barryinla: my dad was a carpenter and studied hard with college courses, at home, to advance his knowledge and skills. With my studies in horticulture and the need to understand agronomy (soils science), the need to have a proper lay of the foundation hole (if there was one) was a science way beyond merely digging. It was common to see foundations shift after a few years and ruin folks' dreams of their homes. The builders were usually long gone by then.
My dad taught me the principles of digging the footers for the foundation deep below the frost line and then some. Tiny bits of rock were then tapped down and watered and leveled. The footers themselves had to be unsettleable. Only then was the foundation put forth.
The area of The World Trade Center was built into solid bedrock. This was the major factor as to why the ammo-nitrate bombs in 1993 had the relatively minor damage.
"When in doubt, empty the clip."