What are green GEOWEB® Retaining Walls?

While "green" can refer to the actual fascia color of the wall, in this case the "green" in the GEOWEB Green Retaining Walls refers to its role as an ecological alternative to traditional mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall systems. The GEOWEB Walls can be designed in a variety of configurations to meet specific site and reinforcement requirements, presenting a green living wall alternative.
Individual wall panels consist of an interconnected network of corrosion-resistant, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geocells that are installed in a step-like configuration to create horizontal terraces. The exposed outer fascia cells create a natural environment for select vegetation and plantings. Indigenous vegetation or specified plantings may be incorporated to enhance aesthetics and sustainability-making the system "green" on multiple levels.

What are some advantages of using the GEOWEB Earth Retention System to build retaining walls compared to other MSE wall systems?

 
The GEOWEB green walls have several advantages beyond just aesthetic appeal when compared to other MSE systems. While the fascia is color-matched to surroundings-available in green or tan-and offers a structured, natural look, the system also allows for both vertical and lateral drainage, effectively mitigating the buildup of hydrostatic pressure. The flexible structure conforms naturally to the landscape, performs well with moderate differential settlement, and retains its strength even after settling-challenges with which a concrete block wall or a poured-in-place wall would struggle.

Research has also shown that geocell-based retaining walls perform better than rigid materials when subjected to seismic loads and suffer far less deformation. From an installation perspective, the individual sections can be installed quickly and easily without heavy equipment and are typically 25 to 30% faster to install than other MSE options. The sections can easily be trimmed to fit around existing infrastructure, trees, culverts, or other obstructions. In terms of long-term durability, HDPE is extremely weather-resistant and will not crack, spall, rot, or corrode, which is a major advantage over other systems that incorporate conventional materials such as concrete, steel, or timber. There are also notable carbon costing benefits when compared to other MSE systems.

In which types of applications do the GEOWEB Vegetated Retaining Walls perform well?

Some natural-fit applications for GEOWEB Retaining Walls include bioengineered walls, steepened embankments, dike and levee protection, culvert headwalls, vegetated channel structures, change-in-grade landscape walls, and sound berms. The GEOWEB walls have even been used as resource protection barriers, including as an avalanche protection system for a municipality, and for landslide repair!

What are the different wall types that can be designed?
• Steepened Slopes
• Reinforced Walls
• Gravity Walls
• Multi-Layered Channel Systems

How do I design and specify the GEOWEB Retaining Wall System?

Presto Geosystems offers free licensing for our GEOWEB MSE design program, and you can create vegetated and non-vegetated MSE designs for reinforced slopes, as well as gravity and geogrid-reinforced walls. The software is based on industry-standard design methods and contains specific algorithms that capture the unique interaction between the GEOWEB System, infill, foundation and backfill soils, geogrid reinforcement, and desired factors of safety.

Presto Geosystems also offers a free project evaluation service, where our in-house engineering team (myself included) will assess your project needs and deliver a structurally sound, cost-effective solution. We also offer customizable CSI-Specs in minutes for fast-built product specifications. For assistance with designs and specifications, please contact us at www.prestogeo.com or 800-548-3424.

As seen in LASN magazine, July 2025.