Biogeotechnics Clears Air and Water

Biogeotechnical mitigation of wind- and surface water-induced erosion of soil via induced carbonate precipitation has been a subject of increasing attention in the geotechnical engineering community over the past decade. This increased interest may be attributed to the importance of the issue, the perceived simplicity of the various carbonate precipitation processes, and the unproven demonstration of a long-lasting, sustainable solution to an important problem. The United Nations has reported that soil loss due to erosion “decreases agricultural productivity, degrades ecosystem functions, and amplifies hydrogeological risk.” In 2019, the U.N. Agricultural Agency estimated worldwide annual losses in agricultural production due to soil loss at $8 billion dollars per year, in addition to increased water usage. Other environmental impacts of wind- and surface water-induced erosion include adverse impacts on water quality and vehicle collisions due to obscured visibility and respiratory illnesses associated with fugitive dust.