Geotechnical Manual

The Geotechnical Manual documents the Department's standards of practice for geotechnical investigations, design, and reporting.

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Table of Contents

Module
Implementation Date   Revision Logs
Introduction (PDF) June 2022
Rev. Log - Introduction (PDF) 
Reporting Standards  

Foundation Reports for Bridges (PDF)

July 2024

Rev. Log - FR for Bridges (PDF) 

Foundation Reports for Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

Foundation Reports for Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

January 2026

February 2024

Rev. Log - FR for ERS (PDF)

Foundation Reports for Buildings and Miscellaneous Structures (PDF)

July 2024

  Rev. Log - FR for Buildings (PDF) 

Geotechnical Design Reports (PDF)

Geotechnical Design Reports (PDF)

January 2026

February 2021

  Rev. Log - GDR (PDF)
Geotechnical Notes for Specifications (PDF)
January 2022
Rev. Log - Notes for Specs (PDF) 
Geotechnical Non-Standard Special Provision Process (PDF)
June 2022
Rev. Log - NSSP (PDF) 
Investigations  
Geotechnical Investigations (PDF) November 2023
Rev. Log - Investigations (PDF)
Soil and Rock Logging, Classification, and Presentation
July 2023

Borehole Location (PDF) April 2023 Rev. Log - Borehole Location (PDF) 
Groundwater (PDF)
September 2025 Rev. Log - Groundwater (PDF)
Corrosion Evaluation (PDF)
March 2022
Rev. Log - Corrosion Evaluation (PDF) 
Design  
Standard Plan Designs (PDF)
November 2010
 Rev. Log - Std. Plan Designs (PDF)
Soil Correlations (PDF)  March 2021 Rev. Log - Soil Correlations (PDF) 
Geotechnical Design Parameters (PDF)
July 2022
 Rev. Log - Geotech Design Parameters (PDF)
CPT Design Parameters (PDF)
September 2023
Rev. Log - CPT Design Parameters (PDF)
Seismic  
Design Acceleration Response Spectrum (PDF)
January 2021
 Rev. Log - Design ARS (PDF)

Liquefaction Evaluation (PDF)

Liquefaction Evaluation (PDF)

January 2026

January 2020

 Rev. Log -Liquefaction (PDF)
Fault Rupture (PDF) October 2022 Rev. Log -Fault Rupture (PDF) 

Lateral Spreading (PDF)

Lateral Spreading (PDF)

Lateral Spreading Example (PDF)

January 2026

January 2020

 Rev. Log -Lateral Spreading (PDF)

Site-Specific Dynamic Ground Response Analysis (PDF)

March 2022
 Rev. Log - Site-Specific DGRA (PDF)
Seismic Overall Slope Stability (PDF) December 2025  
Earth Retaining Systems
 
Earth Retaining Systems Type Selection (PDF)
August 2024
Rev. Log - ERS Type Selection (PDF)

Conventional Retaining Walls (PDF)

Conventional Retaining Walls (PDF)

January 2026

February 2024

 Rev. Log - Conventional Walls (PDF)
Mechanically Stabilized Embankments (PDF) January 2026 Rev. Log - MSE (PDF)

Mechanically Stabilized Embankments (Caltrans Pre-Designed) (PDF)

January 2021

 Rev. Log - MSE Pre-Designed (PDF)

Mechanically Stabilized Embankments (Non-Standard Design) (PDF)

January 2021

 Rev. Log - MSE Non-Standard (PDF)

Soil Nail Walls (PDF)

Soil Nail Walls (PDF)

January 2026

November 2021

 Rev. Log - Soil Nail Walls (PDF)

Non-Gravity Cantilever Retaining Walls (PDF)

Non-Gravity Cantilever Retaining Walls (PDF)

January 2026

February 2024

 Rev. Log - Non-Gravity Walls (PDF)

Ground Anchor Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

Ground Anchor Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

January 2026

February 2024

 Rev. Log - Ground Anchor Walls (PDF)

