Towards Enhancing Awareness on Sustainable Development: A Survey of the Types, Functional Uses and Project-Level Applications of Geosynthetics

Although geosynthetics are sustainable materials for developing sustainable civil infrastructures, there is a low level of awareness among key stakeholders in the construction industry. Hence, the low project-level applications of geosynthetics globally. This desk study enhances the awareness level of geosynthetics among industry stakeholders as it seeks to give a more comprehensive literature account of geosynthetics highlighting the main types, functional uses, and project-level applications of geosynthetics in the development of sustainable civil infrastructures. The study employed the narrative literature review approach. The outcome revealed applications of twelve (12) main types of geosynthetics in the development of thirty-one (31) sustainable civil infrastructures. Project-level applications of geosynthetics included highways, ponds, airfields, and retaining structures. The main types of geosynthetics included geotextile and geomembrane. Primarily, the functional uses of the geosynthetics included soil reinforcement, stabilization, and filtration. This study informs stakeholders in the construction industry of the available geosynthetics that could be employed in the development of sustainable civil infrastructures. Also, it provides a more comprehensive basis for future country-specific studies that seek to evaluate project-level applications of geosynthetics in the development of sustainable civil infrastructures.