Photo: SGI/Karin Lundström
We conduct applied research and development based on the needs of society and end users.
The geotechnical properties of soil and improving knowledge about the suitability of land for construction.
How can we reduce costs and lessen the impact on natural resources and the climate in construction.
The effects of climate change on increased risks of landslides and erosion, and how adaptation measures can enhance societal resilience.
Risk assessment and remediation methods for contamination in sediments, soil, and groundwater.
A new method using digital image analysis has been tested to determine whether it can provide a more detailed picture of how peat is structured. The results show that the method clearly distinguishes between peat with different levels of decomposition. In the long term, the method could con-tribute to better geotechnical investigations and more cost-effective solu-tions when building on peat soils.
Researchers at the Swedish Geotechnical Institute have evaluated whether an activated carbon barrier can reduce the spread of PFAS at a heavily contaminated site. The results show that it can. After two years, PFAS concentrations had fallen by more than 99.9%. The technology could become an important tool for protecting drinking water and nature from persistent PFAS chemicals. The findings have been published as a peer-reviewed scientific article in the Remediation Journal.
The spread of PFAS from contaminated soil to groundwater can be reduced by more than 99 per cent. This is shown by pilot-scale trials conducted by the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) in heavily PFAS-contaminated soil and groundwater at fire training areas near airports. In one of the tri-als, PFAS-contaminated water passed through an activated carbon barrier. PFAS levels were reduced by 99.99 per cent, to levels comparable with the current limit value for PFAS in drinking water.
Contaminated soils are often excavated and disposed of in landfill. This requires financial resources, energy and raw materials. Researchers at the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) have investigated whether contaminants can instead be immobilised in situ, reducing their mobility and environmental risk. This approach has the potential to reduce the need for soil excavation while allowing continued land use.
An increasing number of Swedish municipalities are being affected by climate-related extreme events such as floods, droughts and storms. But what do the people living in these areas think about it?
A methodology for analysing and visualising cascading natural hazards – natural hazards that occur in an interconnected chain – has been developed by SGI. The methodology, presented in Natural Hazards, can be used to improve preparedness and risk management.
For hundreds of years, roads and railways have successfully been built on peatland. A new research project can explain why embankments on peat provides such good stability, as well as how its strength should be investigated. With a newly developed in situ method for determining strength, certain reinforcement works may be avoided, providing environmental and economical benefits.
Dredging of contaminated bottom sediments can release hazardous substances into the water. However, a new method is now being tested to reduce this risk. At the same time, the volume of material that needs dewatering is reduced. The Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) and the Municipality of Sundsvall are conducting trials to handle contaminated fibrebanks more efficiently and gently, using the so-called CDS method.
The MANABAS Coast project addresses how vulnerability to flooding and coastal erosion can be managed using nature-based solutions , and promotes their more widespread use.
How large is the metal exposure from contaminated soils and how can we better assess the risks? With this research project, we want to increase knowledge about how much metals people ingest via contaminated soil and develop methods to better assess the risks to human health.
We are trying to develop methods to predict how land use affects the spread of pollutants, soil functions and associated ecosystem services.
LIFE SOuRCE is an European project focusing on the demonstration and evaluation of sustainable on-site remediation technologies for PFAS-contaminated groundwater.
Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on groundwater- and pore pressure conditions and, as a result, on geotechnical structures that support buildings, infrastructure and other facilities.
SGI participates in several platforms where we collaborate with universities, research institutes, and various stakeholders within the built environment sector. The aim is to identify knowledge gaps, initiate research, and disseminate knowledge.
Within this programme, the Swedish Transport Administration, Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Luleå University of Technology, and SGI have jointly initiated a large number of research projects focusing on geotechnics for road and railway infrastructure. The goal is to systematically reduce the long-term costs of constructing and maintaining transport infrastructure through targeted development.
More about BIG
A European collaboration between 15 geotechnical institutes and universities. The objective is to raise public awareness of the importance of geotechnics and to strengthen geotechnical research. The platform enables the sharing of laboratory and field facilities as well as knowledge through collaboration. SGI holds the chair in two working groups: Climate Change Adaptation and Erosion. SGI also participates in the working groups Transport Infrastructure, Peat Behaviour, and Sustainability.
More about ELGIP
SOLO aims to identify knowledge gaps, drivers, bottlenecks, and new research and innovation approaches to meet the objectives set by the EU mission "A Soil Deal for Europe". SOLO will serve as a knowledge hub for research and innovation in soil health. SGI has joined Think Tank #3: No net soil sealing and Increase the reuse of urban soils.
More about SOLO
SGI contributes to and recognises the added value of coordinating, co-funding, and disseminating transnational research on soil and land management. We organise knowledge-sharing and exchange on priority issues jointly identified by the members, aiming to promote healthier soils and more effective land management.
More about SOILveR
SGI’s research findings are published in scientific journals, our own reports and guidelines, publications by other organisations, and through contributions to both international and national conferences.
