Feasibility of activating metakaolin-rich excavated soils for the development of hydraulic binders dedicated to public works

ACTIVSOL is a research and innovation project dedicated to the development of low-carbon materials for road infrastructure through the valorisation of excavated soils generated by public works activities. Large volumes of excavated soils are currently considered as waste, while road construction and maintenance rely heavily on virgin resources and carbon-intensive binders. ACTIVSOL addresses this challenge by transforming excavated soils into valuable construction materials using mainly non-thermal activation processes.

The project focuses on road applications in a broad sense, including structural and non-structural components such as base layers, foundation layers, treated soils, kerbs and other ancillary road elements, without restricting the approach to a single use case. Material formulations are developed and optimised to meet the mechanical, durability and workability requirements of road engineering, while remaining compatible with standard construction practices.

ACTIVSOL adopts an integrated approach covering the entire value chain, from the identification and characterisation of excavated soil deposits to large-scale validation under representative field conditions. Environmental and techno-economic assessments are performed to quantify the benefits of the proposed solutions compared to conventional road materials. By delivering transferable technical guidelines and decision-support tools, ACTIVSOL contributes to the deployment of circular, resource-efficient and climate-friendly solutions for road infrastructure.