a second layer is formed on the first layer by stacking the unit 3a on the first layer and embedding it in the first layer. The second layer is formed in the same manner as the first layer, and each compartment of each unit contains a plant growing medium 13, a first material 15, a second material 17 and compacted soil 10. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or subsequent layers may be formed in the same manner, wherein the next cell stacked on top of the cell is offset like a brick as shown in fig. 1A, wherein the first pocket of the upper cell is located at the junction where the first pocket is adjacent to the second pocket of the other cell below, and/or the upper cell is located at the junction where the first pocket is adjacent to the first pocket of the adjacent cell, which provides increased structural integrity.

In various embodiments, the plant is secured in the opening. This may be achieved by the shape of the cover and/or by a drawstring or other means of tying the plant to the cover. Any plant whose root system grown has a volume slightly less than the volumetric capacity of the bag is known to be suitable. Examples of plants used in the geological barrier of the experimental trial include Russelia equisetiformis (firecracker), xiphidium caeruleum (sword grass), epipremnum aureum (scindapsus aureus), calathea loeseneri (Luo Shizhu taro), phyllanthus cochinchinensis (phyllanthus urinaria), wedelia trilobata (trilobata), philodendron erubescens (camp Lin Yu), piper sarmentosum (sarmentosum), hymenocallis speciose (podophyllum), ophiopogon jaburan Vittatus (Huang Wenjian leaf ophiopogon japonicus), nephrolepis exaltata (boston fern), davallia denticulate (drynaria small tooth), pandanus pygmaeus (paphiopedilum), asplenium nidus, philodendron Xanadu (curculina lanuginosa) and Monstera deliciosa (back bamboo), however, any plant known to be capable of growing in the region where the geological barrier stands and under its lighting conditions will be suitable as long as the root system of the plant can grow to a slightly smaller volume than the bag.

In various embodiments, each anchor tail 60 is removably attached to the base of each first pocket 1. In various embodiments, the method further comprises replacing the first bag 1 with another first bag as described above. The replacement first bag 1 is filled with plant growing medium, the rack is removed and the plants are secured in the openings 30 of the replacement first bag 1.

In various embodiments, the opening 30 of the first bag 1 comprises a securing means 50 to close the bag and prevent leakage of plant growing medium from the bag, wherein the securing means comprises a drawstring to restrict the opening around the plant in the closed position.

In various embodiments, the first bag 1 comprises a plurality of openings 30, each opening comprising a cover 40 covering said opening 30, wherein plants are fixed in each opening as described above.

In various embodiments, each first bag further includes a stiffener 48 as described above.

In various embodiments, the second material 17 comprises coarse particulate material as described above.

In various embodiments, the first material 15 comprises a fine particulate material as described above.

In various embodiments, a perforated pipe 20 for collecting and diverting rain water away from the system is placed at the base of the ramp.

In various embodiments, an impermeable separator 11,12 capable of separating rain water is placed between each of the second material 17 and the compacted soil 10.

The experimental geological barrier was erected in experimental trials during several heavy rainfall events. Stable readings over the expected range were measured throughout the test using a soil pressure cell embedded within the compacted soil portion. Healthy plant growth was observed throughout the duration of the experiment. In contrast to the controlled slope-filled natural soil bags (which have increased pore water pressure in kPa in several layers after a rain event), pore water pressure in kPa is maintained in all layers after the rain event.

In various embodiments, the geological barrier system has a coarse particle layer on top of each geobag layer. Even further, the geological barrier system has a fine particle layer on top of a coarse particle layer.

In various embodiments, the geological barrier system has each layer with a third geotextile bag containing coarse particulate aggregate. Further, in various embodiments, the geological barrier has a gravel layer, and even further, in various embodiments, the geological barrier has a perforated pipe located within the gravel layer for collecting rain water from the system and diverting the rain water away from the system.

In various embodiments, a method of constructing a geological barrier system includes the steps of: a first layer is formed using a first geotextile bag containing a soil mixture suitable for growing plants, the bag having an opening for receiving the plants and the opening including a cover covering the opening and the cover being capable of directing the direction of growth of the plants, and a second geotextile bag containing concrete aggregate, placed adjacent the first geotextile bag, wherein the second geotextile bag is located on a spline of the first geotextile bag and is covered with a layer of coarse particulate material and a top layer is formed using fine particulate material.

