Section 2 - Inventory And Analysis (2) Flashcards
What is the USDA Hardiness Zone Map
The United States Department of Agriculture’s tree and plant hardiness zone map provides guidance to help determine a plant’s ability to withstand an average minimum temperature. There are 11 planting zones, or “USDA Plant Hardiness Zones,” in the United States and southern Canada. The USDA planting zones are regions defined by a 10 degree Fahrenheit difference in the average annual minimum temperature (the higher the numbers, the warmer the temperatures for gardening in those planting zones). It is standard practice for seed dealers and nurseries to label their products according to their USDA planting zones for most success at growing those particular plants.
Identify functional uses of plant material when developing a conceptual design for outdoor areas.
Plant materials should be used to create or enhance barriers and enclosures. Turf and ground cover create natural edges to define outdoor component areas. Plants provide more depth, interest, and spatial variety than fencing.
Plant screens of evergreen trees and shrubs can serve as visual barriers. Vine-covered fences and densely branched deciduous plants may also serve these purposes. Design requirements and the plant’s natural characteristics, such as height, spread, and density, should be matched to create a low-maintenance screen. Transitional plantings alert to changes in activities or use of spaces. Objects with a clear visual identity, such as trees, large shrubs, and familiar groupings of plants, function and landmarks.
Vegetation is an effective climate modifier. Trees and shrubs also provide shelter from the wind. Spreading, deciduous tree species provide shade in summer and shed leaves to let in winter sun.
One of the best ways to avoid construction disputes is negotiate and follow a well-written construction contract. Explain what the contract should contain.
Most construction disputes can be traced back to the parties’ failure to write, understand, and follow a well-written contract. Well-written construction contracts often include the following provisions:
- Full name and license number of the general contractor
- Full name of the owner, the job address, and all contract information.
- A detailed description of the scope of construction work
- List of specific building materials to be used in the project
- Start and completion dates
- Total price of the project including labor and materials
- Payment schedule
- List of allowance items (lighting, fixtures, plumbing fixtures, appliances, etc.) and budgeted amount, if any
- List of required permits, include who will be responsible for obtaining them
- Agreement that any change to the contract will only be done upon written “Change Orders” signed by both the contractor and the homeowner
- Signature of both parties
What is general liability insurance?
General liability insurance covers property damage and bodily injury losses caused by the contractor that occur as a result of the contractor’s work. Liability insurance will not normally pay the cost of removing, repairing, or replacing bad work by the contractor. That’s what the surety bond is for. Limitations on insurance contracts vary from insurer to insurer. Exclusion in a policy for specific exposures are common. Every policy is different, so it is important to understand the coverage a contractor has in place.
Identify the purpose of consumer protective statutes.
States adopted consumer protection statutes based on a similar federal statute, the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act), in the 1960s and 1970s. The crucial difference between the FTC Act and CPAs is that most state laws, unlike the federal law, provide consumers with a private right of action. Most state laws include a provision directing state regulations to look to the FTC for guidance in terms of substantive law, encouraging state regulators to emphasize enforcement and remedies, rather than focus on policymaking.
Every state CPA provides consumers with a private right of action in addition to government enforcement.
What is a cultural impact assessment?
A cultural impact assessment includes information relating to the practices and beliefs of a particular cultural or ethnic group or groups. Such information may be obtained through scoping, community meetings, ethnographic interviews and oral histories. Information provided by knowledgeable informants, including traditional cultural practitioners, can be applied to the analysis of cultural impacts in conjunction with information concerning cultural practices and features obtained through consultation and from documentary research.
List the advantages and disadvantages for the following landscape mulching materials: plastic or polyethylene film, landscape fabric, wood or bark.
Plastic or Polyethylene Film - clear, black, or perforated
Advantages:
-Prevents moisture evaporation; thin and lightweight; inexpensive, (perforated plastics is more expensive)
Disadvantages:
-Holes must be punched to let in water and air, unless perforated plastic is used; doesn’t improve soil; can cause roots to concentrate at soil surface.
Landscape Fabrics or Geotextiles
Advantages:
-Water permeable; suppresses most water-competing weeds; durable
Disadvantages:
-Expensive; allows some weeds to grow; must be covered by top mulch layer
Wood or Bark - wood chips, tree trimmings, shredded or chunk bark
Advantages:
-Inexpensive to relatively expensive; lets in water and retains it in soil; breaks down to improve soil texture; smaller sizes suppress weeds better
Disadvantages:
-Breaks down in 1-3 years; smaller sized particles may require addition of nitrogen; most effective depth: 3-4”
What is workers’ compensation coverage?
