Section 2 - Question Set 3 Flashcards
Alluvium
Any material deposited by running water; the soil material of floodplains and alluvial fans. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Aquifer
Any subsurface material that holds a relatively large quantity of groundwater and is able to transmit that water readily. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Baseflow
The portion of streamflow contributed by groundwater; it is a steady flow that is slow to change even during the rainless period. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Carrying Capacity
The level of development density or use that an environment is able to support without suffering undesirable or irreversible degradation. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Clustering
A land development concept in which buildings and infrastructure are grouped together, and large contiguous areas of open space remain undeveloped. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Coefficient of Runoff
A number given to a type of ground surface representing the proportion of rainfall converted to overland or surface flow. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Detention
A strategy used in stormwater management in which runoff is detained on-site to be released later at some prescribed rate. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
(designed to hold water temporarily - like how after school detention holds you temporarily) System is otherwise meant to be dry.
Drainage Basin
The area that contributes runoff to a stream, river, or lake. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Easement
A right-of-way granter, but not dedicated, for limited use of private land for a public or quasi-public purpose. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Ecotone
The transition zone between two groups, or zones, of vegetation. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Eutrophication
The increase of biomass of a water body leading to infilling of the basin and the eventual disappearance of open water. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Feasibility Study
A type of planning aimed at identifying the most appropriate use of a site. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Hydric Soil
Soil characterized by wet conditions, or saturation, most of the year - often organic in composition. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Infiltration Capacity
The rate at which a ground material takes in water through the surface; measured in inches or centimeters per minute or hour. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Lacustrine Wetland
A wetland associated with standing water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Microclimate
The climate of small spaces, such as an inner city, a residential area, or a mountain valley. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Mitigation
A measure used to lessen the impact of an action on the natural or human environment. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Mitigation Banking
In wetland mitigation planning, the practice of building surplus acreage of compensation credits through replacement, enhancement, restoration, and/or preservation of wetlands. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Palustrine Wetland
Wetlands associated with inland sites that are not dependent on streams, lakes, or oceanic water. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Peak Discharge
The maximum flow of a stream or a river in response to an event such as a rainstorm, or over a period of time such as a year. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Percolation Rate
The rate at which water moves into soil through the walls of a test pit; used to determine soil suitability for wastewater disposal and treatment. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
An area planned, developed, operated, and maintained as a single entity containing one or more structures and common areas; it may include multiple land uses (for example, commercial or residential). - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Rational Method
A method of computing the discharge from a small drainage basin in response to a given rainstorm; computation is based on the coefficient runoff, rainfall intensity, and basin area. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Rainfall Intensity
The rate of rainfall (measured in inches or centimeters) of water deposited on the surface per hour or minute. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Retention
A strategy used for stormwater management in which runoff is retained on-site in basins, underground, or released into the soil. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
(designed to hold a specific amount of water indefinitely)
Riparian Wetland
Wetlands that form on the edge of a water feature such as a lake or stream. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Siltation
The deposition of sediment in water due to soil erosion and stormwater runoff. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Stream Order
The relative position, or rank, of a stream in a drainage network. Streams without tributaries, usually the small ones, are first order; streams with two or more first order tributaries are second order, and so on. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Steps of the Site Selection Process
- Clarify project objectives and requirements (housing, park, restoration, business, mixed-use)
- Determine site selection criteria (size, cost, transportation, market)
- Identify potential sites
- Evaluate each site’s sustainability (constraints and opportunities)
- Rank the sites and select the best site
- Conduct a feasibility study of the selected site (acquisition, design, permitting, maintenance)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Site Conditions
Does the site provide adequate conditions/substrate for the project? Physical constraints or essential attributes and legal or regulatory restrictions or benefits (zoning)
Example: Shallow depth to groundwater presents issues with construction of the building and underground utilities.
