Ground improvement methods using column-type techniques are employed on an increasing scale for the construction of road and railway embankments in Indiana. In this presentation the main emphasis will be on methods for the improvement of soft soils using column-type techniques: stone columns, aggregate columns, sand compaction piles, grout-injected stone columns with load transfer mats constructed with geosynthetic reinforcements, geotextile-encased sand columns, lime and lime cement columns, and friction piles in soft soils. The current state-of-the-art for these techniques, some research results, and the experiences gained from two important projects will be presented
