Syllabus

Natural origins of soils, Biological processes in soils, The geologic origin of a soil, its depositional mode and environment, thixotropic processes.
Use of biological process for changes in physical properties (density, gradation, porosity, saturation), conduction properties (hydraulic, electrical, thermal), mechanical properties (stiffness, dilation, compressibility, swell/shrink, cohesion, cementation, friction angle, erodibility, and soil-water characteristic curve), and chemical composition (buffering, reactivity, cation exchange capacity) of soils.
Development of a biomediated soil improvement technique bioaugmentation (where the required microbes are injected into the soil) and biostimulation (where natural microbes are stimulated) Biogeochemical and geotechnical models, management of treatment of by-products
Durability and longevity/reversibility of the process, and education of engineers and researchers.

Able to apply engineering knowledge

Problem analysis skill will be enhanced

Environment Impact and sustainable solution

Design/development of solutions for complex engineering problems

1. Learn the geologic origin of soil, its biological processes and thixotropic processes.
2. Knowledge on the biological processes for changes in physical properties, conduction properties, mechanical properties and chemical composition of soil.
3. Development of biomediated soil improvement technique, bioaugmentation, biostimulation geotechnical models.

Charles Jensen, Bio- and Chemo- Mechanical Processes in Geotechnical Engineering, Institution of Civil Engineers , UK, 2014

Kohnhauser, K, Introduction to geomicrobiology, Blackwell Publishing , Malden, USA

Ivanov, V, Microbial geotechniques. In Environmental microbiology for engineers, CRC Press , Boca Raton, USA

Mitchell, J. K, Fundamentals of Soil Behavior, Wiley , New York, USA