 U.S.A. - Colorado. Hydraulic Laboratory at the Engineering Research Centre, Colorado State University. |
 France - Grenoble. SOGREAH Ingenieurs Conseils. |
 Holland - Rotterdam. Delft Hydraulic Laboratory at Hartel Kanaal. |
|
 Italy - Bologna. University of Bologna. Laboratorio di Scienza delle Costruzioni. |
 Italy - Bologna. Officine Maccaferri SpA Factory, in cooperation with Bologna University's Laboratorio di Tecnica delle Costruzioni. |
| Flexibility: An outstanding advantage of the gabion is its flexibility. Its double-twist hexagonal mesh construction permits it to tolerate differential settlement without fracture. This property is expecially important when a structure is on unstable ground or in an area where scour form waves or currents can undermine it. |
Strength: The Strength and flexibility of the steel wire hexagonal mesh from which gabions and mattreses are made is utilized to withstand and absorb the forces generated by retained earth or flowing water. |
Permeability: Hydrostatic heads do not develop behind gabion structures because of their permeable nature. Their ability to combine drainage and retention functions make them ideal structures for slope stabilization. |
| Durability: A Maccaferri gabion or Reno mattress is a heavy monlithic gravity unit able to withstand earth thrust. Its efficiency increases instead of decreasing with age since further consolidation takes place as silt and soil collect in the voids and vegetation establishes itself. |
Economy: Gabion installations are more economical than rigid or semi-rigid structures for a number of reasons. The following are the most important ones: (1) Little maintenance is required. (2) Gabion construction is simple, does not require skilled labour. (3) Suitable stone fill is available normally on site or from nearby quarries. (4) Minimum foundation preparation is required, the surface needs to be only reasonably plane. (5) No costly drainage provision is required, as gabions are permeable. |
Ecology: Because gabions permit the growth of vegetation adn maintain the existing environment, they provide attractive and natural building blocks for decorative landscaping. |
| River Training (Italy - Campania)  |
Soil Conservation (Republic of Cape Verde)  |
| Retaining Structures (Switzerland)  |
Bridge & Culvert Protection (Canada - Onatario)  |
| Landscaping (Canada - Quebec)  |
Marinas & Seashore Protection (U.K. - Dawlish Warren)  |
| Impermeable Lining of Dams (Reno Mattresses)  |
Channel Lining (Iraq)  |