Project Report Main Drainage Channel - Branzoll - Krismer

J. KRISMER Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H 

A - 6020 Innsbruck - Rum | Bundesstrasse 23 | Tel. (0043) 512/ 263800 | Fax. 263819 

E-mail: office@krismer.at | http://www.krismer.com 

Project Report 

Main Drainage Channel - Branzoll 

Bozen, South Tyrol/Italy 

MAIN DRAINAGE CHANNEL - BRANZOLL 1 / 13 

© 2007 J. KRISMER Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H. • This document is protected by copyright law. All rights reserved. 

Slope/ Embankment Stabilisation 

Hydraulic Engineering/ Drainage 

Retaining Structures 

Services Special Constructions Rockfall/ Avalanche Protection




Project Data Slope/ Embankment Stabilisation 

Contractor Consortium for the Main Drainage Channel - Branzoll 

Gerbergasse 24 

I - 39100 Bozen 

Planning company Studio Technico - Associato VOLANTE MONTALI 

Theaterplatz 23/II 

I - 39012 Meran 

Execution of construction Dept. of Torrent and Avalanche Control for South Tyrol 

Cesare Battisti Straße 23 

I - 39100 Bozen 

Task Widening and heightening of the main drainage channel; 

Construction of service streets and cycle tracks on both 

bank sides within the existing boundaries 

Construction methods Riprapping and Embankment stabilisation 

with the Krismer System® 

Execution time Autumn 2001 until Summer 2002 

Project volume Total length of the embankment: ~ 3.600 m (2 x 1.800 m) 

Reconstruction surface: ~ 18.200 m² 

Integration of the System Krismer ® into border zones: ~ 5400 m² 

Inclination of the embankment: - 45 ° 

Height of the embankment: 6 – 6.5 m 









Initial Situation Slope/ Embankment Stabilisation 

On account of the global climate changes and the increase of extreme weather caprioles 

conditioned thereby, the frequency and amplitude of extreme flood events has strongly 

increased in wide parts of Europe during the past years. From this was also concerned the 

main drainage channel of Branzoll which could not lead away the occurred flood. 

This led to the fact that the adjoining cultural landscape and the fruit plantations were 

flooded over and over again. Besides, the embankments of the drainage channel were 

strongly attacked in the course of the time, so that the maintenance was not possible any 

more. 

Hence, it was the central task to enlarge the channel according to a higher, acceptable 

calculated quantity of water. Accordingly the drainage cross section was to be extended in 

his width and height. 

The embankment should be carried out with an inclination of approx. 42° - 45° and with a 

surface drainage. Besides, a wash-out of fine parts should be prevented as much as possible. 

The construction method with the Krismer System® was predestined to meet these 

requirements for the embankment stabilisation optimally. 

Abb. 1: Main drainage channel before beginning the construction works 









Embankment Stabilisation with the Krismer System® - System Structure Slope/ Embankment Stabilisation 

Embankment surface: 

(starting from the finished embankment surface) 

- layer of top soil (thickness ~ 3 cm) with seeds (for the formation of a compact sward) 

- Krismer System®: three-dimensional steel grid panel (J.K.S. panel), type J.K.S. A02-80|1.5-FEZ, 

height = 8 cm, fixed with special ground nails (with welded-on hook and point) and 

strengthened with hot-dip galvanised distribution rods Ø 12 mm, type R12/2500 or R12/3700 

- gravel filling (into the three-dimensional J.K.S. panel): 

grain size 32/60 mm, cubature 6 m³/100 m² 

- geotextile: width = 4 m, grammage 200g/m² 

Integration of the Krismer System® at the embankment base 

(border zone - riprapping / Krismer System®): 

- cover net: wire netting, type Maccafferi, mesh size 50/70 mm, wire size 2 mm, galvanised, 

up-clasped with steel clips, type Spenax 11 G 40 

- sack gabions: Ø 0.5 m, length = 2 m 

- geotextile: width = 2 m, grammage 200g/m² 









Project Realisation Slope/ Embankment Stabilisation 

Fig. 2: Widening of the existing riverbed and constructing of the 

required embankment inclination 

Fig. 3: Delivery of river stones for the construction of a stone wall 

(riprapping) for the integration of the embankment in the river sole 









Fig. 4: Placing of the river stones 

Fig. 5: Integration of the Krismer System® at the embankment base 










For the integration of the Krismer System® at the embankment base a wire netting (type 

Maccaferri, mesh size 50/70 mm, width = 4 m) and about that a layer of geotextile 

(grammature 200 g/m ², width = 2 m) was laid along the riprapping. By means of sack 

gabions (fig. 5) the wire netting and the geotextile were weighted. 

