Chair of Anti-Erosion Geotechnics

Chair: Chair of Anti-Erosion Geotechnics

Head of Chair: Dr. Nikola Živanović, assistant professor

Deputy Head of Chair: Dr. Nenad Marić, associate professor

Chair secretary:

Chair development:

The Chair of anti-erosion geotechnics was founded in 1997 at the initiative of Dr. Tiosav Todorović, full professor, who was head of the establishment of the Chair until his retirement in 2006. The need for the establishment of the Chair appeared due to the need to study physical and mechanical properties of the soil, the mechanism of formation of erosion processes, interaction of groundwaters and soil characteristics, as well as the specific conditions of design and construction of facilities in torrent control and erosion control works. Since the establishment of the Chair its subjects were: Fundamentals of geotechnics in torrent control, Hydrogeology with the geomorphology, Materials in erosion control works, Organization and machinery in erosion control works and Hydrology with hydraulics. With the decision of the Educational and scientific Council in 1998 the Chair established a postgraduate course called Anti-erosion geotechnics. Teaching in the postgraduate course was organized in the form of two sub courses, Hydraulics with hydrology of torrential flows and Anti-erosion geotechnics, with appropriate elective subjects.

From 2000 until today the subjects of the Chair are Fundamentals of geotechnics in torrent control, Hydrogeology with geomorphology, Materials in erosion control works. Since recently a number of elective courses have been introduced at all levels of the curriculum. Subjects which are studied at the Chair are directly related to erosion, torrential processes and environmental engineering in the protection of soil and water resources. Future engineers provide the necessary knowledge about the conditions of research, design and construction in torrent control and erosion control works as well as in environmental engineering for soil and water resources protection.
The priorities of the Chair of anti-erosion geotechnics in scientific and practical terms are the study and definition of the methods of ecological engineering necessary to protect the soil from erosion and protection and role of phreatic water aquifers in forest ecosystems.

So far, the following topics have been studied at the Chair through scientific and research work: physical characteristics of the soil and its correlation with erosion processes; internal erosion; groundwaters in terms of their use and protection of their adverse effects, soil physics in forest ecosystems; phreatic aquifer waters and their importance for forest ecosystems, soil consolidation and stabilization; environmental problems, protection, reclamation and revitalization, system studies and mathematical modeling approaches.

Further directions of the Chair development will be in the direction of: the impact of the biological components on the stability of slopes; the role of groundwater in the development of erosion processes, conservation and achievement of the vitality of forest ecosystems; the mechanism of erosion processes in forest areas; the possibility of applying modern materials to improve physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil, as well as the use of modern materials in construction; the use and protection of phreatic aquifer waters issued in biotechnical disciplines in erodible areas and forest ecosystems for the purpose of drainage, irrigation, rehabilitation of slope processes, environmental impacts, capturing groundwater, landfill remediation, renewable energy sources utilization; learning about the characteristic of quarries and reserves of various natural construction materials (stone, crushed stone, gravel, sand, clay) for the construction of bulkheads, dams, river dikes, etc.

The studied thematic areas have found application in professional practice through the development of projects, studies and reports, relating to the determination of physical and mechanical characteristics of the soil and defining geotechnical conditions of foundation and construction of water management facilities with special measures of stabilization of weak filled and collapsible soils; Research and defining of the quality and conditions for the exploitation of groundwater and making of drainage facilities; Design of structures for the exploitation of underground water and for the purposes of irrigation and drying and the construction of shallow drainage facilities; Works related to the excavation of foundation excavations, and the stability of foundation pits, drainage and drying of foundation pits, support elements, with the emphasis on ensuring internal erosion stability; Practical solutions for the construction of concrete structures and geotechnical terrain reclamation, technology and construction schedule; Projects of mine spoil reclamation of open pit mines with studies and tests of physical and mechanical soil properties in order to define the most appropriate solutions for technical and biological reclamation. In these projects, it is important to address the issue of erosion control on slopes by technical reclamation of the modeled terrain. Expert work and research of rehabilitation of landslides and unstable erosion phenomena and processes using technical and biotechnical solutions.

Professional or engineering and creative work of the Chair is abundant and diverse in the practice of successfully applied solutions. Rich engineering experience left a positive mark on the design of subjects taught by the Chair members reflected in good preparation and guidance of young colleagues (students) for the logics of the engineering approach in practical problem solving.

In those terms particularly significant efforts and results have been achieved in linking theoretical knowledge and many years of professional experience in research, design and construction in solving specific engineering tasks and performance of experiments and measurements in laboratory and field conditions.

Retired chair members:

Dr. Tiosav Todorović, full professor;

Dr. Vjačeslava Matić, full professor;

teh. Gradimir Živojinović, laboratory technician