Gabions are containers filled with sand or earth used in civil engineering, military and road construction. They can be cylindrical or square, made of various materials, and used for erosion prevention, flood walls, and military fortifications.
Derived from the Italian word gabion, a gabion is a container filled with sand or earth. The device is frequently used in civil engineering projects as well as some military applications and general road construction. Gabions have been in use since medieval times and are still employed today by many civil engineers.
In actual construction, the gabion is a bit like a cage. The cage can be cylindrical or shaped like a square or rectangular box. The cage can be constructed of a number of different materials, depending on the application. In some cases the gabion is made with the use of metals, while the gabions intended for temporary use can be composed of an external casing of canvas or similar material. Wick has also been used as the preferred material for a gabion.
One of the most common uses today for a gabion is to create a barrier that prevents erosion. Strategically building a retaining wall to prevent silt and topsoil from being washed away during heavy rains or even flooding can preserve land for crops and secure land for the use of buildings, airstrips and other functions. Often, these types of gabions are made from metal or other materials that won’t break down in the short term.
Similarly, a gabion can be used to build a temporary flood wall. Stacking the gabions can help save buildings from flood damage and allow the waters to recede once the disaster is under control. As the collection of gabions is temporary, they can easily be removed once the crisis has passed. Often a qualified civil engineer will supervise the installation and removal of the gabion wall.
In the past the gabion was also a means of protecting troops on the battlefield. Gabion cages made of wicker and filled with sand provided fast barriers and structures that would protect the artillery from enemy arrows and bullets. These types of military fortifications could be assembled in a short period of time and, if necessary, also dismantled for rapid advancement.
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