Preface

Foundation engineering is one of the most important parts of structural design and one of the most important subdisciplines in civil engineering. It is also related to many fields such as geology, geophysics, and mining engineering. In recent years, in addition to improvements in computer-aided design, new approaches in structural design have brought new perspectives into foundation engineering.

This book consists of two sections. Chapters in the first section discuss the determination and improvement of soil properties. Chapters in the second section discuss new approaches to foundation design. The book provides a new perspective on the analysis and assessment of soils as well as methods for their improvement. It also serves as an important guide for designers regarding sustainability and the use of artificial intelligence techniques in foundation design.

As one of the thousands of Turkish academics who were dismissed from their job with an unjust accusation given in one night about 6 years ago, I gladly accepted the book editorial offer to me by Intech. Because, in those days, it was almost impossible for me to engage in academic life in Turkey and I was just trying to survive by taking part in different positions in construction companies. I hope that you will benefit from the works presented by the authors of the book which will be a beginning step towards my new academic life in the days when I just left my homeland for freedom.

> **Salih Yilmaz** Asylum Seeker Academics, Athens, Greece

**1**

Section 1

Soil Properties and Ground

Improvement Methods

Section 1
