How to select a Geosystem?

The following should be taken into account when deciding upon the best type of Geosystem for the specific application:

Technical suitability for the required application is the first criterion to be considered when choosing a Geosystem.

The following factors should be taken in to account:

• The foundation materials under the proposed structure;
• The suitability of the intended backfill materials;
• The compatibility of these backfill materials with the various geo-components making up the candidate Geosystem;
• Ease of construction, access, plant and labour requirements, including potential requirements for manual lifting /handling, and PPE requirements;
• Safety of the workforce and the general public during and after construction;
• Operation and maintenance of the structure, including methods of repair in the event of damage from impact, fire or vandalism.

Comparing the costs of different Geosystems requires familiarity with the process and consideration of all the pros and cons associated with materials, labour and time.

The following considerations should be made:

• The real cost of a system taking into account duration of construction, type of workforce required (skilled or unskilled), secondary materials and construction plant (specialist or commonly available). This can be estimated by requiring the supplier to provide a method statement for the works together with a quote for the Geosystem components;
• Whether low specification fills, often found on site, can be used; and
• The quality control requirements associated with the assessment of materials found on site and their placement.

Public and private clients and construction contractors are increasingly embracing the concept of sustainable construction: this results in specific tender requirements (see the Procurement Module) and adoption of sustainability practices and evaluation criteria (see the Sustainability Module).

Environmental considerations to take into account include:

• Potential resource efficiency savings, particularly in terms of avoided waste and avoided import of virgin materials, and use of recycled or on site materials;
• Greenhouse gas emissions performance (carbon footprint);
• Potential for visual integration with existing landscape;
• Minimisation of impacts on local biodiversity or potential for the provision of a new habitat.

The case studies provide examples of how the carbon footprint of different engineering solutions, including Geosystems, can be calculated. A forthcoming review of the CO₂ estimator will provide a decision making tool to be used when comparing different construction methods.