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Contextual Factors
Is the proposed project compatible with the surroundings? Market or service area (the community, nearby amenities, the compatibility of proposed use with the existing use) and physical conditions (access to utilities, transportation, schools)
Example: United States prisons criteria include located to attract qualified professional staff of racial and ethnic origins compatible with the inmates
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
A successful programmer will …
- Communicate the proposed process to all involved
- Not lock in preconceived solutions
- Reconcile sub-component needs with the overall organizational goal and resources
- Frequently test and review design concepts
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Areas of Focus for Data Collection for Programming
- Site and context
- User needs and preferences
- Design precedents
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Post-Occupancy Evaluation
The process of evaluating buildings (or landscapes) after they have been built and occupied for some time. Less common for outdoor spaces. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Functional Relationships/Spatial Relationships
The desired spatial relationships among programmed uses may be determined from client surveys, reviews of literature, or other sources. Programs may include activities or uses that are relatively incompatible. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Factors to Evaluate Value of Trees
- Tree size
- Tree species
- Tree condition or health
- Tree location
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
ASTM Phase One Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
Summarizes the site’s ownership and land use history, in addition to current soil and groundwater conditions. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
“Euclidean” Zoning
The traditional zoning method that rigidly separating residential uses from non-residential uses. Contributes to urban sprawl and fosters land consumptive development patterns that make transportation by walking or public transit virtually impractical. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Subdivision Ordinances
Sets the minimum requirements for parcel size, setbacks, number and location of street access points, and other similar requirements. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Aspect
The direction a slope faces. Variation in slope and aspect influence the amount of solar radiation received by the site on a daily and seasonal basis. This is important for passive or active solar heating. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Important Soil Attributes
- Acidity/Alkalinity (pH)
- Permeability
- Erosion potential
- Depth to seasonally high water table
- Depth to bedrock
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Important Atmospheric Conditions
- Temperature (minimum, maximum, and day/night variation)
- Humidity (low, high, and average)
- Wind (maximum, average, and direction)
- Rainfall (monthly totals and maximum for any one day)
- Snowfall (monthly totals and maximum for any one day)
- Solar radiation (monthly average)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Elements That Define a Wetland
Hydrology, vegetation, and soils - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Three Typical Wetland Categories
- Areas with hydrophytes and hydric soil (marsh, swamp, bog)
- Areas without soils but with hydrophytes (aquatic bed, seaweed covered rocky shore)
- Areas with out soil and without hydrophytes that are periodically flooded (gravel beach, tidal flat)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Steps of Project Programming
- Initiate the project
- Develop the project mission and objectives
- Determine the project’s operational and physical requirements
- Document and present the program to the client
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Elements of a Site Inventory
- Physical Attributes (topography, parcel shape and size, geology, soils, hydrology, and climate)
- Biological Attributes (ecological communities, exotic species, wetlands, trees, wildlife)
- Cultural Attributes (history, land use, regulations, pu
Comprehensive Plan
Community level “vision” statements about how a community intends to grow and develop, typically over a twenty to thirty year period. Usually addresses housing, transportation, utilities, natural and cultural resources, and economic development. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Basic Function of Development Regulations
To protect public health, safety, and welfare. Regulations that exceed this have been challenged in court and generally the government must provide “just compensation” to the affected land owner. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Access Easement
Ensures physical access to or across a site from adjacent properties. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Utility Easement
Provides physical access to install, replace, and maintain a utility system infrastructure (such as power lines) - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Conservation Easement
Restricts development potential and preserves open space. They are often used to protect hiking trails and other recreational areas or to maintain important ecosystem functions (such as groundwater recharge or connectivity) - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Scenic Easement
Protects vistas and viewsheds by preventing development that blocks or degrades those views. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Solar Easement
Protects solar access to adjacent property. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Typology to Explain How People Perceive the Built Environment
- Edges (shorelines, roads, hedges)
- Paths (streets and sidewalks)
- Districts (neighborhoods)
- Nodes (entrances, plazas, street intersections)
- Landmarks (unique buildings, structures, or natural features)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Neighborhood Character
The context of the existing site. Including: the use, design, and placement of buildings, arrangement of streets and walkways, land use, and the use, design, and placement of outdoor spaces. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Sanborn Map
Detailed city maps that include building height, building footprint, street names, number of stories per building, building construction materials, building use, and other building attributes. - Site Analysis, James LaGro
Ten Perceptions of Landscape
- Nature (fundamental)
- Habitat (adaptation)
- Artifact (utilitarian)
- System (dynamic, equilibrium)
- Problem (challenge, flawed)
- Wealth (property
- Ideology (values)
- History (legacy)
- Place (locality, experience)
- Aesthetic (beauty)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Steps of Suitability Analysis
- Identify suitability criteria for each anticipated land use
- Collect and map the relevant site attribute data
- Identify and map the site locations with attribute values that meet the suitability criteria for the targeted land use
- Site Analysis, James LaGro
Attributes that Make Up a Place’s Character
- Location (within the site and the neighborhood)
- Scale
- Mix (uses and their connections)
- Time (places change with the time of day or year and over generations)
- Movement (quality, convenience, and speed)
- Site Analysis, James LaGro