Moreland Hills Soft Soil Challenge
Jeff Filarski, PE, Chagrin Valley Engineering, Cleveland, Ohio
The village of Moreland Hills, Ohio faced a challenge of retaining soils in a problematic soft soil area.
Piling systems were expensive and a concrete solution in the natural environment was undesirable.
The goal was to create a sustainable environment using green solutions so CVE worked with the manufacturer Presto Geosystems.
Other wall types were considered including concrete and modular block, but the GEOWEB vegetated retaining wall system was selected for its natural aesthetics and lower cost. GEOWEB® earth retention system had many positive features including its flexibility, ability to withstand reasonable differential settlement in soft soil environments, and ability to be vegetated.
It is a more economical system that does not require invasive equipment such as augers or H piles, making it the ideal choice.
The environmental benefits of using this system were also a major factor:
Outer facia provides a natural environment for vegetation
Horizontal terraces maximize rainwater collection, minimizing storm water runoff and erosion
Contributes to LEED® green building credits for reducing site disturbance and development footprint, reducing stormwater runoff
Lifetime solution that is flexible and will not crack with settlement