Fig. 1A provides one embodiment of a Geological Barrier System (GBS), which is a cover system designed to prevent landslides, and in particular designed to protect the slope from rainfall-induced failures. It can be seen that the GBS has several layers, in particular three layers, starting with a top layer with a second layer and a third layer, wherein the top layer has a plant growth medium 13 of a defined soil mixture (ASM) enclosed in a geotextile bag 1 in which plants are planted; the second layer comprises fine particulate material 15 (e.g., fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA)) encapsulated in geotextile bags 2, and the third bag contains coarse particulate material 17 (e.g., coarse particulate recycled concrete aggregate), and such coarse particulate material may be encapsulated in geotextile bags. Further details regarding geotextile bags will be disclosed later in this specification. Such ASM may be in the following proportions by volume: 50% of top soil, 20% of sand, 15% of soil conditioner and 15% of organic compost. Other components, such as a water-retaining gel, may also be added if desired. The topsoil may be free-draining soil and may be free of grass or weed growth or any other foreign matter. The top soil is a fertile, friable soil that is non-toxic and capable of maintaining healthy plant growth, and therefore it is generally free of calcium carbonate, subsoil, trash, roots, clods (clods), substances toxic to plants (phytotoxic materials), and other substances detrimental to plant growth. Such topsoil typically has a pH of 5.5 to 7.8, a conductivity of no more than 1500 microSiemens/cm (microSiemens/cm), and a soil-water extraction ratio (extraction ratio) of 1:2.5. the surface soil comprises the following components: sand, particle size of 0.05 to 2mm, specific gravity of 20% -75%; particles (silt), a particle size of 0.002 to 0.05mm and a specific gravity of 5% -60%; and clay, a particle size of less than 0.002mm and a specific gravity of 5% -30%. The sand used in ASM should be free of debris, stones or foreign matter. The soil amendment may be peat (peat moss), organic compost or any other fibrous organic material suitable for mixing with the topsoil to form a friable growth medium for the plants. Soil amendments should also resist rapid corrosion and be free of large pieces or debris. The organic compost used in ASM may be derived from organic vegetables or parts of vegetables, such as leaves, and produced by horticultural or industrial composting processes. The organic compost used should be fine and brittle, free of rotting or decaying matter, trash, clay, visible fungi, pathogens, pests, etc., and capable of containing no offensive odors.

The second layer 5 has a fine particulate material 15, such as fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA), sand, sandy silt or clay silt, encapsulated in a second geotextile bag.

The GBS may also have a third layer that includes coarse particulate material, such as coarse recycled concrete aggregate, gravel or granite chips, and it may be enclosed in geotextile bags or it may be spread over the first and second layers and/or compacted soil. If the soil conditions are very poor, coarse particulate aggregate may be contained in the third geotextile bag. Otherwise, coarse particles are not typically contained within the geobag.

The geotextile bags may be arranged in various ways, and this will be described in detail later in the specification.

During a rainfall event, it is desirable for a certain amount of water to infiltrate the fine RCA layer and the coarse RCA layer and collect in the corrugated perforated pipe before being discharged into the gravel layer 10 at the base of the slope. An impermeable separator may be installed within the gravel layer 10 that separates the water discharged from the fine RCA from the water discharged from the coarse RCA. Such impermeable separators may be sheets of high density polyethylene (High Density Polyethylene, HDPE) and typical thicknesses used are 1-2mm. Such HDPE sheets can be installed along the rest of the ramp and separate the original soil and GBS of the ramp across the width of the ramp. Such HDPE sheets may also be installed along either or both sides of the GBS, or within the gravel layer 10 at the bottom of the ramp. It is installed in the following manner: the water discharged from the coarse RCA is separated from the fine RCA.

The GBS ends with a corrugated and perforated tube 120 at the bottom of the ramp before the drain, which is typically configured at the base of the ramp, as shown in detail in fig. 1B. The corrugated and perforated discharge pipe 120 may have an inner diameter of 120mm and may be perforated all the way around the outer surface of the pipe or only the upper half of the corrugated pipe may be perforated. Such corrugated and perforated pipe 20 will allow water discharged from the fine RCA layer to be directed to a single outlet of each ramp.

