404 Sustainable Landscape Tech Flashcards
The 5 key steps in green roof instillation are
Pre-design. Design. Contracting. Instillation. Maintenance.
The 4 team members involved in a green roof are
Horticulturists. Architects. Engineers. Roofing company.
What 3 plant groups would be used on a extensive green roof
Sedums, Mosses, Perennials
What 3 plant groups would be used on semi-extensive green roof
Perennials. Small Shrubs. Lawns
What 3 plant groups would be used on an intensive green roof
Shrubs, Trees, Lawns.
What is the maximum pitch of an intensive green roof
5%
Is irrigation required on a extensive green roof
No. Unless they are sloped or in southern areas
Do semi-extensive and intensive green roofs require irrigation
Yes
Which green roof style is has the lowest maintenance and cost
Extensive green roofs.
Which green roof would require the most depth of growing media
Intensive green roof
Do Intensive green roofs accommodate human use
Yes
Installation components referred to as Black Arts are critical Non-living elements or living architectural components
Non-living elements
Installation components referred to as Green Arts are critical Non-living elements or living architectural components
Living architectural components
Waterproofing would be a Green or a Black art
Black Art
Drainage and root barriers are Green or Black Arts
Black Art
The very first layer of a green roof is
The load bearing component
Hardscaping would be a green or black art
Black art
Are paving stones used on a green roof typically as thick as paving stones used for on-ground hardscaping
No, they are typically thinner
Be lightweight and able to drain (high Pt)
Have water holding capacity
What causes plants to use/lose water
Be anchored so it doesn’t blow off the roof! (Systems such as parapets, grids and strapping, or Db / mat type media)
Be capable of supporting life longer term (high CEC / stability for 50 years). These are all musts for
Green Roof Media
Coarse Sands, Diatomaceous Earth, Expanded Clay, Perlite, Rock Wool, Pumice, Scoria, Vermiculite, and Zeolite. These media components are added for
Porosity and CEC
Scoria is what
Volcanic rock that SINKS in water.
High CEC aluminosilicate minerals used for porosity and CEC is called
Zeolite
Being able to survive extreme exposures
Being capable of adapting to moisture extremes
Having root systems that thrive in relatively shallow soil profile. These are all musts for
Vegetation used on green roofs
Are irrigation systems always necessary for a green roof.
No
What 3 factors effect the need for irrigation on a green roof
Climate. Media. Plant type
Is weeding still needed on a green roof
Yes
Are prescribed burns a fire management strategy employed to control fire risk on a green roof
Yes
Do extensive green roofs require fall arrest systems for workers
Yes
GRP stands for
Green Roof Professional
The weight of a completed extensive green roof is between
75-180kg
The weight of a completed intensive green roof is between
500-2000kg
Weight on a green roof is considered to be saturated or unsaturated
Saturated
The purpose of the root barrier is too ensure
There is not root incursion into the substrate layer.
What is the classic way of testing waterproofing on a green roof
The bathtub test
What is the newer way of testing waterproofing on a green roof
Low voltage electric conductance or High Voltage Spark Testing
What is the projected lifespan of a green roof
250 years
Because of the lifespan of green roof media what does green roof media need to be
Stable
Could be shale or slate. Super heated minerals are expanded. This describes which green roof media component
Expanded clay
Soft, chalk like, sedimentary rock. Crumbles into powder. 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium, 2% iron. This describes which green roof media component
Diatomaceous Earth
Manufactured from rock. Can be in block or mat format. This describes which green roof media component
Rock Wool
What is the definition of a living wall
A supported vertical system
What are two benefits of Green Roofs
Reduce Urban Heat Islands and Stormwater management
Vegetation, Growing medium, Irrigation and Drainage in one system. These are all components of
Living Walls
Transpirational cooling, Biophilia. Urban Agriculture. Heating a cooling benefits. Air purification. Sound barriers. Are benefits of ? and ?
Green roofs and Living walls.
What are the 2 primary types of Living Walls
Modular. Integrated.
System of containers mounted to a structural or free standing wall. This describes what type of living wall
Modular
Soil, water, and plants built into the wall itself. This describes what type of living wall
Integrated
Arguably, the most viable in Alberta… although not always considered “living walls”. This describes ?
Green Facades
Common green wall Epiphyte plants include
Orchids, Bromeliads, Christmas Cactus
Common green wall Hydrophytes include
Water Lily, Cypress Grass, Arum Lily
Common Wetland, Rainforest (Shade - Sun) Geophytes for green walls include
Inch Plant, Spider Plant
Common Wetland, Rainforest (Shade) Geophytes include
Peace Lily, Golden Pothos.
Plants that live in the Under Canopy are known as
Epiphytes
Plants growing at Ground Level are known as
Geophytes
Plants growing in or on water a known as
Hydrophytes
The key to succesfully using plant material in any space is
Site Inventory analysis
Right plant for the right place refers to
Site Inventory Analysis
5 Things to consider in site inventory analysis includes
Lighting. Moisture. Porosity of the media. Climate. What plant material is wanted.
The biggest concern with fertigation is
Salt build up in the soil.
