Introduction to Lightweight Construction Mats
Construction projects often encounter the challenge of accessing sites with soft soils, leading to delays and increased costs. These sites are sometimes in remote, hard-to-reach areas, making a reliable site access system essential. Traditional construction mats, made from materials like timber, laminate, steel, and composite, can be effective but are often expensive and require heavy equipment for installation, posing risks to laborers. An ideal mat system would offer a high utility-to-weight ratio and be an eco-friendly alternative to current options.
The Innovation of GEOTERRA® Mats
In 2003, Presto Products introduced the GEOTERRA® mat system, made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), to meet the needs of major oil and gas companies operating in the Amazon jungle. These lightweight yet strong mats were designed for easy transportation by helicopter, providing efficient work platforms and roadways. GEOTERRA® mats leverage the sustainable properties of recycled polyethylene, offering a lightweight and effective solution for various remote access applications.
Benefits of the GeoTerra® Portable Mat System
The GeoTerra® Portable Mat System is a versatile and efficient solution for construction access. These lightweight mats can be deployed and installed without heavy equipment, even in remote areas, making them ideal for oil and gas platforms and access roads. Typical applications include working platforms for oil and gas exploration, maintenance and access roads for transmission lines, pipelines, wind power generation, and mining operations. Additionally, they can be used for walkways in soft soils, storage pads, and helipads. The GEOTERRA® mat system also serves as a tracking pad to remove excess soil from vehicle treads, addressing issues associated with traditional aggregate tracking pads.
Installation and Environmental Impact
One of the key advantages of lightweight HDPE mats is their installation without heavy equipment, reducing the risk of injury and minimizing equipment needs. The mats use a steel torsion-tightened “PadLoc®” system for strong connections and load transfer between sections, allowing for quick installation in remote sites. Made from up to 97% recycled polyethylene, these mats do not degrade, weather, or leach into the subsurface. They effectively dissipate pore water pressure, providing a safe, dry working surface for construction equipment and workers. The high-strength geotextile underlayment prevents soil upwelling and allows the system to “float” over poor soils. In pervious soil conditions, the open cell mat design acts as porous pavement, reducing the need for additional drainage components. In other cases, a geocomposite can be used to direct precipitation off the working surface.
Conclusion
The GeoTerra® Portable Mat System is a robust solution for bridging soft, organic soils while supporting heavy loads. By combining lightweight portable mat systems with the appropriate underlayer and anchoring system, even the most challenging site conditions can be managed effectively. For very soft soils with a low California Bearing Ratio (CBR), additional load support can be provided by cellular confinement (geocell) systems.
