<p><p><figure id='attachment_1473' style='max-width:368px' class='caption aligncenter'><img class="wp-image-1473 size-full" src="https://www.geoinstitute.org/sites/default/files/geotech-tools-uploads/…; alt="Photograph of equipment used to install a geotextile encased sand column." width="368" height="527" /><figcaption class='caption-text'> Completed Ringtrac® geotextile encased sand column. Photograph courtesy of Huesker, Inc.</figcaption></figure></p><p>Geotextile Encased Columns (GEC) use a seamless geotextile casing filled with sand or stone to create a column in soft soils. GECs are used to increase bearing capacity, shear strength, and rate of consolidation, and to reduce settlement. Advantages include usage in very soft soils where conventional stone columns will not work and excellent drainage of soft clay soils. This technique is applicable to new embankment and embankment widening on soft soils.</p><p>