Worker’s Compensations is a type of insurance carried by businesses that is designed to protect employees if they are injured while on the job Workman’s compensation laws give employees the right to recover damages from their employer for on the job injuries regardless of fault. The damages are limited to those provided by the law, and the employer is protected from further liability unless the claim is based on willful employer conduct. The law does not prevent the injured employee from suing other parties who may have caused or contributed to the cause of the injury.
Identify common types of construction contract bonds.
Specific types of construction bonds include:
- Bid bonds guarantee that the bid will carry out the terms of a contract at the bid price upon award of the bid.
- Maintenance bonds guarantee against any possible defects in the contractor’s work for a set period of time after the work is performed.
- Payment bonds ensure the subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers used in fulfilling a contract will be paid.
- Performance bonds guarantee the contractor will faithfully perform the contract.
- Site Improvement bonds guarantee that a landowner will successfully complete mandatory improvements to an existing building.
- Subdivision bonds are a guarantee that mandatory public improvements to a subdivision will be successfully completed.
What is a cultural landscape analysis?
A cultural landscape analysis is a method for identifying natural and cultural features that are relevant to human use of an area, and to increase understanding of the specific ways in which natural and cultural features are codetermined. It considers:
-Environmental parameters
-Information retrieved through archaeological excavations and the study of historic sites (and associated documents)
-Traditional use areas
-Current infrastructure (e.g. roads and utilities) and conditions of the landscape
This sort of analysis is greatly facilitated by recent innovations in remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS) technology.
What is soil pH?
pH is a measure of soil acidity. Low values (0 to 7) are acidic. High values (7 to 14) are alkaline (basic). A pH of 7 is neutral. The pH controls what minerals are available for plant growth. Basic soils have less iron available. There are some plants that prefer an alkaline soil, such as lilacs and clematis while others do not. The addition of lime to soil make it more basic and sulfur makes soil more acidic. A soil test should be administered to determine the type of soil and the nutrients needed.
How do cultural features affect the development of an area?
Cultural traditions determine the structure of communities by influencing the diversity of buildings, location of roads and village centers, and ways the land was worked. Cultural features include buildings, structures or sites which are important to the historic development of an area. It also includes groups of structures, historic sites or features, design components or other interesting details which together create an exceptionally rich historic ambiance. Features defining such named objects can be termed cultural features such as non-existent water mills, ancient battlefields, or other places connected with human beliefs. A cultural feature may also be distinguished when it is deeply rooted in human consciousness. These features are often protected by federal, state or local regulation and can serve as a constraint to development.
What are sustainable landscapes?
Sustainable landscaping is about reducing waste, energy and materials. Sustainable landscapes are managed by using practices that preserve limited and costly natural resources, reduce waste generation, and help prevent air, water, and soil pollution. The goal is to minimize environmental impacts and maximize value received from dollars expended. Sustainable landscapes feature healthier, longer-lived plants that rely less on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, minimize water use, and reduce waste generation and disposal. They also require less maintenance and alleviate groundwater and air pollution problems. The use of sustainable technology includes wind power, solar power and condensation recycling systems in site design.
Explain the role that the client and the landscape architect play in determining the project requirements.
Projects requirements are the spaces, systems, and materials that the client envisions the final project will include. The role of the landscape architect is to transfer the client’s wishes, desires, likes and dislikes into a functional design within the amount of funds the client has available for the project. To the architect, the owner provides the following: Design objectives, constraints, and criteria, including space requirements and relationships, flexibility, expandability, special equipment, and site requirements. From the client’s project requirements, the architect addresses such points as:
- Project scope
- Project site
- Level of design quality and amenity
- Role of the project in the owner’s life
- Schedule requirements or constraints
- Budget estimate and sources of financing
- Codes and regulations.
Identify guidelines for improving manual material handling.
Ergonomic improvements are changes made to improve the fit between the demands of a work task and the capabilities of a worker. There are two types of ergonomic improvements. Engineering improvements include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, providing or replacing tools, equipment, workstations, packaging, parts, processes, products, or materials. Administrative improvements include:
- Alternate heavy tasks with light tasks
- Provide variety in jobs to eliminate or reduce repetition (ie. overuse of the same muscle groups)
- Adjust work schedules, work pace, or work practices.
- Provide recover time (eg short rest breaks)
- Modify work practices so that workers perform work within their power zone (ie. above the knees, below the shoulders, and close to the body).
- Rotate workers through jobs that use different muscles, body parts, or postures.
