Geotechnical engineers have long stood out from the other professional disc
iplines within civil and structural engineering-not least for their approac
h to design. Geotechnical calculations have traditionally relied on highly
subjective assessments of design parameters whereas everything above the gr
ound uses a more explicit and codified approach. Eurocode 7 aims to bridge
the gap. It presents a comprehensive list of conditions which geotechnical
designers need to consider and places much greater emphasis on serviceabili
ty and how this may be satisfied through ultimate-limit-state design. With
four different design methods and three different approaches to limit-state
design, it offers great flexibility at the same time as increased rigour.