The institute conducts research concerning development of improvement of constructions and methods of computation of buildings and structures, which interact with the deformed bases and are operated in complicated and in usual engineering and geological conditions.

For it the following are taken into account:

* actual elasticity - plastic properties of soil and materials of structures;
* heterogeneity, settling, swelling and continuous deformation of the soils;
* moving of terrestrial surface, which caused by underground works;
* mutual work of systems " bases-foundation-above ground building ".

Main directions of researches:
* development of new methods of fixing weak and setting soils (accelerated method of depth compressing loess soils);
* determination of strength and properties of deformed soils;
* study of performances of soils under bases, which have experienced repeated loading;
* improvement of methods of computation of reinforced concrete foundations (based on beams, slabs and piles);
*Interaction of reinforced concrete underground structures with enclosing soils;
Subdivisions of the institute, which execute geotechnical researches equipped with equipment for realization of researches of physical and mechanical properties of samples of soils and also for tests in field conditions.
NIISK also executes technical expert appraisals and conclusions in particular for solution of problems of structures in complicated soils conditions (setting and weak soils, carsts, territories, which experience influence of shifts, above mines works etc.)