A Review of Sustainable Ground Improvement Methods and their Possible Application to Organic Soils

Abstract Organic soils, often encountered in infrastructure projects such as embankments, pose a significant geotechnical challenge due to their low shear strength, high compressibility and heterogeneity. Innovative and sustainable methods of ground improvement are required to ensure safety and reliability in design and construction. This review evaluates promising techniques, including microbially induced calcite precipitation, biopolymers and alkali-activated binders, that improve the strength, stiffness and durability of organic soils while meeting environmental sustainability objectives. These ground improvement techniques can reduce the risk of settlements and improve soil stability, making them particularly valuable for organic soils. However, the effectiveness of these methods varies considerably depending on soil type and environmental conditions, and a more detailed comparison of their performance is needed. The review highlights the urgent need for large-scale, long-term field studies to validate laboratory results and assess the durability and effectiveness of these techniques under real-world conditions. It also highlights the importance of conducting comprehensive environmental impact assessments to evaluate the carbon footprint and ecological effects of these methods to ensure their compatibility with sustainability goals. By addressing these issues, future research can significantly advance the field of sustainable soil improvement and contribute to more effective and environmentally friendly technical solutions for challenging organic soils.