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Change in weather patterns, deforestation and settlements in high risk areas are reasons for landslides and soil erosion. The following solution describes a technical measure that is cost efficient and easy-to-implement. It is a way to prevent erosion on slopes and roads and to protect roads, houses and land from landslides. Used car tires are piled up along an insecure hillside. These tires are filled with a mixture of sand and cement to prevent the flow of water, which would affect the construction.
GIZ
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Innovative Solution
Disaster Risk Reduction, Landslides, Erosion Prevention, Disaster Preventive Infrastructure
technical
Change in weather patterns, deforestation and settlements in high risk areas are reasons for landslides and soil erosion.
The following solution describes a technical measure that is cost efficient and easy-to-implement. It is a way to prevent erosion on slopes and roads and to protect roads, houses and land from landslides. Used car tires are piled up along an insecure hillside. These tires are filled with a mixture of sand and cement to prevent the flow of water, which would affect the construction.
The advantages of this construction are:
· It is adaptable to different slopes or roads
· The system is very easy to build and does not require special training or qualification
· The purchase of the material is simple
· The costs are low
· The maintenance is minimal and simple
· Long-lasting durability
· Supports the decontamination and cleaning of streets
· Rain, sunshine and strong winds do not have any effect on the construction.
The steps of construction are the following:
Before the first layer of car tires is placed, the ground needs to be flattened and straightened. If necessary the soil should be mixed with cement (20:1 – 20 units of sand to 1 unit of cement) in order to provide a stable foundation. In a next step the car tires are placed in a row and bound to each other with galvanized wire for the purpose of stabilization. All the car tires are then densely filled with the mixture of sand and cement. The high density is important in order to prevent wind and rain water for example to destabilize the construction.
Similarly, rows of tires are placed and bound with wire alternating to each other until the required height is reached.
This tool has been implemented in rural communities in Guatemala and El Salvador.
It is not limited to any area or climatic condition. It will mainly be required in rural mountainous areas that are likely to be affected by erosion.
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Partner Institutions: Social Investment Fund for Local Development, El Salvador, Office of the Vice President of Guatemala
The construction of these tire walls within the target communities is completed. Other communities are now beginning to copy these measures with support by the government.
What are alternative ways to prevent soil erosion?
An example of a low cost disaster preventive infrastructure project?
How to prevent landslides?
How to stabilize hillsides?
One of the key outputs is to secure areas prone to be affected by landslides. The solution is easy to implement and inexpensive.
Involving members of the communities that are threatened by landslides into the planning and implementing process not only is a form of capacity building, but also raises awareness. Moreover this will lead to greater acceptance and ownership for this project among the target population.
The benefit gained from a reduction of the risk of landslides is very high, while the cost and effort that this measure requires is low. The cost of the building material is small as are personnel costs. No skilled personnel is required. The solution is effective and long lasting with little requirements in terms of maintenance.
Empowerment of women, enhancement of social cohesion as well as a participative approach are key elements of success during the implementation of disaster risk reduction measures in vulnerable societies.
Natural incidences are more likely to result in disasters in less developed countries, due to the lack of prevention and coping mechanisms. Additionally these disasters hinder development in those areas respectively trigger underdevelopment. Therefore, areas less prone to disasters are expected to develop gradually.
The solution is usable in all contexts and the potential for replication is high. No special skill for the building of the tire wall is necessary, once the structure has been understood.
This measure is well suited to areas prone to landslides with no or only a small amount of means for disaster preventive infrastructure.
A participative and transparent approach during the planning phase is useful in order to increase acceptance among the target communities. Further this will ensure the maintenance of the construction.
This acceptance and the necessary political will are essential for this measure’s success.
The Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department of the European Union (ECHO) advised their implementing partners in Guatemala and El Salvador to take two days of training with GIZ in those countries in order to learn from experiences there.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Dag-Hammarskjöld- Weg 1-5
65760 Eschborn
Deutschland
T +49 61 96 79 – 0
F +49 61 96 79 – 11 15
I www.giz.de
Article in “Akzente” 04/2011
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