The one thing with interior maintenance of living walls is that sometimes a ? certificate is needed
Lift certification
White crusting on soil is a sign of
A build up of salts.
Purpose built gardens that handle large amounts of water, debris and minerals found in runoff. This describes a
Rain Garden
Storm water runoff comes from (3pnts)
Roof of buildings. Landscapes. Hardscapes - parking lots & roads
Rain gardens are designed to be
Drained.
Two methods for drainage in rain gardens are
Under-drains. Percolation.
Groundwater recharge =
Catchment
Slow and direct flow =
Swales
The professional name for a rain garden is
Bioretention cell.
A high water table is defined as
Water within 1.2m of the soil surface
Should there be ever be standing water in a rain garden days after a rain event
No
How far must rain gardens be from the foundation of a building
3m
What is the maximum slope for a raingarden
12%
Sizing constant for a rain garden is based on
Distance away from house.
What are the 10 layers shown here
- Load bearing component. 2. Insulating system. 3. Waterproofing 4. Drainage 5. Filter. 6. Substrate. 7. Vegetation. 8. Rainwater drainage. 9. Perimeter intervention. 10. Separation devices
What are the top two benefits of Green Roofs that are causing them to gain traction worldwide in urban centers (solutions to worldwide problems)
Urban Heat Island reduction and Storm Water management
An extensive green roof must have
A Fall Arrest cable for maintenance workers to tie onto
The Green Roof components starting at the BOTTOM (on top of the plywood sheeting) and going up. (7pnts)
Sheeting, Waterproofing, Root Barrier, Drainage, Filter Fabric, Media, Plants
Which component may be omitted from the green roof design if the media is a mat type product?
Filter Fabric
Which component of a Green Roof is absolutely critical to the success of the entire project?
The waterproof membrane test proving negative for leaks
What is the purpose of Flashing and Counter-flashing when designing a Green Roof?
Ensures no water can run down the wall beneath the waterproof membrane.
Which plant material type would be a poor choice for an extensive green roof?
Tree species
Which maintenance strategies might be employed regularly by a company managing an extensive Green Roof?
Prescribed burns
What is the expected lifespan of a Green Roof?
150 years
What is one way to increase the Oxygen content inside a building such as an office complex or retail center?
Make an HVAC inlet within 1m of a Green Roof or Living Wall
An intensive urban agriculture green roof, with full sun exposure in the Lethbridge area would have a ? water requirement
High
Rain gardens should appear dry after ? hours. As a rule of thumb.
4
Irrigation is sourced from holding tanks that collect rainwater. This irrigation method is used of ? sites
Net Zero
Who is usually the Project Manager on a green roof team?
Green Roof Professional
A green roof is designed for condominium residents that includes a yoga deck surrounded by vertical gardens and a bar area. There are several shade trees and native plantings on the far end of it. This green roof is classed as:
Intensive
What is the primary reason for the recent increase in green roof installation over the past two decades?
Increased Legislation
What media has the the best Cation Exchange Capacity and aeration?
Expanded Clay
Why are solar panels and green roofs often paired with one another?
Transpirational cooling increases solar panel efficiency
Man made soils that are altered or adjusted to maximize a certain function such as infiltration and biofiltration are known as
Engineered soils
What makes a Engineered soil
Testing
Which group of plants would do well in a living wall setting where there is a lot of atmospheric moisture, lots of light, and a loose organic media?
Epiphytes - Orchids, Bromeliads and Christmas Cacti
What special training would you need if you plan to specialize in interior living wall maintenance?
Lift Certification
What is a major concern with continual Fertigation of an interior green wall?
Buildup of salts
Plants for rain garden design should be ? (3 pnts)
Able to withstand extreme conditions. Tap rooted. Small in initial size.
The formula for rain garden sizing is ?
Total area draining x size factor constant.
Ensure the same math is completed: Measure the roof area and the average rainfall event for the area to ensure appropriate volume is available
Ensure there is overflow provision that will not flood a basement
Consider a design that is elevated, with a tap for easier water usage
Consider a design with a surface filter and no access to sunlight (algae)
Ensure customers know to empty it in the Fall!. These are considerations for the use of ?
Rain Barrels
Identify source and sink
Excavate
To Clay
To Desired soil depth
Line it or leave clay base
Cut any Drainage in / out
Set boulders, stones, and rock.
These are the steps in constructing a ?
Swale
Although water still flows along a surface (usually) it is also designed to move through and away. This describes a ?
Bioretention Swale
A swale transports water where ?
To a known location
Designed to allow Settling of Debris
Water Flows through various Media
Water exits via drain pipes.
May require clearing out of sediment periodically. This describes a ?
Bioretention Swale
Can a street be considered a sink as long as the water is slowed down before reaching it?
Yes
Surface drainage, slowing the flow =
Swales
Catchment and draining (GROUNDWATER RECHARGE) =
Basins / Rain Gardens
Standing / slow moving water being purified =
Constructed Wetlands
Biotic approaches for erosion control include
Hydroseed, Stoloniferous/Rhizomatous
Plant native species of grass, trees and shrubs within how many weeks of construction start
3 weeks when conditions are favorable
A gabion basket is an example of a ? erosion control
Non-living
Can species used for erosion control be invasive
No
True or false Government of Alberta Spec states that buried material may be left in-ground when removing.
