RAPID: Field Test on Application of Microbial Calcite to Reduce Desertification

这项快速研究奖（RAPID）研究的主要目的是通过现场试验确定使用天然纤维和生物降解合成纤维与微生物方解石结合控制风蚀引起的空气尘埃的可行性。 长期目标是应用这一技术，减少世界许多地区正在发生的全球荒漠化的蔓延。 因此，现场试验计划在沙漠环境中进行，包括两个对照地点，两个地点的沙子与不同量的介质混合，只有没有细菌，两个地点的沙子与不同量的介质含有细菌，和四个地点的沙子与不同量的介质含有细菌和天然或生物降解合成纤维混合。 详细的现场仪器将通过测量大约四个月期间的平均沙面高程变化来确定沙漠沙每单位表面积的重量损失。 然后通过对重量损失的定量分析来评估利用介质、细菌和纤维的相对有效性。抑尘一直是与建筑工地、采石场、露天采矿、未铺路面的道路、垃圾填埋场等相关的最关键问题之一。目前可用的抑尘方法主要是化学或机械的。 因此，它们被认为与某些健康和环境问题有关。 因此，有效而安全的粉尘控制方法将在许多方面产生重大的积极影响。这项研究介绍了一种新的，先进的和创新的方法来抑制粉尘，是环境安全和友好的。 最终，预计开发的技术将用于减少目前在世界许多地区发生的荒漠化的蔓延。 这项研究的结果也可能为许多挑战工程师的困难工程问题提供重要的进展，包括土壤固结的加速，极软土的改良，土壤渗透性的降低，受污染含水层的遏制等，使用生物地质技术。

The main objective of this Rapid Research Award (RAPID) study is to identify the feasibility of using natural fibers and bio-degradable synthetic fibers in conjunction with microbial calcite to control airborne dusts caused by wind erosion through field tests. The long-term goal is to apply this technology for the reduction of the spread of global desertification that is being occurred in many parts around the world. The field tests are therefore planned to be conducted in desert environments, including two control sites, two sites with sand mixed with different amount of medium only without bacteria, two sites with sand mixed with different amount of medium containing bacteria, and four sites with sand mixed with different amount of medium containing bacteria and natural or bio-degradable synthetic fibers. Detailed field instrumentation will identify the weight loss per unit surface area of desert sand by measuring the average sand surface elevation change over a period of approximately four months. Relative effectiveness of utilizing medium, bacteria, and fibers will then be evaluated through a quantitative analysis of weight losses.Dust suppression has been one of the most critical problems associated with construction earthwork, quarries, open pit mining, unpaved roads, landfills, etc. Currently available methods of dust suppression are predominantly chemical or mechanical. By virtue, they are known to be associated with certain health and environmental problems. Effective but safe dust control method will therefore have significant positive impacts in many ways. This study introduces a new, advanced and innovative approach for dust suppression that is environmentally safe and friendly. Eventually, the developed technology is expected to be used to reduce the spread of desertification that is currently being occurred in many parts around the world. Results of this study may also provide an important inroad for many difficult engineering problems that have challenged engineers, including the expedition of soil consolidation, improvement of extremely soft soils, reduction of soil permeability, containment of contaminated aquifers, etc., using bio-based geotechnology.