GeoDuct, joining forces with nature
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GeoDuct, joining forces with nature
 

GeoDuct, joining forces with nature

Infrastructure projects typically bear a sizeable ecological footprint and often lead to significant environmental impact due to the extraction, processing, and transport processes. At the same time, large segments of existing Dutch infrastructure must be replaced and/or renovated (Replace & Renovate programme). The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) has set its objective to become fully circular from 2030 and has appealed to the market via the SBIR Programme (Strategic Business Innovation Research) to develop innovative circular viaducts that can be reused repeatedly. Iv-Infra took on this task and developed the so-called GeoDuct with various partners, including Dura Vermeer, Geotec Solutions, Heusker, Wagemaker, Ploegam and Zwarts & Jansma Architects.

The GeoDuct

The GeoDuct is a viaduct built entirely from area-specific, local soils confined within geotextiles. The natural curve of the arch distributes the forces and eliminates the need for a pile foundation. The soils are not bound or mixed, and the geotextile can be recycled, biobased or designed to be fully removable. Thus, resulting in a lower environmental impact in terms of circularity and CO₂ emissions.

A circular concept

The lower environmental impact with regard to circularity stems from the use of primary and secondary materials. The GeoDuct uses 95% less primary materials compared to a traditional viaduct made of concrete and steel. And because the GeoDuct is 100% removable, the raw materials are highly reusable, unlike concrete reinforced with steel. When steel-reinforced concrete reaches the end of its lifespan or is removed, it no longer retains the value of primary raw materials and can only be recycled.

  Lower CO₂ emissions

The use of materials largely determines the CO₂ emissions of a viaduct. The production of materials such as concrete and steel generates high levels of CO₂ emissions. When geotextile and soil are used, these emissions are significantly reduced or not even applicable, respectively. Based on indicative calculations, the development (production materials + construction site activities) of the GeoDuct emits 50% less CO₂ than a conventional viaduct made of concrete and steel.

 

Constructive feasibility

Currently, the constructive feasibility has been established mathematically, and we now aim to demonstrate the GeoDuct in a suitable test environment. The design needs to be further developed to build the prototype on the desired scale. Following this, the prototype will be constructed and extensively tested. If the innovation achieves the prototype level TRL6, the participants will consider the GeoDuct concept sufficiently proven to be included in innovative tender projects. The remaining detail engineering will subsequently take place within the first commercial project.