ERC Presents Keynote Paper on Soil Improvement Research at Conference in Australia
The Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), an NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) headquartered at Arizona State University, presented the keynote conference paper highlighting the Center’s research on microbial‑induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology at the 20th International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering in Sydney, Australia.
MICP produces a solid, concrete-like construction material that could provide pioneering solutions for many engineering problems. The keynote conference paper, titled “State of the Art: MICP Soil Improvement and Its Application to Liquefaction Hazard Mitigation,” synthesized the Center’s research accomplishments with established guidelines for design and implementation in the field.
MICP is an emerging bio-mineralization technology that produces eco-friendly and durable building materials. For example, bio-remediation for foundations can employ MICP to strengthen and stiffen foundation soil, which is vulnerable to settlement, bearing failure, and lateral displacement or rocking. This technology could be used to mitigate the impacts of geological hazards, such as earthquakes. MICP has also been proven suitable for stabilizing soils, which could help address environmental issues like fugitive dust.
The keynote paper, presented in May 2022 at the 20th International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, integrated the NSF-funded Center’s accomplishments with the field’s broader literature and detailed how engineering properties can be improved by MICP technology.