GBS enables a greater variety of plants to be grown in geotextiles (containing defined soil mixtures) while minimizing soil loss, while achieving a higher safety factor by using the inherent properties of soil and fine Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA), coarse recycled concrete aggregate, defined soil mixtures, and compacted filler compositions. The pockets and sleeves to be planted can be designed (made larger or smaller, etc.) to accommodate the type of plant to be planted.

The size of the geobags used in the system will depend on the type of plant desired. These plants are selected to be able to contribute to soil stability or for aesthetic purposes. For example, the length of the geotextile bags can be 1.5m in order to grow larger plants (as they require a larger volume of soil medium). This is especially important when larger plants (e.g., shrubs, ferns, treelets, etc.) are required, especially to finish steeper slopes. Geotextiles also enable aggregate and soil mixtures to be contained within the bag and prevent finer soil migration into the underlying aggregate layer.

GBS also allows for easy compaction as the fine-grained aggregate and soil mixture is contained within the bag. By using a tie or zipper 45 of industrial quality, the geotextile bag can also be fitted with sealable openings so that the geotextile bag can be filled with soil mixtures, nutrients, fertilizers, and even completely change plants.

The prescribed soil mixture and fine recycled concrete aggregate are contained in geotextiles, and the geotextiles can be stacked at steeper angles than current methods (e.g., CBS). It allows a greater variety of plants (including ferns and shrub type plants) to be planted on the geological barrier system.

The base of the slope or GBS is compacted and filled with gravel to form the gravel layer 10 prior to installing the geobag. The slope is then covered with compacted filler and coarse recycled concrete aggregate. The first and second geotextiles for the specified soil mixture and fine RCA, respectively, are then piled up. This will allow the GBS to form a curve, also forming a sharp corner.

An example of a geobag 1 can be seen in fig. 2A and 2B, with fig. 2A and 2B showing a top or side view and a front view, respectively. The geotextile bag 1 can contain a prescribed soil mixture (ASM) and can be used for GBS, especially where plants are needed. The geobag 1 has an opening 30 covered with a plant sleeve 40, which plant sleeve 40 provides an internal residence for plants, enabling the plants to grow using the nutrients of the ASM while forming part of the plant cover for the GBS. The geotextile bag 1 can be placed with the opening on the top or on any side, depending on the plant's requirements and slope. The opening is sized large enough to accommodate the root ball of the desired plant or plants and is capable of supporting the stem of the plant and directing its growth in a particular direction. To minimize soil loss from the geobag 1, the sleeve 40 may be equipped with a drawstring 50, but other types of fastening devices, such as zip fasteners, zippers, stitching devices, staples, etc., may also be used. To aid in identification, the securing means may have a different or contrasting colour to the geotextile bag. The drawstring may be pulled and tied to reduce the size of the opening in the geotextile bag, which will minimize soil loss without affecting plant growth. The geobag is also shown with stitching 55 at the perimeter of the opening which strengthens the opening and makes it easier for the user to use the drawstring without tearing the geobag 1. The geobag 1 is also shown with a reinforced geogrid 60 attached to the base. The geogrid 60 serves as an anchor tail for the geobag 1 and may include high tenacity polyester yarn fibers (high tenacity polyester yarn fibres) of sufficiently high quality for a design life of 120 years. It should have a typical tensile strength of 12kN/m at 2% strain and 30kN/m at 5% strain. Such geogrid 60 can be attached for the geobag 1 with ASM or RCA or both.

The geotextile bag 1 may have a lifting strap 35 which will facilitate movement, lifting or shifting of the geotextile bag, especially when it is filled with ASM or RCA.

The geotextile bag 1 can also be designed with a plurality of specially designed loops or handles 35 sewn along the top edge of the bag. This allows the geobag to remain level while lifted, which is important because it keeps the compaction of the aggregate within the geobag uniform and prevents tension cracks. The ring must be designed to bear the weight of the geotextile bag to prevent the ring itself from breaking and the geotextile bag from tearing.

