Types of shallow foundation with their suitability:

1. Wall Footing: Wall footings are used for individual columns, walls and bridge piers where the bearing soil layer is within 3m (10 feet) from the ground surface. Soil bearing capacity must be sufficient to support the weight of the structure over the base area of the structure.

1. Isolated Footing: This foundation is constructed for single column and also called as pad foundation. The footing of concrete columns may be a slab, stepped or sloped type.

1. Combined Footing: A combined footing provided as a column for two or more columns in a row. Combine footing is also provided when the columns are very near to each other and isolated footing of these column will overlap on each other.

1. Inverted Arch footing: It is suitable to be used for the construction of bridges, tanks,underground sewers, and reservoirs. This type of foundation can be used for such structure where the load is concentrated over the column and where it is desired to distribute the load over a large area or in such cases where the bearing capacity of soil is poor.

1. Continuous Footing: This type of footing is suitable at locations liable to earthquake activities. This also prevents differential settlement in the structure.

1. Cantilever Footing/Strap Beam: This type of footing may be used where the distance between the columns is so great that a combined becomes quite narrow with high bending moment.

1. Raft Footing: It is suitable where ground is soft. Clayey or marshy having low bearing capacity, and where sub soil water conditions are uncertain. The raft foundation is also used to reduce settlement above highly compressible soils.

1. Grillage Footing : It is suitable where the bearing capacity of soil is very low. It is also suitable where heavy structural load from columns, piers are required to be transferred to a soil of low bearing capacity of soil.

1. Slab Base:

10.Gusseted base: