Acid sulfate (AS) soils, common in the Finnish coastal areas and globally, challenge civil construction stability. Soil acidification and microbial activities can degrade the durability of reinforced concrete structures, while the degradation mechanisms and role of microbes are not well understood. COMPASS aims to evaluate steel corrosion and concrete deterioration associated with the chemical and microbial conditions in AS soils and develop modelling tools predicting the lifespan of concrete structures. A more comprehensive understanding of how AS soils impact reinforced concrete will be developed and the effective mitigation strategies will be identified. This multi-disciplinary approach will address end-user needs by providing assessment tools for civil engineering structures. The research consortium, consisting of young researchers from VTT and GTK, will adopt multidisciplinary expert perspectives and contribute innovative knowledge on sustainable urban development in AS soils.

Have you ever wondered how Earths continents came to be? This project delves into the origins of the very first continents, which formed nearly 3 billion years ago, by studying light-coloured ancient rocks, TTGs (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorites), and the dark basaltic fragments they contain in Arctic Fennoscandia. These rocks hold vital clues about how our planet evolved from a lifeless sphere into a place capable of supporting life. Using cutting-edge tools like structural studies, geochemical analyses, isotopic methods, and 3D imaging, we explore how heat and pressure melted parts of these rocks, leading to the formation of the stable, buoyant crust that eventually became Earths continents. This groundbreaking research is conducted in Finland, leveraging world-class research facilities.