The material used to make the geotextile bag 1 is woven from woven monofilament fibers to form a stable matrix with high water flow and optimal opening dimensions for retaining soil. The material of the geotextile bag 1 should also have a tensile strength (tested according to ISO10319 standard) of greater than or equal to 50kN/m for a wide width in the main direction and in the lateral direction. The material has a California Bearing Ratio (CBR) puncture strength (tested according to ISO12236 standard) of greater than or equal to 5.0 kN. The pore size of the material was O90, which was less than or equal to 600 microns (tested according to ISO 12956 standard). The water permeability of the material is greater than or equal to 200L/m ² S (tested according to the ISO11058 standard).

Another example of a geotextile bag 1 is shown in fig. 3A and 3B, which show a side view and a front view, respectively. The geotextile bag 1 can contain a prescribed soil mixture (ASM) and can be used for GBS, especially where plants are needed. This design is particularly useful in situations where plants need to stand upright while remaining open at the sides of the geobag 1, because the plant pocket 40 ensures that plants can absorb the nutrients of ASM within the geobag 1, can also grow substantially vertically, and the angle of the plants depends on the pocket's room (leeway). Another advantage of the pocket is that soil loss can be further minimized because the ASM is contained within the pocket itself. Similar to the geobag in fig. 2, the geobag 1 may also be fitted with lifting straps 35 to assist in moving the geobag 1, as well as specially designed loops sewn along the top edge of the bag.

For both examples of the geotextile bag 1, an opening may be used on the sides or at the top of the bag. Generally, if the slope is gentle, the roof has room, and is more suitable for implementation on the roof. There is no room at the top of the bag to plant, so in case of having to plant sideways, the bag would be more suitable for steep slopes.

A cross-sectional view of the geological barrier 90 is shown in fig. 9. A gravel layer or compacted soil 10 is located at the base of the ramp or GBS and contains an impermeable separator 11. Still another impermeable separator 12 is located at the rear of the ramp before the surface drain 25. There is also a surface drain 6 at the top of the ramp and a surface drain 7 at the bottom of the ramp. The planting medium 70 with turf covers the GBS at the top or front of the slope, followed by fine grain RCA15, followed by coarse grain RCA17 with geotextile layers 80 between the layers. A series of corrugated and perforated pipes 21, 22, 23, 24 are positioned to allow water discharged from the fine RCA layer to be directed to a single outlet. In this example, a geobag 1 with ASM 13 with an anchor tail 60 is shown with a shrub contained within the bag through an opening or pocket 40. It can be seen how the roots of the plants will grow in ASM 13 and provide stability to GBS. A second geobag 5 with a fine RCA15 is shown next to it, which can help secure the structure and provide stability to the slope.

In constructing the GBS, the surface drains 6,7 are first installed on the top and bottom of the ramp, and then the corrugated and perforated pipes 21, 22, 23, 24 are positioned with the gravel layer 10 and the impermeable separators 11, 12. Built up from the bottom layer, the geobags 1,5 are filled with the required material and positioned such that the anchor tails or splines 60 of the geobags 1 are installed in layers in compacted soil. Geotextile layer 80 is installed between coarse RCA17 and fine RCA15, and between fine RCA15 and the planting medium for turf 70.

The first and second geotextiles 1 and 5 are filled with the required material, in this case ASM13 and RCA15. The second geobag 5 with RCA15 should be compacted to a relative density between 70% and 90% or a desired dry density of 1.55Mg/m ³ . The geotextiles 1 and 5 are then closed and secured, either by drawstring or by stitching, to minimize the material in the geotextile bag from being washed away by rain. The coarse RCA layer 17 is compacted to a relative density between 70% and 90% or a desired dry density of 1.8Mg/m ³ . Geotextile layer 80 can be a polyalt TS nonwoven geotextile TS 20 or equivalent.

The GBS system is suitable for slopes up to 80 degrees and can be built with different heights (3 to 50 meters), especially terraces with gradients exceeding 30 meters. Groundwater seepage is controlled by surface drainage devices and complete structures, where vegetation is easily fused with the environment.

