What is the purpose of ground modification or soil stabilization?

The purpose of ground modification or soil stabilization is primarily to improve soils in place. This technique aims to enhance the properties of the existing soil, making it more suitable for construction activities and ensuring it can bear the loads imposed by structures or heavy traffic. By altering the soil’s physical and mechanical characteristics – such as increasing its strength, reducing its compressibility, or improving its drainage capacity – soil stabilization allows for safer and more effective foundations and infrastructure development.

In contrast, building new structures from scratch typically relies on already stable soil conditions or the introduction of engineered fill, rather than modification of the existing soil. Adding decorative elements to the soil does not relate to the engineering principles behind soil stabilization, as it focuses on aesthetics rather than functionality or load-bearing capacity. Supporting existing structures may be a consequence of improved soils, but the direct objective of soil stabilization is to enhance the soil itself, rather than simply serving as a means to support structures that are already in place.