True
Greenloxx is an example of a
Retaining wall.
1.Construct posts with filter fabric media to remove sediment from stormwater volumes flowing through the fence.
2.The lower edge of the fence is to be vertically trenched and covered by backfill.
3.Filter fabric should be a pervious sheet of polypropylene, nylon, polyester, polyethylene or equivalent and have the following characteristics:
These are the steps for installing ?
Silt Fence
How deep should silt fence be buried
6”
How high should silt fence be
1m
RECP stands for
Rolled Erosion Control Products
Straw Mats
Jute Mats
Coir and Coir/Straw blend Mats
Fiber rolls.
These are all examples of
Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECP)
TRM stands for
Turf Reinforcement Mat
Silt fence should be inspected how often
Biweekly or after any major rain event.
A systematic approach whereby the benefits of an item are weighed against the costs associated with it to determine its value. This describes a ?
Cost Benefit Analysis
Identification of Green, infrastructure and Grey alternative, Costs involved in installation of both, Benefit Valuation of both
Return on Investment projections. This is the information required for ?
Cost Benefit Analysis
The 3 Costs of Green Infrastructure are ?
Capital, Maintenance, Replacement.
Total cost needed to bring a project to a commercially operable status. This describes ? costs.
Capital Costs
The amount of money a business must currently spend to replace an essential asset. This describes ? costs.
Replacement Costs
Costs required to keep the infrastructure in good working order. This describes ? costs.
Maintenance Costs
Replacement Costs apply over time? True or False
True
Comparing apples to apples is an example of comparing ?
Equivalence
Looking for the price of the alternative in order to figure out the benefit value is which benefit valuation method
Avoided Cost Method
Pricing how the grey alternative is actually harmful is which method of benefit valuation
Damage Cost Avoided Method
Estimating value based on isolation of variables that increase market value is which method of benefit valuation
Hedonic Pricing Method
Directly asking people how much more they’d be willing to pay for something they don’t currently have is what method of benefit valuation
Contingent/Choice Value Method
Estimating the value of something based on what it would cost to replace it is which method of benefit valuation is this
Replacement Cost Method
Establishing the value of an item by what it would cost to install something else, that’s easier to price, that would function equivalently is what method of benefit valuation is this
Substitute Cost Method
The three basic categories of benefits are
Tangible/financial benefits. Environmental/social benefits. Emotional/Psychological benefits.
To value a bioretention swale’s stormwater management capability, we look at the cost of stormwater management for a municipality. Which benefit valuation method is this ?
Avoided Cost Method
How much money is being spent to try and clean waterways or filter out silt and sediment being washed into natural water bodies? Which benefit valuation method is this
Damage Cost Avoided Method
Compare 2 residences of equal value, but one has a fully landscaped yard and one has just lawn. Which benefit valuation method is this ?
Hedonic Pricing Method
Valuing Green Roofs by asking people how much more they’d be willing to pay to have access to a green space with their apartment. Which benefit valuation method is this ?
Contingent Value Method
Estimating the value of a green roof based on the cost of an equivalent number of asphalt roofs that would be installed during the lifespan of that green roof. (If a Green roof lasts 50 years and a standard asphalt is only 20…). Which benefit valuation is this ?
Replacement Cost Method
Valuing a green roof by instead pricing: Asphalt shingles, Plus air purification system, Plus water management/cleaning system, Plus wellness days for staff… Which benefit valuation is this ?
Substitute Cost Method
What does LEED stand for
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs
Environmental/Social benefits include what 4 pnts ?
Biodiversity/Habitat. Job creation. Improved productivity. Noise reduction.
What are some other benefits that are perhaps harder to value?
Reduced crime. Improved aesthetics. Improved access to recreational space. Educational opportunities.
What tends to drive development ?
Legislation
2 Low Impact Development strategies that are traditionally chosen for infiltration and groundwater recharge.
Rain gardens. Permeable Pavement.
The sustainable landscape technology that would most effectively combat the Urban Heat Island is:
Rain garden
What is the main difference between the job process and quoting for Green infrastructure projects versus traditional landscaping projects?
Maintenance - although all jobs should have a maintenance plan, Green Infrastructure projects are more likely to fail without proper maintenance
What is an important characteristic of Green Roof Media?
Has maximum porosity but also supports plants
Which erosion control method serves multiple purposes as a soil retainer in land formation, potential water purification tool (straining debris), and “slowing the flow” in ditches
Gabion Basket
What mulch is best for a Rain Garden?
Natural Wood Mulch
You are part of a task force that has been asked to assign a dollar value to the rainwater that can be harvested from a Green Roof, as well as it’s carbon capture potential and insulation properties. This is called:
Benefit valuation
Evaluating the Cost of the equivalent grey infrastructure (all of the components required to function the same as the green one would). This is ?
Substitute cost
