The Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic province runs generally parallel to the present coastal shoreline and extends inland 40-60 miles. This plain is characterized as flat and featureless with the formation in this region of the Cenozoic System consisting of unconsolidated sediments, 6000-7000 feet in thickness. The Tertiary and Quaternary sediments range in age from Eocene to Pleistocene. The deposits in the greater Houston area, to depths of approximately 300 feet, are part of the Beaumont formation of Pleistocene age. The soils are generally high plasticity clays interbedded with silty sands and silts.

Knowing the geology and physical characteristics of soils is of extreme importance to geotechnical engineers. While designing a foundation, a geotechnical engineer gives consideration to various factors such as strength characteristics, depth to groundwater, geologic faulting, shrink-swell properties of soils, presence of slickensides and fissures. The discussions will include the influence of these factors considered while deciding the type, size and depth of foundations. Various case histories are included.

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