Sherman Civil Engineering

Swale is a low tract of land that is moist or marshy, often designed to manage water runoff; in residential landscaping, a swale is a shallow, grassy ditch that safely moves rainwater away from the foundation toward a storm drain (Wikipedia).

A surcharge load is an additional weight placed on the ground surface above a retaining wall or foundation. Engineers must account for surcharge loads—such as parked cars, stored materials, or adjacent buildings—because they increase the lateral pressure on walls and the settlement risk of foundations. (Wikipedia)

A monolithic slab is a type of foundation where the concrete slab and the footings are poured at the same time as one continuous piece. This design is faster to construct and provides high structural integrity, often used in residential construction in warmer climates where deep frost lines are not a concern. (Wikipedia)