Foundations for building must be placed on strong and stable soils. Soils vary in strength. Certain florida soil can support a tall building, whereas other soils aren't strong enough to hold the load of a person. If the soil beneath the structure isn't stable its foundation structure could be damaged, or sink, or even worse, the structure could collapse!

What is the best way to tie it all together? Soil maps are an excellent tool for engineers to determine the ideal place to design their projects. Soil maps are designed by soil scientists. 

They provide details like:

The slope of the surface of the land

The soil's chemical, biological and physical characteristics

The potential for drainage, water runoff, or storage.

Soil maps are available for the public to download from this site of the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service on their Web Soil Survey site.

Very few construction sites begin with perfect conditions. Engineering designs that are well-designed incorporate corrective measures and management methods. For instance, drainage could be added or the land surface altered to divert drainage away from the location. It is essential to know the soil's properties to prevent any future problems.

Read more about soil builders at Florida Soil Builders.