Hydraulic and Biotechnical Structures

Hydraulic and biotechnical structures cover the engineering solutions used on forest roads, at stream crossings, and in watersheds to direct water flow in a controlled way and to prevent land degradation. The field includes culverts, drainage pipes and structures, retaining elements, and stream rehabilitation works, together with biotechnical applications supported by living plant material. An undersized culvert can cause the road body to fail during a flood, which is why the hydraulic design and placement of these structures are central topics in forest road engineering.