​The word “gabion”comes from an old Italian word, gabbione, that means “big cage”. Around 7000 years ago, early gabion type structures protected the bank of river Nile. In middle ages, gabions were used as military forts. In earlier history, civil engineers have extensively used gabions for stabilization of banks, coasts, highways and erosion control of slopes. From the banks of river Nile, where they were created up to today, gabion walls are a benefit for the landscape. It is used for thousands of years as a gravity type retaining structure and makes a attractive, efficient and cheap wall system.
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​Gabion walls are executed mainly in the purpose of soil stabilization behind the wall, but it can also be executed as a cover wall. The wall is made from gabion baskets that are stacked in one or more rows, depending on the height of the wall. Baskets have a cage shape and are closed on all sides. They are made from a galvanized hexagonal meshes and broken rock that are placed in the baskets. Retaining structures are formed by stacking gabion baskets in a proper schedule and present an alternative solution for concrete structures in the area of soil stabilization.

Gabion walls have an application mostly in road engineering, e.g. construction of roads, embankments, retaining walls, slope protection, water barriers etc., and can have different functions:
• creation of a barrier that prevents soil erosion in coast and embankment stabilization
• prevention of sliding and washouts
• water speed reduction in prevention of soil erosion in water ways
• noise protection
• aesthetic fence structures for gardens

​Benefits of gabion walls:
• Aesthetic – gabion walls look natural and by using natural materials fits into the environment
• Compatibility with the environment – using the material made by excavations the costs of acquisition and transport are significantly reduced
• Is used as a cooling system in hot climate conditions and provides passive cooling by air movement
• Water permeability – gabion walls are permeable and are not damaged by passing water
• Efficiency of gabion walls can increase in time, since the vegetation fills voids and strengthens the wall structure
• Soil movements don’t negatively influence gabion walls, which is an advantage in regard to stiffer structures (reinforced concrete walls)
• Longevity – stone blocks are materials that are frequently used because of their longevity, durability and stability. Usually the stone is selected because of aesthetic attributes or the possibility of excavation produced material usage.
Common gabion basket dimensions are 2,0 x 1,0 x 1,0 m. Galvanized mesh has a hexagonal shape with the eye size X x Y = 8,0 x 10,0 cm.