Geotechnical design focuses on geotechnical design, construction, and maintenance to ensure that the soil or rock beneath the ground surface can support the loads and conditions placed on it by buildings or transportation facilities.

A geotechnical design may include the design of:

ID	Geotechnical design subject
1	Settlement of structures and roads
2	Load capacity of piles and footings
3	Levees, design of earth and concrete dams.
4	Earth retention structures, gravity walls, deep excavations.
5	Soil nailing walls, mechanically stabilized earth
6	Slope stability and landslide problems
7	Ground water cutoff, environmental cutoff barriers
8	Marine structures
9	Geotextiles and geomembranes
10	Tunnels and underground caverns
11	Geotechnical seismic risks

Each type of geotechnical construction has its own design and investigation requirements. Experience plays a major role in adopting the most efficient geotechnical design. A good geotechnical design will identify issues and will offer alternatives if unexpected conditions are encountered.