In contrast, CBS requires multiple J-pins to anchor the geocell to the ramp surface, resulting in perforation of the separator membrane, and thus loss of some matrix suction over time. With GBS, no J-pins are required, as the geobags have splines thereon to act as reinforced anchors, and the division of the different materials involved allows the concept of capillary barrier systems to operate on steep slopes, further increasing stability by preventing water damage to the slope that could lead to landslides.

Another example of a method of constructing a GBS is listed in the following steps:

A. a first geotextile bag 1 for ASM is placed at the bottom of the slope, the geotextile bag is filled with ASM 13, and the geogrid 60 attached to the row of geotextile bags 1 is placed and stretched to the maximum length.

B. A second geotextile bag 5 is placed beside the first geotextile bag 1 at the bottom of the slope or adjacent to the first geotextile bag 1, the second geotextile bag 5 is located on the pile side of the first geotextile bag 1 (see fig. 9), the geotextile bag is filled to a desired relative density or dry density with fine RCA 15, compacted fine RCA, and the geotextile bag is sealed after filling and compaction are completed.

C. The soil 10 (e.g. a length of soil compacted 1300mm after the geotextile bags 1, 5) is compacted a distance after the geotextile bags 1,5 to the same total density as the existing soil before the slope excavation, wherein the compacted soil 10 is trimmed to an inclination angle of 45 degrees.

D. Between compacting the soil and after the geotextile bag 5 at the bottom of the ramp, coarse RCA 17 is placed, compacting the coarse RCA 17 to the desired relative or dry density.

E. The next row of units 3 containing geotextile bags is placed on top of the geotextile bags 1,5 and the same procedure in steps a to D is repeated until the desired height.

F. A watertight separator is installed at the top of the slope.

G. The compacted soil 10 is placed behind the geotextile bags at the top of the slope and the soil behind the geotextile bags of the last row 15 and 16 is compacted into a soil of 1300mm length and 250mm height (half of the height of the geotextile bags) to the same total density as the existing soil measured before the slope is excavated. The top height (highest level) of the compacted soil is trimmed to 1-2 degrees. The compacted soil is then trimmed to an inclination angle of 45 degrees.

H. Coarse RCA 17 is placed on top of the compacted soil and between the compacted soil 10 and the geotextile bag at the top of the ramp to compact the coarse RCA 17 to the desired relative or dry density.

I. A geotextile layer was placed after the geotextile bag and on top of the bulky RCA 17.

J. The fine RCA 15 is placed over the geotextile layer and after the geotextile bag and the fine RCA 15 is compacted to the desired relative or dry density, a surface drain is built behind the geotextile bag.

K. The planting medium 13 with the turf 70 as described above is placed on top of the geotextile layer and on top of the geotextile bag, the turf 70 being layered (sloped) toward the surface discharge 25.

And L, installing watertight separators on two sides of the geological barrier system at the slope.

M. surface drains are built on the top, sides 25 and 6 and bottom 7 of the ramp.

A surface drain is built to deliver water downstream (not shown).

Throughout this document, unless indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprise", "comprising", "including", and the like are to be construed as non-exhaustive or, in other words, mean "including, but not limited to".

Furthermore, while various embodiments have been discussed, it should be understood that the invention also covers combinations of the embodiments that have been discussed.

The invention described herein may include one or more ranges of values (e.g., height and diameter). A range of values will be understood to include all values within the range, including values defining the range, as well as values near the range, which result in the same or substantially the same result as values immediately adjacent to the value defining the boundary of the range.

Claims (18)

1. A geological barrier system for maintaining a slope, comprising: a unit comprising a first pouch capable of containing a plant growing medium, the first pouch having an opening for containing a plant configured to not interfere with the stacking of the pouches, and the opening comprising a cover covering the opening, and the cover being capable of directing the direction of plant growth, an anchoring mechanism attached to the base of the first pouch;

A second pocket capable of containing a first material, wherein the first material comprises a finely particulate material, wherein the second pocket is capable of being located on a first portion of the anchoring mechanism adjacent to the first pocket;

a second portion of the anchoring mechanism capable of receiving a second material, wherein the second material comprises coarse particulate material, wherein the second material comprises at least one hydraulic characteristic that contrasts with at least one hydraulic characteristic of the first material to form a capillary barrier; and

a third portion of the anchoring mechanism capable of receiving a third material comprising compacted soil, wherein the anchoring mechanism has indicia to demarcate the first portion, the second portion and the third portion,

wherein when the unit is used on a slope, the plant growing medium is at the front of the slope, the first material is behind the plant growing medium in the slope, the second material further enters the slope behind the first material, and the compacted soil is at the rear of the base of the slope.

