Top Five Sediment Control Methods

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Sediment control is an important part of maintaining a site. If not implemented, these areas easily become eroded. Wash off from some areas can pollute nearby streams, lakes, and rivers. The following methods offer the best protection and control.

Inlet Protection

One popular type of control is an inlet protection. Drop inlets are secured either around, above, or below the sewage grate. These appliances are often made of non-woven geotextiles. Some are made of synthetic fiberboard or wood chunks. For the drops used below sewer grates, an overflow opening is built-in to the design.

Curb inlet protection apparatuses are often tubing covered in a geofiber fabric. Sometimes the PVC is wrapped in polypropylene material. These products are placed in front of curbside inlets, keeping out sediment, pollutants, and debris from entering storm drains. This protection device does have an overflow gap and filter built in to keep the street from becoming flooded during use.

Perimeter Control

If the construction site is larger than just small repairs along the road, a perimeter device is necessary. Perimeter controls are put in place as a temporary measure, just until permanent ground covers can be put in place. There are several different types of apparatuses used for this task.

Sediment control fences provide a barrier that slows the runoff. It also helps to keep all sediment inside the work site and limits the filtering of sediment out of the site.

In addition to fences, sidewalk barriers help to transport the sediment off-site. This is a temporary trap for runoff. These may be used in conjunction with storm drain inlet devices.

Sediment Traps

In addition to placing barriers around inlets and construction sites, sediment traps are often employed. Scientists usually use these traps to study the quantity of particulates in lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. However, they can be used in any water system to trap some sediment and keep the runoff from getting into the ecosystem.

Concrete Washout

Making and washing concrete is a major contributor to contamination. A washout helps to contain the runoff. A berm works with mixers, trucks, and wheelbarrows. It allows the concrete to be poured directly in and used. The berm then allows the contaminated water to evaporate safely.

For those who need something that will filter liquid and recycle aggregate for several washouts, a concrete filter is a better option. While it won’t work as well with wheelbarrows, it is compatible with trucks and mixers. The filter pulls sediment from water and reduces the pH. This allows the water to discharge into vegetation when finished.

Check Dam

Check dams are a final way to control sediment at a worksite. This is a temporary structure placed over a drainage ditch, waterway, or swale. This structure interrupts water flow. It also flattens the channel gradient, slowing the flow of water. These structures have been known to collect sediment, however, they should not be the first choice for sediment control since they are not intended for this purpose.

Overview of Antique Surveying Processes

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Photo Of A Land Surveyor - Garrett & Associates

Land surveying dates back to ancient eras. In fact, the Egyptians likely utilized surveying as they planned and constructed the great pyramids. People have long understood the importance of accurate land surveying because it sets boundaries, which determine who owns which plots of land. In years past, the process was often inaccurate due to rudimentary equipment. Sometimes the surveyor used tools that were of poor quality or in disrepair.

Ancient tools often included the use of sticks, rope, chains, and even body parts such as fingers, feet, and hands. Issues with accuracy were common for surveyors using these tools. As time progressed, equipment advanced to the use of tape measures, slide rulers, logarithmic tables, and calculators.

Land surveying has developed exponentially due to inventions such as the computer and the microchip. With these new technological advances, the process has become both faster and more accurate. Surveyors of today have a wealth of equipment at their disposal. Some of the latest equipment includes:

– Satellite positioning systems that are capable of measuring points or features virtually anywhere on earth from space. An increase in data points utilized has led to clearer images.

– Geographic information system software, which can capture data and analyze it to create highly detailed digital maps.

– Terrestrial mobile LIDAR scanning has the capability of gathering data taken at high speeds to streamline the process.

– Robotic total stations can calculate slope distances down to the nearest centimeter at the touch of a button.

– 3D laser scanners have the ability to interpret shapes of land to aid in visualization and analysis.

Modern land surveying demands monitoring current technology on a continual basis to stay abreast of new developments and equipment. As newer technology allows professionals to plan projects more precisely, they can ensure the best possible land use, which benefits both clients and the environment.