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Geotechnical Manual

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

Attention Consultants: Rules and information regarding document updates and implementation are provided in this Message to our Consultant Partners.

For questions on documents listed below or requests for documents that are not currently available, contact:GS@dot.ca.gov

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)

January 2026

 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)

January 2026

   Rev. Log - GDR (PDF)

Geotechnical Notes for Specifications

Geotechnical Notes for Specifications (PDF)

July 2026

January 2022

Rev. Log - Notes for Specs (PDF) 
Geotechnical Non-Standard Special Provisi 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)

January 2026

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

Lateral Spreading (PDF)

January 2026

  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)

January 2026

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

Soil Nail Walls (PDF)

January 2026

  Rev. Log - Soil Nail Walls (PDF)

Non-Gravity Cantilever Retaining Walls (PDF)

January 2026

  Rev. Log - Non-Gravity Walls (PDF)

Ground Anchor Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Ground Anchor Walls (PDF)

Seismic Design of Earth Retaining Systems (PDF)

January 2026

 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)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Downdrag (PDF)
Geotechnical Design Parameters for p-y Curves September 2026   
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)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - OH Signs (PDF)

Sound Walls (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Sound Walls (PDF)

Below Grade Structures (PDF)

January 2026

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

Embankments (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Embankments (PDF)

Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Geosynthetic Reinforced Embankments (PDF)

Landslides (PDF)

January 2026

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

Soil Cut Slopes (PDF)

January 2026

  Rev. Log - Soil Cut Slopes (PDF)

Rock Cut Slopes (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Rock Cut Slopes (PDF)

Rockfall (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Rockfall (PDF)

Collapsible Soil (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Collapsible Soil (PDF)

Ground Modification (PDF)

January 2026

  Rev. Log - Ground Modification (PDF)

Grouting (PDF)

January 2026

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

Trenchless Construction (PDF)

January 2026

 Rev. Log - Trenchless Construction (PDF)

Stormwater and Wastewater Best Management Practices (PDF)

January 2026

 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)