Seismic Design of Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

Seismic Design of Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

January 2026

May 2023 

Rev. Log - Seismic Design ERS (PDF)
Earth Pressure Coefficients using the Generalized Limit Equilibrium Method (PDF)
September 2023
Rev. Log - Earth Pressure Coefficients using GLE (PDF)
Overall Stability Modeling of Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)   Appendix (PDF) September 2025   
Structure Foundations
 
Bridge Foundation Selection (PDF) September 2022    Rev. Log - Bridge Foundation Selection (PDF)
Shallow Foundations for Bridges (PDF)
February 2021
 Rev. Log - Shallow Foundations (PDF)

Driven Pile Foundations - December 2021 (PDF)

December 2021
 Rev. Log - Driven Piles (PDF)

Cast-In-Drilled-Hole (CIDH) Pile Foundations (PDF)

July 2024

Rev. Log - CIDH Piles (PDF) 
Building and Miscellaneous Structure Foundations (PDF)
July 2024
Rev. Log - Buildings (PDF)

Downdrag (PDF)

Downdrag (PDF)

January 2026

January 2020

Rev. Log - Downdrag (PDF)
Micropiles (PDF) February 2021  Rev. Log - Micropiles (PDF)
Vertical Ground Anchors (PDF)
January 2020 Rev. Log - Vertical Ground Anchors (PDF) 

Overhead Signs and Electrical Systems (PDF)

Standard Plan Overhead Signs and Electrical Systems (PDF)

January 2026

September 2022

Rev. Log - OH Signs (PDF)

Sound Walls (PDF)

Sound Walls (PDF)

January 2026

December 2020

Rev. Log - Sound Walls (PDF)

Below Grade Structures (PDF)

Below Grade Structures (PDF)

January 2026

November 2023

Rev. Log - Below Grade Structures (PDF)
Seal Course (PDF)
September 2024
Rev. Log - Seal Course (PDF)
Earthwork  

Embankments (PDF)

Embankments (PDF)

January 2026

December 2014

Rev. Log - Embankments (PDF)

Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments (PDF)

Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments (PDF)

January 2026

September 2023

Rev. Log - Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments (PDF)

Landslides (PDF)

Landslides (PDF)

January 2026

January 2020

Rev. Log - Landslides (PDF)
Debris Flows (PDF) September 2025
Rev. Log - Debris Flows (PDF)

Soil Cut Slopes (PDF)

Soil Cut Slopes (PDF)

January 2026

January 2020

 Rev. Log - Soil Cut Slopes (PDF)

Rock Cut Slopes (PDF)

Rock Cut Slopes (PDF)

January 2026

March 2021

Rev. Log - Rock Cut Slopes (PDF)

Rockfall (PDF)

Rockfall (PDF)

January 2026

December 2020

Rev. Log - Rockfall (PDF)

Collapsible Soil (PDF)

Collapsible Soil (PDF)

January 2026

February 2024

Rev. Log - Collapsible Soil (PDF)

Ground Modification (PDF)

Ground Modification (PDF)

January 2026

March 2021

 Rev. Log - Ground Modification (PDF)

Grouting (PDF)

Grouting (PDF)

January 2026

March 2022

  Rev. Log - Grouting (PDF)
Geosynthetics (PDF) May 2013  Rev. Log - Geosynthetics (PDF)

Trenchless Construction (PDF)

Trenchless Construction (PDF)

January 2026

December 2023

Rev. Log - Trenchless Construction (PDF)

Stormwater and Wastewater Best Management Practices (PDF)

Stormwater and Wastewater Best Management Practices (PDF)

January 2026

April 2022

Rev. Log - Stormwater and Wastewater (PDF)
Technical Administration  
Alternative Contracts and Consultant Oversight (PDF) April 2022
 Rev. Log - Alternative Contracts (PDF)
Cost Estimating (PDF)
May 2022
 Rev. Log - Cost Estimating (PDF)
Emergency Response (PDF)
September 2022
 Rev. Log - Emergency Response (PDF)