The wire netting had to show a river-sided excess end of 2-3 m, so that it could be folded after 

integration of the Krismer System® (back-sided of the sack gabions) about the sack gabions 

and be fastened at the three-dimensional J.K.S. panels. 

The steady integration of the system is guaranteed by the high extra load of the sack 

gabions. 

Besides, sack gabions were laid on the stone wall (riprapping) along the whole length. They 

have the function to prevent a possible erosion of the embankment surface by the water due 

to gaps between the coarse block stones. 

Fig. 6: Wire netting, geotextile and sack gabions were used for the integration 

of the Krismer System® at the embankment base 










The step-by-step installation of the whole embankment stabilisation system proceeded as 

follows: 

First of all, the embankment surface was cleaned. Uneven terrains were filled-up. Then the 

geotextile was laid as a lowest layer (fig. 7) on the embankment surface. This serves to 

prevent a wash-out of fine parts. 

The geotextiles (width = 4 m) were overlapped 20 cm at the longitudinal-sided joining. In the 

course of that the excess end of the geotextile which was used for the system integration on 

the embankment base was also overlapped by these geotextiles. 

Fig. 7: Installation of the geotextile on the embankment surface 

After a low follow-up time the installation team started to join the single J.K.S. panels 

longitudinally and laterally to bigger units at the level area which is bordering to the 

embankment. 

These units were laid on the geotextile (fig. 8, 9) and interconnected with rust-free wire 

binding loops, by overlapping. Besides, it was to be paid attention to the fact that the J.K.S. 

panels are laid on the embankment crosswise to the fall line and against the flow direction of 

the watercourse (fig. 9). 

The steady anchorage in the subsoil occurred by means of special T-steel nails which were 

rammed into the subsoil. 

For the rise of the compound effect of the Krismer System®, distribution rods were inserted 

consecutively in the J.K.S. panels. 










Fig. 8: Installation of the J.K.S. panels, pre-assembled to bigger units 

Fig. 9: Laying the units of the J.K.S. panels crosswise to the fall line of the 

embankment and against the flow direction of the watercourse 










Fig. 10: Ramming of the ground nails 

Ramming of the ground nails took 

place after a defined raster which 

was calculated - as well as the nail 

lengths - according to the static 

requirements 

Fig. 11: Integration of the Krismer System® into the adjacent area (border zone) 










At the top of the embankment the complete system was integrated into the border zone on 

a width of about 1.5 m. Along the tear-off edge the J.K.S. panels were fastened with earth 

nails in the distance of approx. 1 m. 

The application of the Krismer System® for the embankment stabilisation enables a surface 

drainage. For this the concept of the system intends a filling of the J.K.S. panels with gravel 

(grain size 32/60 mm). These works were carried out with an excavator from the terrain 

bordering to the embankment. 

Afterwards the J.K.S. panels were filled with humus. 

The sowing took place by use of mineral as well as biological (long time)fertiliser. The plant 

growth should be thereby accelerated and a quick rooting be reached what leads to an 

additional strengthening of the erosion protection. 

At customer's option it was renounced the installation of the cover net. 

Fig. 12: Filling of gravel and humus 

into the J.K.S. panels with 

an excavator 










Fig. 13: Embankment stabilisation with the Krismer System® (03/2004) 

A year after finishing the construction work a post-fertilisation of the embankment surface 

took place. This serves for the fact that an even steadier and compact sward can be formed 

(fig.13). 








Stabilisation 



Embankment 

Results Slope/ 

In the course of the extension of the main drainage channel Branzoll the Krismer System® for 

the stabilisation of the embankment was applied. 

Up to the present the following effects could be achieved as a verifiable result of this 

construction measure: 

• sustainable protection of the embankment from erosion 

• the excellent compound effect and the stable construction of the J.K.S. panels counteract 

the flow pressure optimally 

• the carried out embankment stabilisation drains perfect and prevents a high formation of 

flow pressure 

• the stabilised layer of top soil forms the base for a lasting growth 

• the application of the Krismer System® enabled carrying out the embankment stabilisation 

very well with an inclination of 45°, so that several hectares of valuable cultural landscape 

could be won 

Fig. 14: Main drainage channel - Branzoll (03/2004)

Project Report Main Drainage Channel - Branzoll - Krismer

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