The aim of this programme is to develop prescriptive methodologies for assessing and quantifying the impacts of national road projects on soils, and to outline practical mitigation measures to offset and minimise these impacts.

This research programme will examine the following two subtopics:

1. Assessment methodologies
2. Mitigation measures.

Following an open Call between 20 December 2019 and 15 April 2020, the Programme Executive Board subsequently selected one successful project.

ROADSOIL - Assessment methodologies and mitigation measures for the impacts of road projects on soils

Project Partners: Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (Norway, coordinator), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (Switzerland), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Soil and Environment (Sweden).

Project results:

• D1.1 Report on the framework for the assessment of the impact from road projects on soil functioning
• D2.2-3.2 Using machine learning to improve the prediction of soil mechanical properties
• D3.3 Assessment of access materials to reduce soil stress
• D4.1/4.2 Literature and best-practice review
• D5.1/5.2 Expert survey and workshop on best practices for soil protection
• D6.1/D6.2 Examples from Norway and Switzerland of soil handling in infrastructure projects
• D7.2 Guidelines for soil management in road projects 
• Final Programme Report

Final Programme Conference presentations:

• Guidelines presentation
• Examples of soil handling in infrastructure projects
• Road impacts on soil functions
• Data driven support for improved decision systems
• Practice of soil protection in road projects