ADVANCE OF FOUNDATION TECHNIQUES IN BRAZIL SINCE COLONIAL TIMES

This paper presents a summary of the historical developments on foundation engineering that took place in Brazil since its early beginning until the present time. It relies on published information pinpointed from historical and reference books widely available today that were, on the other hand, written with basis on oral and written recounts and documents that survived through time. The intention is not to present a detailed discussion on the subject, but rather illustrate how, in common terms, foundation engineering technologies (and challenges) have been improved and approached throughout history in Brazil – shedding light as to what may be expected in this field for the near future of the new millennium.