Sensor-driven durable low carbon concrete infrastructure

Industrial pollution poses a major threat to land, ecosystems and human health. Sustainable technologies are the choice
to address the growing need for remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites. Research has explored a novel
process called microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) that displays a promising result in various applications
from geotechnology to civil engineering. A highly characterised model organism with well-established genetic
modification procedures called Bacillus subtilis has also shown potential for use in soil stabilisation, self-healing
bioconcrete and heavy metal bioremediation. This research aims to develop a "smart" Bacillus subtilis strain suitable for
large-scale on-site testing, and to explore a novel avenue of integrating soil stabilisation, self-healing and heavy metal
bioremediation into a single approach. The research will involve exploring the natural properties of Bacillus subtilis to
establish a baseline for comparison, and through repeatedly modifications to the strains, engineering design cycles and
tests until a suitable strain is created. The outcome of this research is expected to create a "smart" Bacillus subtilis strain
that can stabilise soil, display self-healing properties, and remediate heavy metals from soil, which promotes sustainable
development and interdisciplinary collaboration while providing a better understanding of ureolytic MICP mechanisms
and their potential land remediation applications.