# Comparative Analysis of Kazakhstan and European Approaches for the Design of Shallow Foundations
## 1 Introduction  
In recent years, Kazakhstan has been experiencing a rapid urbanization supported by solid economic growth and strong political engagement in modernization programs [1]. The stable economic progress of Kazakhstan over the years of independence has contributed to the continuous development of the construction industry in the country, making the construction sector one of the driving forces in the country's economy. The government pays particular attention to the realization of large-scale, high-priced projects, therefore encouraging foreign investors to implement international projects in Kazakhstan [2]. The construction of buildings and structures based on international codes of practice (e.g., Eurocode and American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)) experiences some difficulties associated with the adaptation of project documentation to the local regulation system due to the differences in the applied design methods. Since the time of the Soviet Union, shallow foundations have been designed by the methods provided in Kazakhstan building regulations (i.e., SP RK 5.01-102-2013: Foundations of buildings andstructures (SP RK) [3]), developed based on the Russian SNiP code [4]. However, the regulations have not been modified for decades and do not conform to modern scientific technologies and solutions for the realization of international construction projects in Kazakhstan. The use of the traditional Soviet approach results in difficulties regarding the introduction of innovations and the development of the construction industry in Kazakhstan. Therefore, starting from 2010, the harmonization of national building regulations with the Eurocode has been initiated for (1) the design of infrastructure and (2) the application of construction materials. The Eurocode is the European technical standard used for the design of construction works for civil purposes, developed by the European Committee for Standardization [5]. The Eurocode represents a complex and innovative code of practice applied in more than 45 countries around the world. Compared to SP RK, the Eurocode represents a set of technical regulations that are well recognized all over the world, and it can be applied in many nations. For example, Eurocode 7: Geotechnical design (EC 7) [6] represents a building regulation covering the geotechnical design of structural elements interacting with the ground (e.g., foundations, retaining structures, and bridges) [7]. The design of buildings and structures is governed by National Annexes (NA) developed for each country of the European Union (EU). The NA to EC 7 consider additional requirements for technical parameters and design specifications for each country, determined in accordance with their climatic, geotechnical, and seismic features in order to ensure a high safety level. In 2015, SP RK EN (the set of national building regulations identical to the Eurocode), was introduced for application alongside the existing design code (i.e., SP RK). In order to implement EC 7 in Kazakhstan, the NA has been developed by considering several factors (e.g., seasonal temperature changes, wind and snow loads, and seismic conditions) that differ from the conditions in EU countries. The adaptation of the Eurocode in Kazakhstan accommodates (1) the integration of the Kazakhstan construction industry into the European system; (2) the application of innovative technologies and materials in the construction field; and (3) an increase in the competitiveness of local specialists on the international market of construction services. However, the introduction of the Eurocode into the national regulatory system represents a gradual process which requires local specialists to refocus on the performance of their construction services, with higher requirements for the quality and safety of designed structures.