CIV4249 Foundation engineering
Faculty of Engineering
CIV4249 Foundation engineering is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia. It needs CIV3247.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 3 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before CIV4249
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After CIV4249
No unit lists CIV4249 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit introduces foundation systems and design principles with reference to the geological context of a project. It also addresses how to determine relevant foundation design parameters from field and laboratory tests. It teaches the detailed design of shallow foundations (isolated footing, raft foundation) for simple and complex ground and load conditions. Finally, the design of single and group pile foundations in soils and rocks subjected to axial and lateral loads are taught including an introduction to pile integrity and load tests.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| First semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- Learning competenciesDemonstrationCompetency hurdle-
- AssignmentsProject40%
- Weekly quizzes or testQuiz / Test10%
- Final assessmentExamination50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Plan and evaluate geotechnical investigations, and interpret subsurface data to establish reliable soil and rock parameters for safe and efficient foundation design.
- 2
Design shallow foundation systems for lightly loaded structures by applying relevant standards and recognised design methods to meet both ultimate and serviceability limit state requirements based on site-specific geomaterial properties.
- 3
Analyse and design deep foundations in soils and rocks to support heavily loaded structures using analytical and numerical methods, following relevant standards and performance criteria.
- 4
Generate professional geotechnical reports that integrate investigation data and design outcomes with sound engineering judgement.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities24 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
4 hours of weekly workshop and practice sessions on developing concepts, design methods and hands-on problem-solving.
An industry-sponsored investigation and design project will be used to teach fundamental design and analysis methods with opportunities to solve relatively simple and complex problems in the lecture and practice sessions.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
- Das, B.M. & Sivakugan, N. (2019). Principles of Foundation Engineering (9th Edition. SI Edition), Cengage Learning, USA, 856p. (Access e-book via Hargrave-Andrew Library)
- Tomlinson, M. & Woodward, J. (2015). Pile design & construction practice (6th Edition.), CRC Press, 608p (Access e-book via Hargrave-Andrew Library).
- Bowles, J. (1997). Foundation analysis and design (5th Edition). The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
- Online revised lecture notes & articles (Access via Moodle).
Where it fits
CIV4249 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Asadul Haque
- Dr Karim Mostafa
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Asadul Haque
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for CIV4249?
You need CIV3247 before you enrol.
When is CIV4249 offered?
In 2026, CIV4249 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton and Malaysia.
How much work is CIV4249?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does CIV4249 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include CIV4249?
CIV4249 is part of Civil engineering and Environmental engineering.