Sandy slope erosion leads to coast degradation and exacerbates coastal zone instability and failure. As an eco-friendly engineering technology, microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) can provide a protection method against sandy slope erosion. In this study, a series of flume tests were conducted to investigate the wave erosion resistance of the MICP-treated sandy slope. The penetration tests were conducted to measure the slope surface strength, and the calcium carbonate content was evaluated by the acid washing method. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to study the microstructures of MICP-treated sand particles. In addition, the influence of MICP treatment on the wave shape and the excess pore water pressure was also analyzed. Results show that after four MICP treatments, the erosion resistance of the slope is significantly promoted, and no apparent erosion occurs after wave actions. The penetration resistance is also improved after MICP treatments, and the maximum penetration resistance of untreated and four-time MICP-treated slopes are about 0.14 MPa and 2.04 MPa, respectively. The calcium carbonate content on the slope surface can reach 7%. SEM analyses indicate that the intergranular bridging calcium carbonate crystals promote the wave erosion resistance of the sandy slope.

As a result of China’s urbanization, it has been a common phenomenon that adjacent deep excavations were constructed near underground structures, which can have a series of detrimental effects on existing tunnels. Thus, it is crucial to assess the tunnel response induced by the overlying excavation, with the aim of maintaining the safety and serviceability of operating tunnels. The shield tunnel is idealized as an infinite beam lying upon a three parameter Kerr-model and the vertical force equilibrium equation of the tunnel element is established. Then, a theoretical solution is derived for capturing the soil–tunnel interaction. To prove the accuracy of the proposed method, the calculation results are compared with field measurements, along with the data of finite element studies. Thereafter, a parametric analysis will be conducted to assess some characteristic factors for tunnel responses caused by overlying excavations, such as tunnel-excavation horizontal distance, tunnel bending stiffness, and the buried depth of the tunnel. The results indicate that the increase in the bending stiffness and the buried depth of tunnel, as well as the tunnel-excavation horizontal distance, will significantly alleviate the tunnel deformation. However, the inner force will be increased when increasing the tunnel bending stiffness.

In order to respond to the greenhouse effect and achieve sustainable development, microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology based on the spraying method was used as a substitute for Portland cement to reinforce calcareous sand. In order to simulate the tide and determine the suitable concentration, the effects of the initial water level and cementing solution (CS) concentration on the reinforcement were analyzed. The results showed that the distributions of penetration resistance and equivalent calcium carbonate content mainly include two patterns: monotonically decreasing, and initially increasing and then decreasing. The fully saturated case only showed a dense, thin layer of calcium carbonate on the surface, and in the completely dry case, middle cementation was produced. When the initial water level was 0.5 m, the largest range of 60 cm of effective cementation appeared, and both the equivalent calcium carbonate content and penetration resistance were the highest because the microorganisms were more likely to migrate to the particle connection. The calcium carbonate generated by the MICP reaction played a role in increasing the water retention capacity of the sand. As the degree of cementation increased, the SWRC gradually moved up and the matrix suction corresponding to the same volume water content increased sequentially. Increasing the spraying times and the concentration of CS generated more calcium carbonate. The penetration resistance of higher CS concentrations was larger with the same calcium carbonate content. There was a linear relationship between the normalized penetration resistance and the normalized shear wave velocity.

Erosion poses significant threats to infrastructures and ecosystems, exacerbated by climate change-driven sea-level rise and intensified wave actions. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for erosion mitigation. This review synthesizes recent advancements in optimizing biomineralization efficiency, multi-scale erosion control, and field-scale MICP implementations in marine dynamic conditions. Key findings include the following: (1) Kinetic analysis of Ca²⁺ conversion confirmed complete ion utilization within 24 h under optimized PA concentration (3%), resulting in a compressive strength of 2.76 MPa after five treatment cycles in ISO-standard sand. (2) Field validations in Ahoskie and Sanya demonstrated the efficacy of MICP in coastal erosion control through tailored delivery systems and environmental adaptations. Sanya’s studies highlighted seawater-compatible MICP solutions, achieving maximum 1743 kPa penetration resistance in the atmospheric zone and layered “M-shaped” CaCO₃ precipitation in tidal regions. (3) Experimental studies revealed that MICP treatments (2–4 cycles) reduced maximum scour depth by 84–100% under unidirectional currents (0.3 m/s) with the maximum surface CaCO₃ content reaching 3.8%. (4) Numerical simulations revealed MICP enhanced seabed stability by increasing vertical effective stress and reducing pore pressure. Comparative analysis demonstrates that while the destabilization depth of untreated seabed exhibits a linear correlation with wave height increments, MICP-treated seabed formations maintain exceptional stability through cohesion-enhancing properties, even when subjected to progressively intensified wave forces. This review supports the use of biomineralization as a sustainable alternative for shoreline protection, seabed stabilization, and offshore foundation integrity.