Self Study

Question 1

Humus

Answer 1

Well-decomposed, more or less stable part of the organic matter found in mineral soils.

Question 2

In what order of most slumping to least are concrete, grout and mortar.

Answer 2

grout, mortar, concrete

Question 3

The U.S. system of surveying the public lands, begun in 1785, divides land into…

Answer 3

Townships and Sections: The US system, which is the basis for much of the legal description of non-urban areas outside the original 13 states, established a grid of north-south lines (meridians) and east-west lines (parallels), which make 24-mile square areas. Each is divided into 16 townships, six miles square. Each township is further divided into 36 square sections of one mile each.

Question 4

How to interpret a % slope.

Answer 4

W = I/S
Width = Interval/Slope
Interval/slope=width

5’ = 1’/.20
50’ = 1’/.02
spacing of contours

Question 5

What are the dimensions of a typical parking space, accessible space and van space?

Answer 5

9’ x 19’ = Standard Space
8’+5’ x 19’ = ADA Space
8’+8’ x 19’ = ADA Van
ADA spaces need a 36” wide accessible route

Question 6

When designing a parking lot, how much space per spot should you allow?

Answer 6

Allow 400 SF of parking area per vehicle.

Question 7

What is the order of least slump to most slump with concrete, grout and mortar?

Answer 7

Concrete, mortar, grout.
Concrete with a tightly controlled water-cement ratio, is relatively stiff.
Mortar, which must be handled by a trowel, is less stiff
Grout, which is poured between wither in a brick wall or into the cells of hollow concrete masonry units, is actually quite fluid.

Question 8

Untreated wood piles are permitted where?

Answer 8

If they are below the lowest ground water level.

Question 9

What type of foundation should be used with clay soil?

Answer 9

Grade beam on piers

Question 10

What is the max slope to plant grass on. 5%, 10%, 15% or 25%

Answer 10

25%

Question 11

What is the max slope for a paved parking area? 1%, 3%, 5% or 10%

Answer 11

5%

Question 12

What are the 5 elements of Kevin Lynch’s neighborhood?

Answer 12

Paths, edges, districts, nodes & landmarks.

Question 13

What three main forms are most modern cities based on?

Answer 13

Finger Plan - development occurs along each side of a public transit corridor.
Cluster Plan - development contains clusters of activity; major roads connect each cluster.
Satellite Plan - variant of cluster plan but has a dominant center, often the original city.

Question 14

What are the downsides to creating a monoculture?

Answer 14

In general, creating a monoculture having only one type of building creates dull and predictable types of communities. For example, think of a typical suburban tract development consisting solely of housing, or an urban civic center filled with only public buildings. These types of communities are not 24-hour use spaces, and as such can attract crime, trash or worst of all, boredom.

Question 15

Name the three characteristics of a Planned Unit Development.

Answer 15

Large Scale: a PUD typically involves the development of a large project, such as an entire block, neighborhood or town.
Mixed Use: unlike a residential development, a PUD usually involves a mix of building types and uses.
Done in Phases: given the scale and scope of such developments, a PUD is often planned and built in phases, over an extended period of time. Changes may be made to future phases in response to evolving community needs, changing economic demands or new planning regulation.

Question 16

Describe three concerns regarding site functionality that an architect should address.

Answer 16

The design should serve the purpose it is intended to serve and function properly.
The design should express the purpose it serves.
The design should use an economy of means to achieve its purpose.
The design should unitize technologies ingeniously.
The design should unitize materials properly.

Question 17

What Are Soil Vapor Extraction And

Air Sparging?

Answer 17

Both soil vapor extraction, or “SVE,” and air sparging extract (remove) contaminant vapors from below
ground for treatment above ground. Vapors are the gases that form when chemicals evaporate. SVE extracts vapors from the soil above the water table by applying a vacuum to pull the vapors out. Air sparging, on the other hand, pumps air underground to help
extract vapors from groundwater and wet soil found beneath the water table. The addition of air makes the
chemicals evaporate faster, which makes them easier to extract with another technology, such as SVE

Question 18

What is balancing cut and fill?

Answer 18

The cut and fill process is typically one of the first construction processes to take place on a site.the amount of material from cuts roughly matches the amount of fill needed to make nearby embankments, so minimizing the amount of construction labor.

Question 19

Increased moisture content in bearing soils can have what two effects?

Answer 19

Reduced bearing capacity. Increase in volume.

Question 20

What is expansive clay soil?

Answer 20

Expansive soils contain minerals such as smectite clays that are capable of absorbing water. When they absorb water they increase in volume. The more water they absorb the more their volume increases. Expansions of ten percent or more are not uncommon. This change in volume can exert enough force on a building or other structure to cause damage.

Question 21

What is a grade beam?

Answer 21

A grade beam or grade beam footing is a component of a building’s foundation. It consists of a reinforced concrete beam that transmits the load from a bearing wall into spaced foundations such as pile caps or caissons.

Question 22

What is a covenant?

Answer 22

the term real covenants is used for conditions tied to the use of land. A “covenant running with the land”, also imposes duties or restrictions upon the use of that land regardless of the owner. Restrictive covenants are somewhat similar to easements and equitable servitudes, leading to some discussion about whether these concepts should be unified;[2] the Restatement (Third) of Property takes steps to merge these concepts as servitudes.[3] Real covenant law in the United States has been referred to as an “unspeakable quagmire” by one court.[4]

Question 23

Despoliation

Answer 23

the action of despoiling or the condition of being despoiled; plunder.
“the despoliation of the resources of the natural world”
synonyms: plunder, plundering, pillaging, looting, ransacking, ravishing, sacking;

Question 24

What is an ALTA survey

Answer 24

An ALTA Survey is a survey prepared by a licensed surveyor in accordance with detailed standards adopted by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). An ALTA Survey maps the property’s boundaries, the location of the improvements on the property, including buildings and other structures, fences, utility lines and installations, trails, paths and roads, etc., and the location of all access, utility and other easements recorded against the property.

Question 25

How many square feet is an acre?

Answer 25

43,560 square feet

209’ X 209’

Question 26

What is the definition of leeward

Answer 26

on or toward the side sheltered from the wind or toward which the wind is blowing; downwind.

Question 27

Is parking determined by zoning or building code?

Answer 27

I think Zoning. Look it up.