Sediment
Sediments are; ‘...the layers of particles that cover the bottom of water bodies such as lakes, ponds, rivers and reservoirs.’
Sedimentation is; ‘The process of deposition and consolidation of suspended material carried by water, wastewater or other liquids by gravity.'
Ref The SuDS Manual (C753), published by CIRIA in 2015.
Till is an unsorted glacial sediment deposited directly by a glacier. Ref The HS2 London-West Midlands Environmental Statement, Glossary of terms and list of abbreviations, DETR 2013.
Groynes in coastal engineering (CIRIA C793), published by CIRIA in 2020, defines cohesive sediment as: ‘Sediment containing significant proportion of clays, the physico-chemical properties of which cause the sediment to bind together.’
It defines sediment grading as: 'Distribution defined by nominal and extreme limits with regard to size or mass of individual sediment grains.'
And sediment transport as: 'The movement of a mass of sedimentary material by the forces of currents and waves. This can be either perpendicular (cross-shore) or parallel (longshore) to the shoreline.'
Geoarchaeology, Using Earth Sciences to Understand the Archaeological Record, published by Historic England in 2015, defines sediment as: ‘a collection of rock, mineral and/or organic particles that has been moved from their original source and redeposited elsewhere by natural or human agencies.’
[edit] Related articles
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
The heritage of nuclear and conventional power stations.
New measures to stop people being ripped off
Government to protect families from cowboy builders and aggressive bailiffs.
New Futurebuild showcase brings an innovation-first approach.
National Planning Policy Framework
Understanding the 2026 changes.
ECA's public affairs priorities
Member consultation opens to shape priorities for 2027 to 2030.
Dutyholder responsibilities from 1 July 2026.
Where performance meets practice
The Building Envelope Stage at UKCW Birmingham.
CIAT publishes briefing on planning reforms.
Leaders in Learning for Practice Network
Call for conservation leaders in learning to register interest in new network.
The importance of early engagement
Construction lessons from the Trillium HealthWorks Experience Centre.
Mayors are to be given planning call in powers
Mayors across England will be able to make the most important planning decisions.
The Master Builder: William Butterfield and his times. Book review.