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Effect evaluation of shotcrete vegetation mulching technique applied to steep concrete-face slopes on a highway of Taiwan

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Abstract

The Shotcrete Vegetation Mulching Technique (SVMT) was introduced to revegetate existing steep concrete-face slopes. By mixing cement and greening additives with hydraulic mulching materials in a particular proportion and directly spraying the mixture on steep concrete-face slopes, SVMT was proven to be superior to several traditional methods. SVMT can make a slope surface resistant to erosion within a short time (the uniaxial compressive strength of the slope was higher than 294.3 kN/m2 on the 14th day), create an environment suitable for plant growth (the vegetation coverage rate on the 90th day was higher than 90%) and foster a plant community capable of natural succession (competition and succession among Bermudagrass, turf-type tall fescue, hairy beggarticks, chamber bitter, oriental false hawksbeard, American burnweed, Pacific Island silvergrass, and inchplant were observed), effectively improving wildlife habitat and increasing biodiversity (small arthropods were found on the site, including spiders, grasshoppers, ants, ladybirds, etc.). Furthermore, the ecological engineering effects of SVMT on the experiment site were evaluated according to Mitsch and Jørgensen’s 19 Ecological Design Principles. It was found that the site treated with SVMT conformed to principles 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, and 16.

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Acknowledgments

This study could not have been completed without the contributions of the following institutions and individuals. The authors would like to thank the National Freeway Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, R.O.C. and Hard Rock Eng. Co. Ltd. for their financial support and the execution of test application; Mr. Cheng-ping Chang for linguistic review; and Mr. Kuo-lang Shih and Ms. Jung-hua Chen for their enormous assistance in the experiment and graphics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC

    Jen-Chen Fan, Chien-Lin Huang & Chih-Hsiang Yang

  2. Department of Construction Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Section 4, Keelung Road, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC

    Kuo-Wei Liao

  3. Northern Region Water Resources Office, Water Resources Agency Ministry of Economic Affairs, 2, Jiaan Road, Jiaan Village, Longtan Township, Taoyuan County, 325, Taiwan, ROC

    Wen-Wen Liao

Authors
  1. Jen-Chen Fan
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  2. Chien-Lin Huang
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  3. Chih-Hsiang Yang
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  4. Kuo-Wei Liao
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  5. Wen-Wen Liao
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Correspondence to Chien-Lin Huang.

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Fan, JC., Huang, CL., Yang, CH. et al. Effect evaluation of shotcrete vegetation mulching technique applied to steep concrete-face slopes on a highway of Taiwan. Paddy Water Environ 11, 145–159 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-011-0300-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-011-0300-4

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