GEMSS – Grass Engineered Material Support System – is a proven solution for stabilising and strengthening airfield grass surfaces making them more viable and sustainable.
Originally developed in collaboration with BAE Systems, Nottingham University, and STRI, GEMSS aids aircraft recovery after a runway excursion and can support light aircraft through to widebody commercial jets. It provides improved drainage, and a significantly lower carbon footprint. GEMSS is quick to install, easy to maintain, and ICAO Annex 14 compliant.
Solving the Hidden Risks of Traditional Grass Runways Shoulders and RESAs.
The Problem:
Grass runway shoulders, RESAs, and access routes are prone to rutting, standing water, and increase the risk from wildlife hazards such as bird strikes. GEMSS mitigates against these common and expensive issues, substantially reducing aircraft recovery time and cost.
Our Solution:
GEMSS provides a fully stabilised and engineered grass surface that supports heavy aircraft, eliminates ponding water, and reduces wildlife attraction. It combines a reinforced rootzone with advanced hydroturfing, offering performance comparable to hard surfaces at a fraction of the environmental cost.
Key Benefits:
GEMSS delivers the strength of a paved surface with the environmental and aesthetic benefits of natural grass. It’s blast resistant, free draining, and capable of handling even the largest aircraft safely.
Proven Engineering. Minimal Impact. Maximum Strength.
How It Works:
GEMSS is constructed using a carefully engineered base layer designed for strength and permeability. A stabilised rootzone is applied, followed by a specialist hydroseeding application with a proprietary high-performance growth media to bind everything together and fully protect the product from High Blast events during the grass establishment period. The result is a resilient, self-draining, load-bearing surface that blends into its environment while achieving aviation standards.
GEMSS Rootzone Installation
Thomas Bow City Asphalt's major project division is well accustomed to working on some of the country’s major Airports including both land and airside works.
They have decades of experience in the field of airport engineering and offer a full range of services throughout the UK to both large international airports and smaller regional airports.
Their vast civil engineering airport experience includes airfield taxiways, runways, apron bays, car parks, drainage, delethalization, road markings, and lighting.
Rootzone Installation
If necessary existing grass and soil is removed to the required depth. Drainage layers may be required depending on permeability of existing ground.
Machinery such as 360 excavator, bulldozer or front end loader is used by a driver experienced in laying GEMSS so it is spread evenly at the required depth. The material is kept moist at a minimum of 10%.
Light compaction is necessary to achieve the required level with a target bulk density of 1.300kg / m3. The surface should be stone free and lightly raked prior to hydroseeding.
Hydro Turf - Aviation Hydroseeding Specialists
Hydro Turf has successfully completed projects for many airports including; London Gatwick, Heathrow, London City, Goodwood, Cambridge, Jersey, Farnborough, many RAF and other airfields in recent years. Their “manufacturer approved” installer status for specialist Flexterra High Blast work allows us to offer the most experienced and accountable airside hydroseeding service to our clients of any contractor.
Hydro Turf are credited and recognised with creating the UK’s Flexterra High Blast protection system in 2013 and gaining its CAA approval. As the most experienced operator in this unique sector they are regularly approached to consult and are instructed to undertake these critical works at airports all over the UK.
From Consultation to Completion in Days, Not Weeks.
Site Consultation
We assess your airfield conditions, aircraft types, and surface requirements to design the optimal GEMSS solution.
Custom Quotation
A tailored quotation based on required coverage, access conditions, and aircraft load ensures transparency and value.
Installation
Our team installs GEMSS quickly with minimal disruption. Surfaces are traffic-ready in just a few hours.
Maintenance
No specialist upkeep required – just standard mowing and inspections. Repairs, if needed, are fast and non-invasive.
Trusted Worldwide – From Flying Clubs to Major Airports
CASE STUDY
GEMSS was deployed to provide emergency fire appliance access, runway RESA reinforcement, and patrol routes – meeting ICAO standards while preserving the airport’s green credentials.
CASE STUDY
GEMSS was used on a critical shoulder area to support the Airbus A380 in an emergency scenario. It offered rapid installation and proven resilience under extreme jet blast conditions.
