Estimation of the carbon sequestration potential of ecological retaining structures: A comparative study

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the environmental impacts of geotechnical engineering are often neglected. The utilization of geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) and ecological slope protection technology presents promising and eco-friendly alternatives, paving the way for a cleaner future. In this study, the temporal and spatial distribution of the carbon coefficient (CC) and embodied energy coefficient (EEC) are characterized through data analysis. Subsequently, the impact of spatial factors on the total embodied carbon (TEC) is considered. Finally, the carbon sequestration effect of vegetation through photosynthesis is quantified to examine the long-term environmental impact of the selected design options. The findings suggest that embodied carbon (EC) is preferable as an indicator for environmental impact assessment. The GRS technology can effectively mitigate approximately one-third of the environmental impacts compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, when combined with vegetation, GRS technology can achieve net-zero emissions approximately 30 years after the construction of the ecological retaining structure. Although many factors are not considered in this study, the results may inform initial decisions to realize more sustainable infrastructure.