Inventory of armourstone

Valéry Le Turdu,Marc Igigabel,Mikaël Dumas,Bruno Berenger,Jean-Paul Masset,Raphaël Bodet,Sébastien Barlier,Nicolas Robert,M Lang,F Klijn,P Samuels

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20160712006

Abstract

Natural armourstone is widely used for hydraulic works, both in the coastal domain and in border of rivers and torrents, especially to protect against flood and the effects of waves and currents. To meet the expectations associated with this resource, an inventory of armourstone quarries was realized on a national scale in France. This inventory informs not only about the localization of quarries but also about the quality and the availability of materials. To fully optimize this inventory in a dynamic format, the association of all actors of the sector was preferred to archival research. This partnership approach led to project deliverables that can constitute durably a shared reference. The database can indeed be updated regularly thanks to the contacts established with the professionals of quarries. The access to this database is offered to a wide public: maritime and fluvial ports, local authorities in charge of planning and managing structures that protect against flood and other hydraulic hazards. This new database was organized considering its importance on the operational plan. This led to a hierarchical organization at two levels for each quarry face: first level, a synthesis sheet brings the essential information to realize choices upstream to the operational phases. Second level, a detailed specification sheet presents the technical characteristics observed in the past on the considered face. The atlas has two information broadcasting formats: a pdf file with browsing functions and a geographical information system that allows remote request of the database. These two media have their own updating rhythms, annual for the first and continue for the second.

Highlights

In recent years, a number of situations exist where the knowledge of armourstone resource was insufficient
It is not uncommon that these materials with a rough appearance, which seems to be accessible in many landscapes, appear when projects are launched, to be the main source of difficulty for the conduct of operations
One common reason for this lack of information is that armourstones are often a by-product for quarries, the main products being either aggregates or ornamental stones

Summary

Introduction

A number of situations exist where the knowledge of armourstone resource was insufficient. Either to localise quarries that may produce armourstone or to know more precisely characteristics of materials, knowledges of project owners and project managers are often very patchy and lead in design to technical and economic choices that are not optimized. To produce a useful, shared and lasting Atlas in a dynamic format, the association of all the actors of the sector was preferred to an archival research. This desire to create a shared and sustainable reference founded the partnership approach adopted by Cerema and CNR (Rhône river National Company with quarries professional and the associations that represent them: UNPG (National Union of Aggregates Manufacturers) and CIGO (union of Independents Quarries from Great West) in particular

Objectives of the atlas

Principles

Study protocol

Organization of information: key features and detailed specification