Other Projects
The following were installed using GEMSS technology:
Other Applications
Military GEMSS
With increased activity by NATO in parts of the world, GEMSS can be used in the countries which are under threat.
Military runways in a war zone could be vulnerable and if they are damaged so that fighter aircraft cannot take off, an alternative surface would be required.
GEMSS could be installed as a strong free-draining Strip alongside the normal runway for emergency use. This would enable fighter aircraft or attack helicopters to take off and recommence operations. For narrow wheeled fighters green friction mats may be required. The surface would resist jet blast from the exhaust. These aircraft would not be expected to return and would land elsewhere.
Due to the green grass effect they would not be visible from satellites or drones.
Runway Vere-Offs at military airports are estimated to cost £275 million p.a. so the runway strip can be constructed in GEMSS anyway to reduce catastrophic results and speed up recovery with major savings in cost.
An Aviation Consortium with Engineering in its Roots.
Formed by 3 Specialist UK Companies:
Our Leadership Team:
Associations & Accreditations:
How to Contact Us.
Please contact us using the details below, or via our contact form.
Email: enquiries@gemss.world
Phone: (44) 01623 675322
Registered Office:
GEMSS Ltd, Ransom Hall, Ransom Wood Business Park, Southwell Road West, Rainworth, Mansfield, England, NG21 0HJ.
GEMSS Partners are well connected to Polish airports and have carried out a number of airside contracts.
Lodz is one and has a policy when it comes to air travel, SAFETY is everything. Passengers need the peace of mind that the best technology is in place even if something goes wrong.
Lodz management know that occasionally aircraft can overrun the runway wherein the wheels become stuck in soggy ground incapable of supporting the aircraft. In extreme cases this could cause catastrophic collapse of the aircraft undercarriage which might result in fire, injury and even loss of life. This can cause delays costing time and money.
For these reasons Lodz management took the decision to create totally safe RESAs with GEMSS technology.
This was soon to be tested when the B737 over ran the new RESA.
Pilot misjudged turnaround at end of runway during taxi and leaves hard pavement onto the GEMSS RESA. Pilot attempts to turn aircraft around and move back onto the runway.
Aircraft resting position almost 90° to centreline of runway.
Aircraft negotiates first 90° of turn successfully; GEMSS provides excellent support with negligible surface deformation.
Path of main undercarriage and nose wheel highlighted. Note the distance the nose wheel travels prior to embedding into the RESA.
Hardly any impression made on RESA surface by heavily laden aircraft – wheel remains on surface once halted.
Even then, the nose wheel remains substantially free and undamaged and is able to be towed.
Passengers alight safely using normal steps and are taken to terminal by bus. No need to deploy slides.
GEMSS submitted proposals to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) for taxiway shoulder construction advocating the use of Grass Engineered Material Support System (GEMSS).
As a result of this proposal, CAAS agreed that a trial area of GEMSS could be installed at Changi International Airport as part of the works associated with the construction of Taxiway SC2.
Installation Details:
The area covered a length of 36 metres with a width of 12.5 metres.
A minimum subgrade CBR of 7% was specified over the entire area in order to achieve the design strength required to support A380 and other wide-bodied aircraft.
This was confirmed by field and laboratory tests.
The surface was left without grass as it was intended to observe the GEMSS prior to seeding and to perform various tests.
Below: Laying of the Rootzone.
Acceptance Testing:
The effects of jet blast from taxiing aircraft were monitored. Wheel load performance was tested by the passage of a 37-tonne emergency vehicle during the planned closure of the taxiway. At the same time, surface integrity and durability of the GEMSS installation was assessed by a visual inspection.
A trial site visit was carried out to perform the visual assessment of the trial area, observe any signs of jet wash and most importantly to assess the structural adequacy in terms of deformation using a heavy fire tender truck weighing approx. 37,000Kg.
During the test, two runs of the fire tender truck were carried out on the trial site. The first run was performed at slow speed with the vehicle being parked on the GEMSS for five minutes. The second test run was carried out at speed with heavy braking to simulate an incident. Subsequently the rut depths were measured in the wheel paths using 1.2m straightedge.
The rut depths measured were between 29-30 mm. The grass has good establishment with developed root structure in GEMSS. No signs of aircraft jet wash were observed on the GEMSS.
Final Observations:
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