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Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics

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Geotechnical Fundamentals for Addressing New World Challenges

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering ((SSGG))

Abstract

Bio-mediated geotechnics, wherein biogeochemical processes are employed to directly modify the engineering properties of soil, and bio-inspired geotechnics, wherein natural biological systems provide inspiration for the development of novel geotechnical solutions, provide two complimentary opportunities for geotechnical engineering innovation. The field of bio-mediated geotechnics has been developing for more than one decade while the field of bio-inspired geotechnics is just now emerging. Both domains require geotechnical engineers to reconsider the importance and role of biology and biological systems in geotechnical engineering. This chapter provides the context and general principles for these emerging fields followed by specific examples of both fields. The importance of sustainability and how these fields can contribute to sustainable development is discussed. The chapter concludes by briefly addressing some of the steps required for biogeotechnics to become a recognized sub-discipline within the domain of geotechnical engineering.

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Acknowledgements

The thoughts and ideas within this article have been informed and inspired by many individuals, but particularly by members of the NSF ERC Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics, the Soil Interactions Laboratory at UC Davis, the Biogeotechnical Research Group at ASU, and collaborators who participated in the NSF-funded BioSoils workshops of 2007 and 2011. This material presented herein is in part based upon work supported in part by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under NSF CA No. EEC-1449501. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the NSF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Jason T. DeJong

  2. Geotechnical Engineering, Arizona State University, MS 3005, Tempe, CA, 85287-3005, USA

    Edward Kavazanjian

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  1. Jason T. DeJong
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Correspondence to Jason T. DeJong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

    Ning Lu

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    James K. Mitchell

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DeJong, J.T., Kavazanjian, E. (2019). Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics. In: Lu, N., Mitchell, J. (eds) Geotechnical Fundamentals for Addressing New World Challenges. Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-06249-1_7

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