The development of ever-increasing geotextile tube sizes (circumferences currently up to 25 meters) has led to numerous applications which are subdivided as follows:

(i) shoreline erosion protection (the infill is sand or fine gravel)
(i) shoreline erosion protection (the infill is sand or fine gravel)
(ii) dewatering enclosures (the infill is fine soil, sediments, or sludges)
(iii) decontamination systems (the infill is polluted sediments or sludges)

While fabric design is clearly lagging behind the various applications, it is being satisfied empirically, as a temporary expedient, by the hanging bag test. This allows for an immediate assessment of the geotextile's suitability with respect to the in-filled material. The shoreline erosion protection application is fully developed and widespread in its adoption. The dewatering and decontamination applications are still being developed, particularly the latter with respect to the types of pollutants which can be captured within the tube for proper ultimate disposal.