2. The geological barrier system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the anchoring mechanism includes a greater surface area than the second portion of the anchoring mechanism.

3. The geological barrier system of claim 1 or 2, wherein said anchoring mechanism is removably attached to the base of said first bag.

4. The geological barrier system of claim 1, wherein said opening of said first bag includes a securing means for closing said bag and preventing leakage of said plant growing medium from said bag.

5. The geological barrier system of claim 4, wherein said securing means comprises a drawstring to limit the opening around the plant to a closed position.

6. The geological barrier system of claim 1, wherein said first bag includes a plurality of openings, each opening including a cover covering said opening.

7. The geological barrier system of claim 1, wherein said first bag further comprises a reinforcement.

8. The geological barrier system of claim 1, wherein said third portion is one half the length of said anchoring mechanism.

9. The geological barrier system of claim 1, further comprising perforated pipes for collecting rain water from the system and transferring the rain water away from the system.

10. The geological barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cells that, when in use, contain plant growth medium, first material, second material, and compacted soil, can be placed side-by-side and/or stacked on top of one another whereby cells stacked on top of another cell are biased, with a first pocket of a top cell being located at a junction where the first pocket is adjacent a second pocket of an underlying other cell.

11. A method of constructing a geological barrier for maintaining a slope, comprising the steps of:

forming a first layer by placing an anchoring mechanism attached to a base of a first bag of the unit at a base of the ramp;

filling a first bag with a plant growing medium, the first bag having an opening for receiving plants configured to not interfere with the stack of bags, and the opening comprising a cover covering the opening, and the cover being positionable to direct the direction of plant growth;

placing a second pocket of the unit on a first portion of the anchoring mechanism that is demarcated, adjacent to the first pocket;

filling the second bag with a first material, wherein the first material comprises a finely particulate material;

Placing a second material on a second portion of the anchoring mechanism, the second material comprising contrasting hydraulic characteristics relative to the first material, wherein the second material comprises coarse particulate material;

placing compacted soil on a third portion of the anchoring mechanism that is demarcated; and

forming a second or subsequent layer on top of the first or lower layer, wherein the first pocket of the second or subsequent layer is located at a junction of the first pocket adjacent to the second pocket of the first or lower layer,

wherein when the unit is used on a slope, the plant growing medium is at the front of the slope, the first material is behind the plant growing medium in the slope, the second material further enters the slope behind the first material, and the compacted soil is at the rear of the base of the slope.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first layer is formed by: placing a plurality of cells side by side, wherein each cell is adjacent to each next cell and each cell includes a first bag attached to the anchoring mechanism at a base of the first bag and a second bag placed on a first portion demarcated on the anchoring mechanism, filling each first bag with a plant growth medium, filling each second bag with a first material, placing a second material on each second portion, placing compacted soil on each third portion; a second layer is placed on top of the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of cells placed side-by-side on the first layer and embedded into the first layer such that each first pocket of the second layer is located at a junction of a first pocket adjacent to a second pocket of the first layer and/or a cell on top is located at a junction of a first pocket adjacent to a first pocket of an adjacent cell.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein plants are fixed in the openings.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the anchoring mechanisms is removably attached to the base of each of the first bags.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the opening of the first bag comprises a securing means for closing the bag and preventing leakage of plant growing medium from the first bag, wherein the securing means comprises a drawstring to restrict the opening around the plant in the closed position.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first bag comprises a plurality of openings, each opening comprising a cover covering the opening, wherein a plant is secured in each opening.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each first bag further comprises a stiffener.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein a perforated pipe for collecting stormwater from the system and diverting stormwater away from the system is placed at the base of the ramp.